Growing Dill Bouquet


Latest Update 8th December 2016.

Dill Bouquet
  • Dill is a vigorous large herb in an Ecobed.  It needs to be grown in a sunny position in moist soil.
  • I grow it as an annual to increase plant diversity in my garden, and use it as a companion plant for cucumbers.
  • It is a useful culinary herb, and the leaves are best used freshly cut.  I use it to flavour pickled cucumbers and in butter as a dressing on freshly steamed young potatoes.
  • After it finishes flowering, I cut it down and add it to my compost heap.
Details.
  • Variety:                                                  Anethum graveolens.
  • Family group:                                         Boraginaceae.
  • Garden bed type:                                     Ecobed.
  • Recommended soil pH.                           6.0 - 7.0.
  • Minimum sun per day:                            3 hours.
  • Plant spacings (centres):                        500mm.
  • Climate:                                                  Warm temperate.
  • Geography:                                             Southern hemisphere.
Growing Conditions.
  • Dill needs full sun.
  • It grows well in moist fertile soil, and loves hot weather in an Ecobed.
Soil Preparation.
  • Clear a space in spring by removing old mulch, dead leaves and unwanted organic material.
  • Apply a 60mm top dressing of homemade compost. and cover with about 50mm of straw mulch.
Growing Instructions.
  • Propagate Dill from seeds sown in jiffy pots in an EcoPropagator, and transplant them when ready into a prepared bed.
  • Once the plants start to grow vigorously apply a foliar spray of aerated compost tea every 4 weeks.
Harvesting and Storage.
  • Dill leaves are best harvested and used fresh, as they loose their flavour stored as dry herbs.
  • Freezing them in oil will preserve their flavour for several months. 
Organic Pest Control.
  • Dill has always been resistant to pests in my garden.
  • General.
    • Repeated foliar sprays of aerated compost tea should deter most airborne pests and diseases.
    • Proper soil preparation and regular applications of home made compost should help control soil borne pests.

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