Dill Seeds: An All-Round Gardener’s Guide on How to Plant, Grow, Harvest, and Use Dill Seeds
Dill seeds are good for more than clogging up your spice rack. These small, flat seeds are from the dill plant (Anethum graveolens) and provide culinary versatility while allowing you to sow again in your herb garden year after year. If you are curious about how to make pickles at home, test out some fragrant bread recipes, or even plant dill from seed in your garden, you must learn how to grow, harvest, and store the dill seeds.
Most gardeners don’t realize that dill weed and dill seed are from the same plant, yet have distinctly different flavors. The feathery leaves of the plant impart a fresh, grassy flavour while the seeds produce a more potent, slightly bitter taste with hints of caraway. This guide will take you through all the details, giving you what you need to know about how to grow your dill from seed, harvest it for a supply of your homegrown herb, and help inspire ways to use this versatile ingredient in your kitchen.
Growing Dill from Seed
Choosing the Right Conditions
Where to Plant Dill Seeds: Successful growing of dill seeds begins with choosing the right location and time. Dill grows perfectly in full sun and dirt that drains nicely with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. This herb is best direct-sown, rather than transplanted, since moving the plants can stress it and lead to poor growth.
Preparation of the soil: Enhance drainage and fertility by incorporating compost or well-aged manure into your planting area. Dill is not a heavy feeder, but it can handle higher organic matter.
Timing: Sow dill seeds in the ground starting a week or two after the soil temperatures reach at least your latest spring frost date, 60 degrees F. To extend the harvest period, sow seeds every 2-3 weeks for continued harvest throughout the season.
Dill Seeds Planting Techniques
Sow Direct Method: Sow thinly in prepared soil and cover lightly with ¼ inch fine soil or compost. Seedlings will usually emerge in 7-14 days under ideal conditions.
Spacing: Sow seeds ½ inch apart in rows 12 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches when they are 2-3 inches tall.
Watering: The soil stays constantly moist during germination, but is not soaked. After getting established, dill is quite drought-tolerant and prefers things to dry out just a bit.
Care and Maintenance
Dill is also easy to take care of once it takes root. The plant will naturally bolt (go to flower) as it gets hotter, usually 6-8 weeks after planting. If you want to prolong your early fresh dill this summer, pull off flower buds that you see develop (although this will, of course, obviate seed formation).
For gardeners looking for fresh leaves and seed production, plant successions — pull plants for fresh dill weed and let others go to flower for seed production.
How to Harvest Dill Seeds
Recognizing Harvest Readiness
Knowing when to harvest dill seeds is key. The seeds are brownish in color, and the heads (umbels) of the flowers will start to roll inward and make little doughnuts. It does this so they can lay eggs to form seed, which generally develops 2-3 weeks following the flowering stage.
Visual: Seeds – brown and dry away from the parent plant. Easily drooping seeds may be determined as over-ripe and less viable for sowing.
Harvesting Process
Use clean pruning shears or herb scissors to cut the whole top flower head with 6-8 inches of stem still attached. Collect on a sunny, dry morning, after the dew has dried to reduce moisture content.
Hang the cut stems upside down in paper bags and store them at room temperature in a dry area with good ventilation. After 1-2 weeks, gently shake the stems – ripe seeds will fall into the bag whilst you do very little.
Cleaning and Processing
Afterward, spread the seeds out onto a fine mesh screen or shallow pan to rid them of plant material. Carefully blow away chaff and pieces of broken stems to leave stems over the seeds.
Cooking With Dill Seeds
Culinary Applications
This is because the flavor in dill seeds is stronger and more concentrated than that of fresh dill leaves. Seeds are especially good in:
Pickles: Dill seed pickles are one of the most famous, and they are made from old recipes. They contribute the unique flavor that makes the dill pickle familiar and good.
Seed Mixes: Lightly toast the whole seeds in a dry pan before grinding them to full-flavored perfection, and add extra whole seeds to any blend.
Baking: Mix into bread, crackers, and savory pastries for a seedy, fragrant hit.
Featured Dill Seed Recipes
Traditional Dill Seed: Cucumber pickles use 2 T dill seed with garlic, peppercorns, and vinegar brine. Dill seed in pickles is what adds that truly dill, tangy taste.
