The Facts About Dill


Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a popular pickling herb with an impressive historical pedigree. Its uses date back to the bible. That lanky, fernlike, yellow flowered plant you see in the produce department of your grocery store was once so valuable that it was kept under lock and key. And even though its monetary value has plummeted over the centuries, its appeal hasn't.

The Colorful History of Dill

Once an important herb in witchcraft, and a purported aphrodisiac, dill has a distinctive sour flavor that makes an interesting and sometimes unexpected statement in cooking. The leaves, seeds, and flowers of the plant can all be used.

Growing Dill - Keeping Dill Happy in the Garden

An annual that grows to five feet high (dwarf varieties come in at between two and three feet), dill likes full sun and a sheltered location. It prefers well-drained soil that has been amended with manure. In the garden, it looks like fennel but shouldn't be planted near it as the plants will cross-pollinate. The result is unappealing. Dill gets spindly after a month or so, and even a light wind will topple it. Keep it in a protected spot, and tie it to a stick or post if starts to list sideways.

In midsummer, dill will produce wispy clusters of fragrant yellow flowers. If you want a larger harvest of leaves, keep pinching the flowers back to encourage leaf production.

Dill Seed
How to Keep Dill From Bolting

One small problem with growing dill in a hot climate is its inclination to bolt. Putting on a burst of growth and flowering out means few if any more leaves, which can be a bad thing from a harvesting prospective. If you want to keep your plants in leaf longer, check out my post about delaying flowering: How to Keep Your Plants From Bolting.

Propagating Dill

Dill seeds readily, and one plant produces a good crop of seeds that will stay viable for years. You can plant seeds directly outdoors, but be sure to keep them well watered. Thin dill seedlings to about 12 inches apart.

Growing Dill Indoors

Dill can thrive indoors for a season if you can situate it in a sunny window. The plant will be a little smaller in overall size than its outdoor brother, but will be as flavorful nonetheless. It will still get leggy as it grows, but keeping it trimmed back a bit will help it maintain a pleasing shape.


Uses for Dill

Most of the plant can be used, with the possible exception of the stem. Depending on the part you are using, there is a big difference in the intensity of the flavor.

Using Dill Leaves - The leaves are least flavorful, so use them in the highest concentrations in egg dishes, with fish, cheese spreads and on vegetables.

Using Dill Flowers - The flowering tops of dill have more flavor than the seeds and make a good addition to the pickle jar. Instead of just pickling gherkins this year, try a colorful vegetable medley.

Using Dill Seeds - Dill seeds provide the strongest flavor by far. Used whole or ground, they are a good accompaniment to soups, fish, and vegetables. They can also be used to make a unique herb bread, flavored vinegar, and can even be added in small quantities to desserts, particularly those containing apples.

Medicinal Uses for Dill - A tea made from a tablespoon of dill seed can help cure indigestion and treat hiccups. It has also been used successfully to treat colic (at 1/3 concentration) and to stimulate milk production in lactating women. Save any remainder and soak your fingers in it to help strengthen your nails.

Dill may not be the most beautiful plant growing in the garden. It looks a bit weedy, and doesn't have the good sense to stand up straight, but it is a useful herb, and looks aren't everything.

Notes on Keeping and Using Dill:

Photo of a Flowering Dill PlantDill self seeds readily. If you live in a temperate climate, it will come back year after year. Cucumbers marinated in dill vinegar are a delicious accompaniment to a summer meal. If you feel that your navy bean soup lacks punch, try adding a pinch of dried dill to spice up the flavor.

If you'd like to make your own dill pickles, I'd be happy to walk you through the process.  It's easy and fun: How to Make Dill Pickles From Scratch

Reference
-----------------------------

Photo1 - Dill1_Wiki.jpg By Titantoma (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Dill_in_plastic_tunnel.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADill_in_plastic_tunnel.jpg

Photo2 - Public Domain

Photo3 - Dill3_Wiki.jpgBy Arto Alanenpää (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Dill_seed_tilli_siemen.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADill_seed_tilli_siemen.jpg


Photo4 - Courtesy of Morguefile.com


Comments

  1. Anonymous2:36:00 PM

    very helpful thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great information on the herbs and Flowers, I'll be visiting often as I just started an herb garden.Love the blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:26:00 PM

    This blog is excellent. i have learned a lot of interesting facts about the plants i have growing. thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's my pleasure. Thanks for commenting.

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm currently harvesting seeds from my first batch of dill. I have 2 more in various stages, as I harvest the leaves. I'll eventually harvest it all as seeds. I always have return plants, despite our cold Zone 5 Winter. The butterflies love dill too, and it's fun to feed their caterpillars. I plant dill near fennel and plant lots of it, so the caterpillars and me both have enough to enjoy HaHaHa Always love your site- keep it going please 8^)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:01:00 PM

      Good to know love dil

      Delete
  5. Hi Deborah,

    I've read that dill and fennel will cross pollinate and the results are less than tasty. Has that ever happened to you? I've always kept mine separate but would definitely put them in the same patch if I thought it would work out.

    Just wondering,

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  6. Crazy about dill. Love it in German potato salad, simply put together with onion, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, and, of course, loads of dill. In a green bean salad, along with a bit of savory, and in cucumber salad with loads of sour cream :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds about right. German potato salad particularly is a guilty pleasure of mine.

      Delete
  7. my friend planted dill and purple flowers came from a few of the plants. have you ever heard of this happening?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tpanz,

    I'm not familiar with a purple dill, but someone else here may be able to help.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excellent and very helpful thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cold nights might turn leaves purple

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Share some ideas.