Dill (Anthem graveolens) is a great starter to use in your herb garden. This feathery looking plant can fill in a bed nicely on its own or combine well with other herbs.
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Dill in the Garden
Due to the delicate root system dill does not transplant well. Plant it directly in a garden bed or in a pot. Fortunately, many herbs can be grown indoors on a windowsill or kitchen counter if you have good sunlight.
Use a moderately rich soil and ensure that it will get full sun. Living in Florida full sun may be different then in Minnesota. As I explored in my article “6 Things to Consider Before Growing“, 6-8 hours of sunlight seems to be adequate for most plants.
Ensuring that your seeds are in rich soil, receiving adequate sunlight and water will provide you with a healthy plant.
Rich History
For anyone that has enjoyed a dill pickle it is an easily recognizable fragrance. A few things you may not know about dill.
A symbol for good luck, fortune and courage
- Used in pillows for sleep
- Represented wealth to Greeks
- As a protection from harm
In ancient times sprigs of dill were woven into wreaths and worn on the head.
Health Benefits
Dill is believed to improve mood and strengthen the mind. As mentioned above it is used in pillows to help lull people especially babies to sleep. “Gripe water” is a water made from dill and used to sooth colicky babies.
Including dill in your diet can improve your appetite and digestion. You can make the feather/aerial portion of dill into a tea to help ease abdominal pains or cramps. It is also said to help with colds, flu or cough. If you plan to use herbs medicinally always consult with a physician or natural health practitioner.
My Experiences
The first time I planted dill I used a small ceramic pot and did not harvest it often, the plant ended up bolting and producing a plethora of seeds. If you have a large herb garden this isn’t always a bad thing. Allowing your plant to seed means you will have enough for making pickles and saving for the next year.
I have seen plenty of recipes to make dill pickles, but have enjoyed this one The Kitchn about making dill pickles.
Another great use for dill is to make a lemon dill compound butter which you can use on chicken, pork or beef. Add it to some pasta with fresh vegetables would be a tasty summer dish.
To make a compound butter always make sure to use unsalted butter so that you can control the salt (sodium) within your recipes.
For a lemon dill compound butter:
- one stick of butter (1/2 cup)
- the zest and juice of half a lemon
- approximately 1 tablespoon of fresh dill
- salt to taste. (adjust all ingredients to your own personal taste)
Additional Gardening Tips
In Florida we rarely need to worry about frost, but I have found you can protect most herbs by covering them with a cloth overnight.
If your garden expands beyond just herbs, consider companion planting. This concept uses herbs to help encourage growth in other plants while deterring pest. Dill can be planted near broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce and onions.
I would enjoy hearing how my readers use fresh herbs and what is your favorite?
References:
- The Way of Herbs, by Michael Tierra
- The Aromatherapy Garden, by Kathy Keville
