DILL - TETRA

     Organic Dill Tetra

                 

A nethum graveolens is believed to have its beginnings in the Mediterranean region. The plant has a long and ancient history in many countries as a culinary and medicinal herb. The earliest known record of dill as a medicinal herb was found in Egypt 5,000 years ago. In the 7th century, dill became a favoured herb in England. 

Heirloom Dill Tetra is grown primarily for its abundant foliage, producing much more foliage before forming seed than most varieties. It is one of the best for fresh leaf production and stands up well to the strain of intense cultivation. The flavour is intermediate between anise and caraway.

The fruits (called 'dill seeds') which impart a sharper flavour, are used as a spice, while the fernlike herb leaves (usually referred to as either 'dill weed' or 'baby dill'), especially when fresh, have a sweeter fragrance. 

          PLANTING & GROWING

The aromatic herb can grow in plant containers in your balcony garden or inside near a sunny window.

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your pots, plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them.  

Sow seed in clumps in 7cm (3in) pots. Use moist seed compost, cover with a fine layer of compost and keep the pots well watered. Transplant into larger pots when 15cm (6in) tall. Best sown directly into well prepared ground from March to July. The seedlings will emerge in two weeks or so, and should be thinned to 24cm (9in) apart. Further sowings can be made during the spring and early summer to extend the harvest time. 

Pinch the leaves down to the base of the plant until the plants are about 12cm (5in) high. As it grows snip the fronds at the point where they are emerging from the stalk. 

Good Companions: Cabbage, Lettuce, Onions, Sweetcorn and Cucumbers. Dill can improve the health of brassicas like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and Swiss chard. This is another one, in it’s early stages, the tomato plant will benefit from dill to protect it from flying pests. However, once the dill starts to mature it will hinder the growth of tomatoes. Avoid growing dill near fennel, as the two can cross-breed, resulting in seedlings with a poor flavour.