Dill dudes

[bobby280]

I'm guessing as it's an eastern european/scandinavian staple it's well suited to cold weather and the british climate? Didn't see it in homebase or the supermarkets/diy places the other day but I presume I should be able to get hold of it no bother?

[Millymollymandy]

You should find it easily enough, and mine which self seeds all over the place is already 3" high so it germinates in fairly cool temps outdoors.

[pelmetman]

You'll be able to buy a packet of seeds in any garden centre. Usually plant in April so pop it in now and it will soon be under way, just pick a sunny position.

Sue

[bobby280]

Thanks to both of you. Will get it intoday. So it grows quit high and big then?

[theabsinthefairy]

Up to about a metre, but not hugely bushy, just lots of seed heads. It does self seed like mad though.

The best way to gather the seeds is when the seed heads are thoroughly dry, then run the tines of a fork from stalk to seeds with a bowl underneath and the seeds just pop off easily, leave to dry thoroughly then store in a spice jar and use all winter long.

I also collect up some of the green frondy leaves and chop into ice cube trays then freeze. When you have made boiled spuds, add an ice cube of herb and let it defrost on the hot spuds for a lovely fresh dill flavour.

[Millymollymandy]

I have it in loads of my flower beds as it is a stunning ornamental plant, grows up to about 5 foot tall, just dead head it regularly and it will keep putting out new (but smaller) flower heads and will last most of the summer looking good. Not so good for picking as a herb at this stage but you can always successionally sow it for that, doesn't take very long to come up big enough to pick the leafy fronds.

Also it is a food plant of the Swallowtail caterpillar so that's another reason I grow so much of it so I have loads of their beautiful caterpillars on it and hopefully am helping the species in my own little way. So please don't destroy any big colourful caterpillars you find on it - this isn't one for the chooks!

The dill is the tall lime green/yellow fluffy round flower heads.

Dill in flower bed.jpg (162.6 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

[theabsinthefairy]

It looks lovely in your garden MMM

[Shirley]

I've got some in pots at the moment - M3 your garden looks fantastic!

[pelmetman]

Love your garden, thats just how I like it lots of cottage plants and herbs a real old fashioned cottage garden.

Sue

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks guys I also have lots of Verbena Bonariensis as both that and dill are great together as they are both very tall but see through plants and the VB is a butterfly magnet. So that bed is my herb bed plus other things but mainly the bed where the butterflies and bees make a beeline for (excuse the pun). Plus it is just outside my livng room so I can see the tall things from my favourite place reclined on the sofa.

[citizentwiglet]

MMM, your garden is stunning!

[bobby280]

Yes, very nice indeed MMM. Good work.

[Millymollymandy]

Cheers, it's a lot more labour intensive than growing veg. But much more fun to me.