Why Grow Dill in Your Garden?
Years ago, planting dill in my vegetable garden never crossed my mind. I’m not a big cook, and I couldn’t name a dish that I would need dill for. But over the last few years I have been growing dill in my garden to attract beneficial insects and control pests in the garden. In more recent months I have started cooking more. I have become concerned about all of the artificial dyes and additives in our food and I have wanted to limit the amount of processed food I eat.
It seems like such a waste to purchase the dill plants each year and not use it in the kitchen. It’s such an easy herb to grow and belongs in every vegetable garden.
Planting Dill:
Planting dill is easy even for beginner gardeners. You can seed directly in the garden, start your seeds indoors or purchase a transplant from the garden center. I prefer the transplants from the farmer’s market or garden center over sowing seeds because I can get an earlier start on my garden.
Dill likes to be grown in loose, well-drained soil, and in a garden that gets 6-8 hours of sun. It prefers the cool-weather and will thrive in temperatures from 60 to 70°F, though it can tolerate a cooler weather and even a frost. When the hot summer weather arrives, dill will go to to seed. I always give my dill a head start in early spring and then again in the late summer for a fall harvest.
Dill and Beneficial Insects:
One of the coolest things about dill is how it acts as a magnet for beneficial insects. Not only does dill’s light, lacy texture look pretty beside big leafy vegetables, but it’s a go-to plant for attracting ladybugs and green lacewings that help keep pest populations in check. It is a favorite of the little parasitic wasp which is the enemy of the tomato hornworm.
And don’t forget the black swallowtail caterpillars! These little guys love munching on dill. I don’t encourage caterpillars in my garden, but this is one that I have been on the lookout for. I haven’t seen any yet, but hope the black swallowtail might visit in the future. I have 6 raised garden beds and plant at dill in at least 3 of them each year. If I am lucky enough to find them on a couple of my dill plants I will be happy to share.
Dill in the Kitchen:
One of the best parts about growing dill is getting to use it fresh in the kitchen. Here are a few ways you can add it to your cooking:
- Classic Pickles: A must, right? Fresh dill heads and seeds go perfectly with cucumbers for tangy, homemade pickles.
- Salads and Dressings: Those delicate leaves add a surprising punch to summer salads, and if you haven’t tried fresh dill in a yogurt dressing, you’re missing out.
- Herb Butter and Fish: Mix chopped dill into softened butter for an herb spread, or make a creamy dill sauce for your fish, especially salmon or trout.
While we don’t generally like it when our herbs like basil go to seed, dill is the exception. When it’s flower heads go to seed, you can collect them to use as coriander in your spice collection—fresh from the garden!
Growing dill is such a simple way to add a fresh, flavorful touch to both your garden and kitchen. From attracting beneficial insects to spicing up your recipes, dill is a hardworking herb that truly deserves its place in your garden beds. And the best part? It’s easy to grow and just as easy to use in everything from pickles to herb butter.
If you’re excited to grow more easy-care herbs like dill, check out my ebook, The No Fuss Herb Garden. It’s full of practical tips to help you start and care for a thriving herb garden—perfect for gardeners who want fresh herbs without the extra hassle. Ready to dig in? Click here to learn more and get your copy!
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