Herkules

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

Dill, also known as dill weed or cucumber herb, is a plant species of the genus Anethum within the umbellifer family (Apiaceae). It originates from the Near East, but is now cultivated worldwide. It is the only representative of the genus Dill (Anethum). The popularity of dill as a spice plant has made the monotypic genus widely known. Hardly any other spice plant is more popular in beds and pots in German-speaking countries than dill. Even in the garden, it releases an aromatic scent caused by fats and oils. The various cultivated varieties offer something for everyone, whether you want an intense aroma, a high yield, or late flowering. Dill is also an attractive crop visually. Dill belongs to the umbellifer family and has the familiar appearance of an umbel inflorescence, which attracts numerous insects. Distribution Dill is native to the Near East. As a popular herb, dill has made its way from there to gardens all over the world. In Central Europe and Germany, wild populations can be found. Leaves Like the stems, the leaves are light green to blue-green in color. The leaves are finely pinnate and have no stipules. The leaves growing higher up on the plant are less branched and remain smaller overall than the lower leaves. Flowers The flowers grow in large, conspicuous umbels with almost 30 rays. These umbels reach diameters of up to 15 centimeters and are composed of 10 to 25 individual umbels, which in turn bear 15 to 25 flowers. The individual flowers are circularly symmetrical and have five fused petals. These are yellow and curled. The flowering period extends from May to August. Fruit The split fruits that develop from July to September are brown and about five millimeters long. When they disintegrate, they form two partial fruits. These are narrowly winged and spread by the wind. Growth Dill is a hairless plant that grows annually and reaches heights of over one meter. The non-woody, hollow stem grows upright and branches in the upper areas. Use The ancient Egyptians valued dill as a spice and medicinal plant. As early as 3,000 BC, this useful plant found its way to the Alpine region. As a culinary spice, dill refines salads, yogurt, quark, and butter. The shoot tips are a valued addition to fish and pickled gherkins. In natural medicine, all parts of the fresh plant are important, as are the dried seed heads. Dill water is said to cure digestive problems and stomach cramps, and chewing it is said to eliminate bad breath.

Growing tips

🌱 Location & soil - Full sun, warm and sheltered from the wind - Loose, humus-rich soil - No waterlogging, evenly moist 🌾 Sowing - Dill does not like transplanting - always sow directly - April to August directly in the bed or in large pots - Sowing depth: approx. 0.5-1 cm - Row spacing: 20-30 cm - Planting distance: 10-15 cm - Germination time: 10-20 days - Germination temperature: 15-20 °C - Tip: Dill germinates better in slightly moist, cool soil 💧 Care - Water regularly - Lightly mulch the soil - Do not fertilize heavily - too much fertilizer makes dill unstable - Remove weeds early, as dill is tender at first 🌼 Avoid flowering (if you want to harvest leaves) - Sow as late as possible (May/June) - Keep evenly moist - Varieties such as 'Dukat' or 'Fernleaf' flower later ✂️ Harvest - Cut young shoots as soon as the plants are 20-30 cm high - For seeds: Allow plants to mature completely and dry cones 🪴 Dill in a pot - Large pot (at least 20 cm deep) - Good drainage - Water regularly, as pots dry out more quickly 🌿 Good neighbors - Basil, borage - Broccoli & other types of cabbage - Beets, turnips, rapeseed, sweet potato - Allium plants (onions, chives) - Lettuce, spinach, chard - Beans, peas, corn, Jerusalem artichokes - Cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins, melons - Asparagus, okra - Marigolds, nasturtium - Berry bushes (currants, raspberries) - Perennials with loose growth (echinacea, phlox, sunflowers) 🚫 Bad neighbors - Tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes - Carrots, celery, parsnip, fennel, bulbous celery - Peppers, chili & other nightshade plants - Lavender - Coriander, parsley, aniseed, caraway, chervil, lovage Crop rotation Dill belongs to the umbellifer family (Apiaceae). This also includes: carrot, parsnip, parsley, celery, fennel, coriander, caraway, aniseed. These should only be replanted in the same area every 3-4 years. 🌿 Common diseases - Powdery mildew - Downy mildew - Dill blight - Root rot 🐛 Typical pests - Aphids - Dill leaf wasp - Spider mites - snails

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Germination temperature

15 - 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

10 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm