by Kelly Szymanski

Created on: February 23, 2010   Last Updated: February 25, 2010

Umm...fresh Dill. On Salmon. On salads. In sauces. If you don't have a space in your yard that you can dedicate to growing this fragrant herb, don't worry. You can just as easily grow it in a container on your deck or patio.

Dill is an annual herb that is grown for both its foliage, which is known as 'Dillweed' and its seeds. It's the seeds, which have a stronger flavor than the foliage, that are used for pickling. Dillweed is most often used as a seasoning on foods.

Dill grows two to three feet tall and has a spread of 6 to 8 inches. It has thready blue-green leaves and, after about 60 days, flat yellow flower heads.

Dill can be grown from seed or seedlings in almost any kind of container as long as it has adequate drainage. Keep in mind that if you use a clay pot, it will dry out much quicker than if you use a plastic one. Dill likes soil rich in organic matter, so when you are filling your containers mix the soil with compost or peat moss.

If you choose to grow Dill from seedlings, get them while they are still very small to avoid damaging the roots. If you choose to grow it from seeds, simply sprinkle a few on top of the soil and cover with a thin layer of soil. The seeds need light to germinate, so you don't want to bury them too deeply. Water with a spray bottle to avoid disturbing the tiny, delicate seeds. The seeds can take up to three weeks to germinate, so be patient.

You can place your container of Dill outside when the nighttime temperatures do not fall below 55 degrees. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Fertilize your Dill every 2 weeks with a low nitrogen liquid fertilizer.

Dill likes full sun, which is one reason that it is so successful when grown in a container. It can be easily moved around during the growing season to be sure it gets the sun it needs.

To harvest the foliage simply clip it as needed. Try putting some leaves in an ice tray and fill the cups with water. Freeze, then store in a freezer bag for future use.

If your want to harvest the seeds wait until the flower heads are dry and brown. Clip them off and place them upside down in a brown paper bag. After a day or two you will notice there are seeds on the bottom of the bag. Close the bag and gently shake it to dislodge the remaining seeds.

Dill attracts beneficial insects to your garden, but it also attracts parsley-worms: colorful caterpillars that will happily devour all your Dill leaves. If you find parsley-worms on your Dill hand pick them off. Either destroy them or remove them to another area, where they will eventually pupate into black swallowtail butterflies.

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