Dill is one of the most widely used herbs in the culinary world. It is harvested for its frond-like leaves and flavorful dill seeds. When used in soups or stews, it adds a touch of flavor to the recipe. It's often used in seafood dishes, salads, yogurt sauces, and even bread. Many people use dill as a side dish or for pickling. All in all, knowing how to harvest dill can take your ordinary recipes to the next level.
The best part is that dill is very easy to grow and harvest. Proper harvest of the plant can ensure a continuous supply of dill herbs throughout the year. Since dill seeds itself, you can even create a permanent patch of dill in your garden by blooming the plants and planting seeds.
Whether you are a skilled gardener or an amateur, you can grow dill for harvest in your own garden. After harvest, fresh dill can have a long lifespan if stored properly. We cover everything you need to know about harvesting and storing dill and seeds.
When should i harvest dill?
Plant dill for delicious harvests of dill. Source: Vanessa Lollipop
While you can pick dill leaves virtually anytime, the best time for dill weed is just before the plants begin to bloom. Then the oil in the leaves is the strongest and has the best taste. If you want to extend the harvest of your growing dill weed, prevent the plants from blooming and sowing.
In general, it is recommended that you choose a dry day for picking herbs, including dill. Start early and pick dill in the morning while the night dew evaporates from the plant but before the weather gets too hot.
Since the dill grows fairly quickly, the leaves are ready to use 6 to 8 weeks after planting. You can start harvesting your dill as soon as it has at least four to five leaves, but never more than a third of the plant at a time. This will help your plant grow back. If you need to use fresh dill more often, consider planting dill in larger quantities.
If you want to harvest the seeds, you will need to have some of your dill plants sown. Once they start to bloom you can still harvest herbs from them, but the taste will change. These flower heads are important because this is where the seed forms.
How to harvest dill
Harvesting dill plants, while easy, is still a very important process as plant growth and foliage production depend on it. Removing too much dill can affect the plant's ability to recover quickly from trimming. Take older leaves first unless you have a lot of dill. Use sharp and sterile scissors to cut the leaves.
Always water your dill plant the day before harvesting the dill. This will ensure that the plants are well hydrated and recover quickly. Watering overhead also cleanses the herb so you don't have to wash it before using.
How to harvest dill seeds
When the flowers fade, the dill seeds form. Source: Cloth.paper.string
Dill seeds are around 4 to 5 mm long and appear after the flowers have faded. If you want to collect dill seeds, wait for the flowers to set seeds and those seeds start to turn brown. This is a good indication that the seeds are ready to be harvested.
Carefully place a paper bag over the flower heads that contain the seeds. You may need to bend the stem to make sure you don't drop too many seeds. Then cut through the bent point on the stem and drop the seed head into the bag. Repeat this process until you have collected as many as you want, then put the bag somewhere to allow the heads to dry.
Once dry, crush the seed heads between your hands and break open to release all of the seed. Pour your herb and seeds on a flat surface, then blow lightly to remove the chaff from the seeds.
How to store fresh dill herb
Use your dill fresh after harvest or store it for later. Source: Pixelant
Harvested herbs wither quickly. However, it shouldn't be a problem if you use it quickly or know how to properly store your dill.
To keep the dill fresh, wrap the stems loosely in damp paper towels. After wrapping the stems, put them in a resealable plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator's sharper drawer. Stored in this way the herbs will keep for a few days without losing their taste.
You can also store dill herbs in water if you are cutting full stems. Place the cut end of the stem in about an inch of water in a glass. Place a plastic bag over it to act like a humidifier and put it in the refrigerator. Change the water daily. You should be able to store your fresh dill plant cuttings for up to a week without excessive wilting of the dill leaves or loss of taste.
Finally, freeze the dill for long-term storage. Wash the harvested leaves before chopping them and placing them in ice cube trays. Fill the cubes with just enough water to cover the freshly chopped cabbage. After freezing, remove from the tray and store in a freezer-proof plastic bag. Frozen dill herbs last up to 3 to 4 months.
How to dry dill
Dill seeds can be stored in a dry, airtight container for up to a year. Source: Pepperberry Farm
Another way to keep dill for a long time is to dry it. Keep in mind that dried dill is not as flavorful as frozen or fresh dill, especially if the dill herb is heat dried. The hottest temperature you should dry dill at is 110 ° F. A better approach is to hang dry, but a dehumidifier-only or box-fan drying method can also be used.
To hang the dill, take a couple of stems and bundle them with string. Tie them upside down in a well-ventilated place. Once the leaves are dry and crumble to the touch, store your dill herbs in a jar. Dried dill is best used within a year of storage.
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