Dill
Background
This ancient herb is believed to have been used by Mediterranean cultures for medicinal and culinary purposes. The Egyptians used it as a soothing medicine. Burning the oil or adding it to their wine, the Greeks used it to treat wounded soldiers. The Romans joined them in this practice, also feeding dill to Gladiators, believing it would stir up valor and courage. Amusingly, people would chew on dill seeds during a church service because they thought it would keep them awake!
Uses
Dill is a favorite in dishes and canned foods. Who doesn’t love a good dill pickle? Sprinkle it on casseroles, add it to your cucumber sandwich or into your salad dressing and enjoy it’s refreshing flavor. Dill is a good source of vitamins C and A, contains magnesium and manganese, folate and iron, so add it generously to your savory cuisine! It also has potential benefits for heart health, lowering blood sugar, may have anticancer properties. It was once used to treat colic in babies, aid in breastfeeding and help with menstrual cramps.
Planting and Care
Plant dill in loose, rich, well-draining soil when the temperature of that soil reaches about 70 degrees. It does best in a spot where it gets 6 or more hours of full sunlight a day. Space seedlings about 10 to 12 inches apart. They can grow up to three or more feet tall.
Water freely, keeping the soil moist, but not soggy or soaked. Do not let the soil dry out completely or it will cause the plant to bolt or go to seed.
Harvest and Storage
When the plant has four or five leaves, you can begin to harvest. Starting with the oldest leaf, pinch or cut them with scissors. To dry dill, cut the leaves and rinse them in water. Gently pat them dry with a paper towel. Tie a loose bundle of leaves with a string or rubber band and hang them upside down in a well-aired area. Drying could take several days to a few weeks. Once the leaves crumble in your fingers, they are ready to be stored. Remove the leaves from the stems and crumble them into an airtight container for storage.
Dill Varieties Offered (Scientific Name: Anethum graveolens)
We will offer the following dill herb varieties for the upcoming planting season and typically, we offer these same varietals each year:
As always, our plants are subject to availability.
Don’t see what you are looking for? If there is a particular variety of dill you are looking for, please reach out to us via email or phone to discuss. We love to hear from our customers about what they are looking for and strive to accommodate any special requests.