Dill The Meeting House Herb by Judi Singleton

Dill The “Meeting House” Herb

(Anethum graveolens)

There is nothing like the flavor of fresh dill, and the best way to get

really fresh dill is to grow it yourself. Fortunately, dill is an easy

herb to grow, and once you discover the pleasures of growing your own,

you'll never buy commercially prepared dill again. In this issue,

you'll discover how to grow dill, and lots of uses for this refreshing

herb. Some of the recipes in this issue may be familiar, but I bet

you'll find a few new ones, too!

Dill or dill weed, is a native of Southern Europe and Western Asia.

Dill grows wild in the Mediterranean countries and has escaped from

gardens in parts of North and South America. It was found among the

names of herbs used by Egyptian doctors 5,000 years ago and the remains

of the plant have been found in the ruins of Roman buildings in

Britain.

It is mentioned in the Gospel of St. Matthew: It is suggested that

herbs were of sufficient value to be used as a tax payment-oh if that

were true today! :”Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for

ye pay tithe of mint and dill and cumin, and have omitted the weightier

matters of the law.”

It was once an important medicinal herb for treating coughs and

headaches, and an ingredient of ointments and for calming infants with

whooping cough. Dill is said to come from the Anglo-Saxon dylle meaning

to soothe or lull.

During the Middle Ages dill was prized as protection againsh

witchcraft. While magicians used it in their spells, lesser mortals

infused it in wine to enhance passion. Early settlers took dill to

North America, where it came to be known as the ”Meeting House Seed,”

because the children were given the seed to chew during long sermons to

keep them from feeling hungry.

Dill is an annual with a height of about 2-5 feet. Tiny yellow-green

flowers grow in flattened umbel clusters in the summer. The leaves are

aromatic, feathery green. Dill weed is what most recipes ask for, dill

leaf is the same thing.

In the Spring sow the seeds in succession for a good leaf crop. The

seeds are easy to handle, being a good size. Dill does not like being

transplanted, so choose the site carefully. Dill prefers well-drained,

fertile soil in full sun. Dill can be grown in containers, in a

sheltered corner with plenty of sun. However, it will need staking. The

art of growing it successfully is to keep cutting the plant for use in

the kitchen. That way you will promote new growth and keep the plant

reasonably compact. The drawback is that it will be fairly short-lived,

so you will have to do successive sowings in different pots to maintain

a good supply.

Anethum graveolens) Shop for Herb Seeds

Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow and would make a great first

herb for someone who has never grown herbs before. You'll find lots of

uses for both the fronds and the seeds in the kitchen. A sprig of dill

will perk up almost any soup, salad, or main dish. You can buy

transplants at your local garden center, but there is no need because

dill is easy to grow from seeds. You won't even have to start them

indoors - just plant your dill seeds right in the garden where you want

them to grow.

When to Plant

Dill likes to be planted in cool weather. In warm winter areas that

don't experience a hard frost, you can plant dill in fall or winter. In

cooler areas, plant dill a week or two before your last hard frost.

After the first sowing, plant again every 10 days or so for a

continuous crop.

When growing in containers, use a deep container to accommodate the

long roots, and remember that you will eventually have a plant that is

three feet tall. Plants grown in containers may require staking.

Cultivation

Here are a few suggestions to start you on your way to a healthy crop

of dill:

Dill, like most herbs, loves to bask in the sun, but will tolerate

afternoon shade.

Dill grows up to 3 feet tall, so plant it in the back of your flower,

vegetable or herb garden.

Sow seeds close together. This will allow the plants, which blow over

easily to support each other.

Cover the seeds lightly, and allow a week or two for them to germinate.

Go to Page 2

BIO:

about the author Judi Singleton is the publisher of Jassmine's Journal
gget targeted advertising, be sure your ad is going out to the right

audience. You can subscribe to Jassmine's Journal at

http://www.motherearthpublishing.com join all the lists or one.

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

Calling All Singles - Cooking for Busy Lives by Marybeth Gregg

Research-based Fertility Acupuncture That Works by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

Cetyl Myristoleate separating fact from fiction by Rusty Ford

Are You at Risk for Diabetes? by Renee Kennedy

Weight Loss: Why Doctors Recommend Phentermine Weight Loss Pills by Sara

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39