Plant ID card |
|
---|---|
Botanical name |
Anethum graveolens. |
Common name |
Dill, false anise, bastard fennel, stinking fennel. |
Family |
Apiaceae. |
Origin |
Western Asia. |
Dimensions |
A dill plant can measure more than 1 m high and 0.50 m wide. |
Foliage |
The filiform leaves of dill take the form of branches measuring approximately 30 cm long, carried by a large bluish-green stem. Dill leaves can be eaten fresh throughout the growing season. They are also eaten dried. |
Bloom |
Dill flowers from July until September. The pale yellow umbels measure approximately 10 cm in diameter. They can then be cut and then hung upside down to collect the seeds which fall as they dry. |
Exposure |
Dill likes to be planted in a sunny location, sheltered from the wind. |
Ground |
Dill grows well in light, well-drained soil. |
Rusticity |
-10°C. |
Resistant, fragrant and aesthetic, dill is an aromatic plant, sometimes confused with fennel, which has many qualities.
Ideal for growing in the vegetable garden or in a pot directly in the kitchen to always have it at hand, dill is an essential for any gourmet gardener.
Where to plant a dill plant?
Location:
in terms of soil, dill appreciates being planted in cool, well-drained soil rich in humus.
Dill can be sown in the ground directly in a garden or in a pot.
Sowing in open ground:
they should be done in April whereas when it is intended to grow indoors, dill can be sown all year round.
In any case, be careful not to plant dill near a fennel plant in order to avoid any cross-pollination which would result in unpalatable plants;
Exposure:
to grow well, dill must be placed in a location that is both sunny and sheltered from the winds.
Also read: The top 20 aromatic herbs to grow at home
Dill can be sown in the ground directly in a garden or in a pot.
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No use without permission.
How to take care of a dill plant?
Watering:
dill is an aromatic plant that requires little maintenance.
You simply have to be careful to water it well when the seedlings emerge and then in the event of drought episodes.
Indeed, too much lack of water can cause dill to go to seed too quickly;
Mulching:
it is entirely possible to mulch a dill plant to ensure that the soil is always fresh between two waterings;
Pests:
Due to its strong odor and height, dill is not often a target for pests when planted directly in the vegetable garden.
However, slugs and snails may be fond of them.
To avoid attracting them, it is best to water dill in the morning rather than at another time of the day, especially in spring and fall.
Does dill grow back?
Dill is not a perennial plant but
an annual plant.
Thus, it must be resown every year but can also reseed spontaneously.
However, when cutting leaves to season a dish, it is best to choose those at the top of the plant.
In fact, this will tend to make your dill plant bushier.
Dill is an annual plant that can reseed spontaneously thanks to the seeds produced by its flowers.
Copyright (c) 2022 Orest lyzhechka/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
When to pick fresh dill?
To enhance our dishes, we can harvest dill leaves from the beginning of summer until
the end of autumn
, approximately 2 months after sowing.
How to store dill?
When fresh, dill will keep for about 2 days when placed in
the crisper drawer
of the fridge.
It is also possible to dry it and then store it in an airtight jar, ideally away from light.
How can you use dill?
Cooking:
dill is an aromatic plant very popular in cooking because it brings a touch of freshness to all our dishes.
It is delicious with gravlax salmon and any other fish, but also with green vegetables, or even white meat.
It is also interesting for enhancing a sauce;
Medicinal properties:
dill is not only good for seasoning our dishes.
It is also recognized as having diuretic properties, the ability to combat anxiety, fatigue and insomnia.
Its seeds also help fight bad breath;
Edible:
if the leaves of dill can be eaten, this is also the case for its stem and even its seeds.
What does dill smell like?
The scent of dill is very characteristic, a cross between anise, mint and fennel.