| organic matter. Plant dill in a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Also, choose a spot that is protected from high winds because the tall, hollow stalks can easily be blown over unless they are staked.
Because dill does not transplant easily, sow seeds directly into the ground where the plants are to grow. Begin sowing seeds after danger of spring frost. Several crops can be harvested during the summer and fall by planting seeds every 2-3 weeks through mid-summer. Set the seeds 1/4" deep in rows approximately 2 feet apart. When seedlings are 2" high, thin them to stand 10"-12" apart. Keep the soil relatively moist and free of weeds.
As with most herbs, dill does not require frequent fertilizing. Generally, a light feeding of a 5-10-5 fertilizer applied once in late spring should be adequate. Use it at the rate of 3 oz. per ten feet of row. For dill grown outdoors in containers or indoors, use a liquid fertilizer at one half the label recommended strength every 4-6 weeks.
Dill can be harvested anytime during the growing season, but for best flavor snip the foliage just before the umbrella-like flower clusters open. Because dill loses its flavor quickly, it is best to use it fresh as soon after picking as possible. Larger quantities can be frozen by chopping it into small pieces and freezing in plastic bags or containers.
To harvest the seeds, cut the flower stalks just before seeds
begin to ripen and turn a tan |
