About Leaf Dill aka "Dill Weed" (Anethum graveolens)
[There is a separate page on seed dill.]
Dill is, we think, one of the great herbs, and is sadly underappreciated and underused in
the U.S. Dill is grown for both its dried seeds and its ferny leaf; though the same plant
can be used for both purposes, cultivars aimed at one or the other particular use have been
bred, so one is best off using different plants, of different cultivars, for the two
purposes. This page deals only with growing dill for leaf (commonly called "dill weed").
Cultivars
Dill cultivars (like those of coriander) fall into two broad
classes, those intended mainly for seed production and "slow-bolt" types intended mainly
for leaf production; there are also some varieties that are distinctly smaller than the
others, intended especially for container growing.
If one has restricted indoor growing space and needs a small dill for leaf growth, the
cultivar Fernleaf is probably the best choice. For those with a little more room,
or who are growing dill weed outdoors, the newer varieties Hercules or possibly
SuperDukat (the latter supposedly an improved strain of the Dukat type) seem
the best choices.
Planting
Dill is an annual. In its early growth, which typically lasts 40 to 60 days after
emergence, it produces the ferny leaves ("weed") that we want. At some point, the plant
starts sending up a flower stalk from its center, at which time leaf production ceases (and
seed production begins). Obviously, then, we need to start a new plant every couple of
months or so to be assured of a continuing supply of fresh dill weed.
(If you have the room for multiple plants, you can let your flowering dill stand till seed
production is complete, then harvest the seed and thresh it out as described on the page
here about seed dill.)
As with most herbs, dill definitely wants well-drained soil. It likes full sun.
To sow, place the seed on the soil surface, then just barely cover it with sifted soil or a
little sand. After sowing, be patient, for dill is a slow germinator, often taking over 3
weeks to emerge, though rather less if the soil is warm (as it should be indoors).
Growing
Fertilize growing dill when the plants start flowering with a sprinkling of fertilizer high
in potassium and phosphorus.
Keep an eye on your dill plants--which, of the non-dwarf varieties, can get tall, 2 to 3
feet high if healthy--to see if they're starting to droop from being top-heavy; if so,
stake them.
Relevant Links
Besides any links presented above on this page, the following ought to be especially helpful.
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Dill -
from Gernot Katzer's immensely valuable Spice Dictionary
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Dill -
an informative page from the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association's "Herbs for the
Prairies" site
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Plants For a Future Database: Dill -
lots of data on the plant, and links to yet more
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Anethum -
good growing and harvesting information, with some cultivar discussion
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