Growing dill from cuttings is our topic for today, but first, let’s get to know the herb a little. Dill is an herb that’s used in various cuisines throughout the world. The seeds and leaves are used as spices or herbs for flavoring food, and all the plant’s parts are edible.
Dill is native to southern Russia, the Mediterranean, and Western Africa. This herb is a member of the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family, which also includes parsley, coriander, celery, and cumin, among many other aromatic plants.
Dill and Its Benefits
Dill is high in calcium that promotes healthy bones. It is also believed to increase milk production in lactating mothers and can be used for treating menstrual disorders.
While dill is often grown as an annual, it is actually a tender biennial. It is an herb that excels in the warm season but rather sensitive to light freezes or even frost, which is why most people grow it annually. If you want to learn how to grow dill from cuttings? check out the following techniques.
Growing Dill from Cuttings in Containers
Many herbs can be grown in containers, either indoors or outdoors or right in your kitchen in pots and dill is no exception. Growing dill from cuttings in the comfort of your home can easily be done as long as you have the proper light conditions.
The plant grows fairly quickly, and leaves can be ready for harvesting in 6 to 8 weeks. It is advisable to use a deep container to accommodate the tall plant and its roots.
People often assume that growing dill from cuttings is not possible since it isn’t too fond of being transplanted. However, it is actually something quite easy to do.
Dill cuttings root in water fairly quickly and can be transplanted into planting containers or pots in about 2 to 3 weeks. For best results, choose healthy new plants. Each rooting dill stem grows into a single new plant.
Planting
You should plant the freshly rooted dill cuttings in a rich soil that drains well. It turns out that plants like to have a pH level of soil that ranges between 6 to 7.5. Dill loves sunlight.
So, for best results, you need to place the container or pot with the dill plants close to a window that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight, or else you will have to use grow-light to provide the plant with the necessary lighting. The plants may require support with a stake after they have grown.
Watering
For the best results, dill should be evenly and regularly watered, especially during the growing season. However, you should avoid overwatering the plant or even allowing the plants to sit in very wet soil or compost. In fact, dill grows best if allowed to almost dry between watering sessions, especially if it is already established.
Diseases and Pests
Dill is a plant that’s not bothered by too many things. Still, it does have its weaknesses. Carrot red leaf virus can be a problem, which is why you should avoid planting your dill close to carrot plants. Downy mildew, leaf blight, and damping-off can also affect the plant.
Fortunately, you can prevent these problems by avoiding excess fertilization, not overcrowding, and rotating crops.
Dill tends to attract both lacewings and ladybugs. Both of them like eating aphids, which means that planting dill close to other vegetables and herbs can act as a natural pesticide. Lettuce, corn, basil, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cucumbers, onions, and chervil are some of the best companion plants for dill.
Harvesting
Harvesting dill requires proper timing and the use of a pair of sharp scissors. Fresh dill cannot be kept for too long before wilting, which is why you should harvest it when it is needed.
You can harvest dill leaves at any time once they are available, i.e., once the plant has at least 4 to 5 leaves. Leaves can be either pinched off or cut off with scissors.
Be sure to water your dill plant either the day prior to or the actual day of harvesting. This helps to clean the leaves and hydrate the plant so that you won’t need to do this after harvesting the leaves.
Until the flowers go to seed, you can keep on harvesting. In fact, if you plan to harvest the plant in the earlier days of growing, the longer the plant will delay flowering.
Dill leaves can be used fresh or frozen or dried during winter and as well as dill seeds.