Growing Dill
About Dill
Dill looks like a plant that comes right out of a fairy garden! It has an almost magical quality with long green stems that branch out into clusters forming an umbrella of bright yellow flowers adorning wispy blue-green fern like leaves. The flowers also make dill nice to have in your bed as they seed profusely making growing dill so easy guaranteeing its return over and over again.
Dill is a biennial and comes from Mediterranean and southeastern European areas. It is most commonly known for its wonderful culinary uses where every part of the plant, from its stems to the flowers and seeds can be eaten. It is a member of the parsley family, which makes it one of those aromatic plants known as umbellifers. As such, it’s not uncommon to catch the smell when walking through any garden where dill is growing; or, find many pollinators like wasps, bees and butterflies visiting the site.
How to Grow
Dill can be grown in containers or outdoors in natural beds. It can also be grown indoors as long as it has a bright spot with good sun for at least 6 hours a day. However, once a decision has been made on where to place it, don’t move it! Dill has a very large tap-root system that does not like to be moved and would likely not transplant well if attempted.
Dill likes sandy soil or well-drained soil that is around 70 degrees when planting. It will grow taller and stronger in full sun however it does prefer consistent moderate weather that is not either too hot or too cold so plan for some shade if you are in a spot with extremely high heat. Sow seeds broadly a quarter to 1" deep and within 30 days of sprouting thin to about 12" apart.
Tips
- Dill ferns can be cut as soon as they have four branches on them and should be harvested before the flowers bloom for the most optimum flavor.
- If more ferns are preferred plant fern leaf, for more seeds plant mammoth; or, go wild and plant both to ensure a large supply for canning, garnishing, soups and seasoning.
- Dill can grow from three to four feet tall and may need support with stakes so try to plan it in a space that is protected from high winds.
- Harvest dill when the umbel, the flower heard, has turned brown and the stem is still somewhat green.
- Black Swallow tail butterflies love dill; it would be surprising if they did not show up. If you want to avoid having them eat the ferns plant several spots around your space and choose one for them; then, migrate them to that section as they appear and enjoy their beauty.
Companions
Dill grows well with cucumbers (of course!) along with cabbage plants, corn, asparagus, onions lettuce, squash or basil. Dill does not do well with carrots.
Characteristics:
- Height: 24 to 48 inches tall
- Width: 12 to 24 inches
- Zone: 3 to 11; can be grown in summer in zones 3 and 8 and winter in 8-11
- Maturity: harvesting can start around 30-45 days with seeds at 60-90
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Growing Dill
Echinacea-Growing Coneflowers
About Echinacea
One of the coolest flowers! There is just something special about this beautiful perennial that shows up in spring on long stems with petals of pink or yellow surrounding a bright orange spiky center. My opinion is not singular either! Anyone “asking Google” will find an intriguing history surrounding this herbaceous plant; and, as you can see from the photo it’s loved by bees and birds alike. So if you’re looking for a pollinating powerhouse or a way to feed those birds you long to bring to you’re yard or gardens echinacea is the plant for you!
Echinacea, also known as cone flower, pink sunflower, hedgehog and several other common names, originates from eastern and central North America growing wild in prairies and wooded areas. It is known for its pink flowers; however, you can also find them in yellow, white and several new hybrid colors ranging from red to burgundy and even green.
How to Grow
One of the neat things about echinacea is that it is a perennial so it can be divided and grown from existing roots (should be at least three before doing this) and also grown from its seeds like annuals. It is not an argumentative plant and will accommodate most soils but does prefer rich well drained soil and full sun defined as six hours per day.
If planting from seed, echinacea produces its best flowers after a winter sleep. This means they need stratification and should be planted in the fall to naturally take advantage of the cold wet conditions needed for the best germination. If your in an area that does not allow natural stratification, or are attempting to seed in spring:
- Soak the seeds in water for a few hours
- Plant them in small seed starting pots and close them in a sealable bag
- Place the bag in the refrigerator up to 10 days checking regularly to ensure they have retained moisture.
- Once sprouted you can remove them from the refrigerator and move them to the place you wish to plant them.
- If it is late in the summer season, keep your seedlings in an area that is slightly shaded for a few days to acclimate them to the new temperatures gradually moving them over a few days time.
Tips:
These beauties do love full sun however in extremely hot climates with high temperatures for long periods of time they will burn and wilt. To avoid this know your areas and if you’re in one of our hot southern states choose a location that offers them shade in the hotter hours of the day.
Echinacea is a perennial so like many others it can start to look ratty after the blooms of spring. To extend its life some cut some of the flowers for arrangements as it grows promoting new growth.
If you’re leaving the flowers on to dry for birds or seed propagation cut the stems back to the base as soon as they have dried. This will enable a new surge of flowers for the fall.
Characteristics:
- Height: 12 to 36 inches tall
- Width: 12 to 24 inches
- Zone: 3 to 8; can be grown in zones 9 and 10 however should be treated as an annual using stratification to ensure proper germination each season.
- Maturity: 90-120 days
Common Names
- American Coneflower
- Coneflower
- Pink Sun Flower
- Pale Coneflower
- Purple Coneflower
- Echinacea Angustifolia
- Hedgehog
- Indian Head
- Kansas Snakeroot
- Narrow-Leaved Purple Cone Flower
Also See!
Medicinal uses of Echinacea (Coming Soon)