Growing Dill Herb in Northeast Florida Gardens
(Anethum graveolens)
Dill Herb / Anethum Graveolens Origin and Uses:
An old world annual herb, Dill is a member of the Parsley family and originated in the Eastern portions of the Mediterranean and Western Asia. Dill herb plants have been grown and harvested for culinary use in vegetable dishes, meat preparations, soups, stews, herb vinegars, and perhaps most commonly, pickling.
Medicinally, dill water is used as a ‘gripe water’ to ease the stomach of infants.
Growing Season for Northeast Florida Dill / Anethum Graveolens:
A cool season annual for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville and St. Augustine area gardens. Dill can be sown from seed directly into the garden in fall and spring. Temperatures should be above 60 degrees.
Sun Exposure for Dill / Anethum Graveolens in Northeast Florida:
Plant Dill herbs in areas where it will receive full sun throughout the day.
Soil Preference for Dill / Anethum Graveolens:
Moist, rich, and well draining soils.
Amend your planting site generously with compost when installing your new Dill/Anethum Graveolens herb plants.
Water and Fertilizer Requirements of Dill / Anethum Graveolens:
Newly planted seeds will require watering every day until the set of mature leaves emerges, then taper back watering to three times a week, then twice a week for in-ground plants and three to four times a week for potted containers.
In General, Herbs need little fertilizer. To much fertilizer can lead to lush green growth with low volitale oils in the plant, less oils equals less flavor and aroma for your herbs. However, when planting into Floridas sandy soils you may find your plants in need of a boost. If so, try fertilizing with a mixture of organic fish emulsions and seaweed at one ounce of each per gallon of water. Put into a sprayer and water every other week or as needed with the mixed solution. If your leaves still look a bit lackluster consider a bit of blood meal fertilizer.
Or, if you find your plant struggling at any point, make up a batch of compost tea and water generously. Repeat as needed weekly or biweekly.
Size of Dill / Anethum Graveolens When Mature:
Dill plants will grow to heights of 2-3 feet with an 18 inch spread.
Sowing Dill / Anethum Graveolens Seeds into Northeast Florida Soils:
Dill seeds germinate easily and can be directly sown right into their final destination in the garden. Transplanting young plants can prove to be difficult, even when planting from a container into the garden. Sow your dill seeds 1/4 th of an inch below the soil surface.
Dill seeds will sprout within 10-14 days from sowing and leaves can be harvested in as little as 8 weeks from germination.
Dill herb plants left to go to seed in the garden will germinate readily when the right weather conditions return.
Harvesting Dill / Anethum Graveolens in the Northeast Florida Landscape:
Dill can be harvested in as little as 6-8 weeks time from the foliage sprouting above the soil level. Harvest Dill be removing the outer and lower leaves as needed.
Dill seeds can be harvested by trimming off the flower stalks in early morning when the seeds have turned a light tan color. Put the flower umbels into a paper bag and allow the seeds to fully ripen. Once fully ripened the seeds can be easily shaken loose. If left in the garden to ripen, seeds will scatter into the soil when you touch the flowering heads.
Blooms and Seeds of Dill / Anethum Graveolens for Northeast Florida Landscape:
Dill flowers are attractive clusters of small yellow blooms held atop the foliage of the plant in summer. The delicate flower umbels really are quite showy. Combined with the feathery foliage, dill herbs makes a pretty garden planting.
Dill seeds are small, oval, and flat, they are a brown color when mature.