The Facts About Dill

Dill is a popular pickling herb with an impressive historical pedigree. Its uses date back to the bible. That lanky, fernlike, yellow flowered plant you see in the produce department of your grocery store was once so valuable that it was kept under lock and key. And even though its monetary value has plummeted over the centuries, its appeal hasn't.

The Colorful History of Dill

Once an important herb in witchcraft, and a purported aphrodisiac, dill has a distinctive sour flavor that makes an interesting and sometimes unexpected statement in cooking. The leaves, seeds, and flowers of the plant can all be used.

Growing Dill - Keeping Dill Happy in the Garden

An annual, dill likes full sun and a sheltered location. It prefers well-drained soil that has been amended with manure. In hot weather, dill is likely to bolt, so plant it early and watch for frost warnings. In the garden, it looks like fennel, but shouldn't be planted near it as the plants will cross-pollinate. The result is unappealing. Dill gets spindly after a month or so, and even a light wind will topple it, so keep it protected; tie it to a stick or post if you have to.

In midsummer, dill will produce wispy clusters of fragrant yellow flowers. If you want a larger harvest of leaves, keep pinching the flowers back to encourage leaf production. This also works for a while if the plant is beginning to bolt.

Propagating Dill

Dill seeds readily in spring, and one plant produces a good crop of seeds that will stay viable for years. You can plant seeds directly outdoors, but be sure to keep them well watered. Thin dill seedlings to about 12 inches apart.

Growing Dill Indoors

Dill can thrive indoors for a season if you can situate it in a sunny window. The plant will probably be a little smaller in overall size than its outdoor brother, but will be as flavorful nonetheless. It will still get leggy as it grows, but keeping it trimmed back a bit will help it maintain a pleasing shape.

Uses for Dill

Most of the plant can be used, with the possible exception of the stem. Depending on the part you are using, there is a big difference in the intensity of the flavor.

Using Dill Leaves
The leaves are least flavorful, so use them in the highest concentrations in egg dishes, with fish, cheese spreads and on vegetables.

Using Dill Flowers
The flowering tops of dill have more flavor than the seeds and make a good addition to the pickle jar. Instead of just pickling gherkins this year, try a colorful vegetable medley.

Using Dill Seeds
Dill seeds provide the strongest flavor by far. Used whole or ground, they are a good accompaniment to soups, fish, and vegetables. They can also be used to make a unique herb bread, flavored vinegar, and can even be added in small quantities to desserts, particularly those containing apples.

Medicinal Uses for Dill
A tea made from a tablespoon of dill seed can help cure indigestion and treat hiccups. It has also been used successfully to treat colic (at 1/3 concentration) and to stimulate milk production in lactating women. Save any remainder and soak your fingers in it to help strengthen your nails.

Dill may not be the most beautiful plant growing in the garden. It looks a bit weedy, and doesn't have the good sense to stand up straight, but it is a useful herb, and looks aren't everything.

Notes on Keeping and Using Dill:

Dill self seeds readily. If you live in a temperate climate, it will come back year after year. Cucumber marinated in dill vinegar is a delicious accompaniment to a summer meal. If you feel that your navy bean soup lacks punch, try adding a pinch of dried dill to spice up the flavor.