Dill Seed Salad Dressing: Whisk olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and 1 tsp ground dill seed for a versatile dressing to add instant flavor to potato salad or fresh greens.
Dill Seed Bread: Mix two tablespoons of dill seeds into your bread recipe for a deliciously aromatic, European-style loaf with soups and stews.
Roasted Dill Seed Vegetables: Coarsely chop root vegetables and roast with olive oil and whole dill seeds to instantly transform a side dish into something deep and interesting.
Dill Seed Oil Infused Oil: Heat olive oil with dill seeds, let them cool, and strain -makes a wonderful drizzling oil over veggies, fish, and marinades.
Health Benefits
Dill seeds contain chemicals that might help digestion and provide antioxidant effects. Historically, dill seed has been highly respected as a remedy for gastrointestinal disturbances and to relieve flatulence.
How to store Dill Seeds for a longer period without loss of quality
Short-term Storage
Place cleaned dill seeds in glass jars for immediate culinary use and seal tightly, away from light and heat. Stored correctly, seeds retain their taste for 2-3 years, but do continually decrease in strength as they get older.
Container options: We like small mason jars, spice jars with tight-fitting lids, or vacuum-sealed bags for storage in the kitchen.
Long-term Seed Storage
For planting, dry dill seeds are particularly sound because well-dried seeds will last many years.
Moisture Regulation: Dry seeds thoroughly before storing. They may develop mold or have lower germination rates if there’s any remaining moisture.
Temperature: Store in a cool, stable temperature place. Refrigeration would give it a few more years of life.
Labeling: Be sure to date your stored seeds, and write the variety if you grow more than one type of dill.
Testing Seed Viability
If you’re planting old seeds, test a few out first by wetting a paper towel and placing 10-20 seeds inside it in a ziploc bag. Let it stand out at room temperature for a few weeks and check after 7 to 14 days. If less than 70% germinate, consider buying new seeds or sow more heavily to account for any decrease in viability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dill weed and dill seed the same?
No, dill weed and dill seed are from the same plant, but not the same thing. Dill is a fragrant and flavorsome herb with two widely used parts — the feathery green leaves called dill weed, and the small, oval seeds known as dill seed that form after flowers have bloomed. They are of different tastes and cooking qualities.
Can I sow dill seeds from the grocery store?
While store-bought dill seeds may sprout, they’re typically heat-treated for culinary purposes, possibly decreasing their viability. To get the most success planting dill from seed, purchase seeds marketed for planting from a reputable garden store.
How long does it take for dill seeds to germinate?
In ideal growing conditions (moist, warm soil temperatures around 60-70°F), dill seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Germination time may be longer at cooler temperatures.
At what point should I pick dill seeds, not dill leaves?
Use fresh leaves as they are harvested throughout the growing season. If you prefer both leaves and seeds, pick leaves as they grow from some of your plants and let others flower and set seed. When a plant starts flowering, it becomes less productive of leaves, and the flavor may become more bitter.
Can you freeze dill seeds?
Yes, the dill seed can be frozen as a spice or in other cooking applications. For planting, however, storing the Rhizomes in a refrigerator under dry conditions is usually best to retain the greatest viability.
How much room do dill plants require?
Plant dill 4-6\”” apart in rows 12 inches apart. Dill has a taproot and doesn’t do well when crowded, so adequate spacing allows for good plant health and maximum seed production.
Growing Your Own Dill Legacy
If you grow and harvest your own dill seeds, then you have set up a sustainable cycle in your garden and can also experience having a fresh supply of this fragrant herb! From that simple pleasure of getting to put homegrown dill seed in pickles, to the satisfaction of tracking volunteer plants from self-sown seeds, there are rewards beyond a single growing season.
Begin with a few plants this season and allow some to seed, then learn how easy it is to become self-sufficient in fresh cut dill heads for the kitchen and seed for next year. Your homemade pickles, crafty breads, and next year’s herb garden will all be the better for it.
Dill seed saving. Whether you are inspired by the culinary potential or the gardening satisfaction of saving your own seeds, dill provides a ready entry into both seed saving and herb gardening. Sow some dill seeds this season, and begin the cycle of growth, harvest, and renewal yourself.
