University of Maryland Extension: Plant of the Week
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Text by Lewis Shell
Photo by Antoine McKinney
This is an herb that can do it all. Where to start?
Wise gardeners know that having dill plants is like having a flotilla of aircraft carriers hovering around a war zone. Dill umbels or ‘flat top’ flowers attract predator insects that rely on the dill flowers for energy-producing nectar and a vantage point from which to survey your garden for insects to predate.
Then, of course, dill leaves provide the gardener/chef with salad garnish and flavor, brightening numerous salads and dishes. Can you imagine a nice fillet of salmon without a delicious tangy dill sauce? Furthermore, those flavorful seeds are used in pickling and longer-cooking recipes.
To top it off, the name dill comes from ‘dilla,’ a Norse word meaning ‘to lull.’ Dill tea may be just the thing for those who suffer from insomnia.
Plant dill seeds after danger of frost in spring and every three weeks during the spring and early summer in order to enjoy a constant supply of dill foliage. Dill tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. When allowed to flower during its second year, the plant produces seed and re-seeds itself. Weeding is the only care required.
Comments
I planted dill in my vegetable plot at the community garden last year and it pops up everywhere now. I pulled some recently and had it sitting in a discard pile when a lady walked up to the fence and asked me for it. I happily gave it to her and told her to come back again soon because I had more than I could use. I read somewhere that mature dill is a hindrance to plants, though immature dill is great for companion planting. I suppose it gives reason to pull it before it gets too big and use it!
Posted by: Summer | June 16, 2011 11:59 AM
Among the herb pots on my deck last season, I had dill next to the several-winter-season-survivor rosemary. Rosemary did not survive last winter, but dill has reseeded itslef into that pot!
I am hearing about more and more reseedings in pots out there...I am gonna have to just leave my alone in the fall and winter and see what happens! -- Susan
Posted by: Eve | June 20, 2011 10:19 AM
I think of self-seeding as one of the Benefits of Sloth. This past fall, with only the weekend for a "personal life" and very little energy, I chose GrandKids soccer games and birthday parties, shopping church bazaars and meeting up with old friends over cleaning up the pots on the deck. (OK, I also blew off several other yard chores.) What did get done required the 1st Grader's help, so not all of my corners are as sharply marked as other yards in my neighborhood.
Another surprise Benefit: last fall, I did manage to change over the pots that had annual flowers (those petunias get sort of leggy and unattractive!) to cheap mums. This spring, many of the mums were leafing back up again. I moved all of the little guys into one of the giant pots that I got at some church sale or other and we'll see how they produce this fall.
Benefits of sloth! I love it! -- Susan
Posted by: Eve | June 22, 2011 9:24 AM