Dill

Landscape Uses:Border, Container. An easily grown plant, it prefers a moderately rich loose soil and full sun. Requires a well-drained soil and shelter from the wind. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.3 to 7.8. Dill is a commonly cultivated herb, especially in warm temperate and tropical zones. It is grown mainly for its edible leaves and seeds, though it is also used medicinally. There are many named varieties. 'Bouquet' is an American cultivar that has a prolific production of seeds. The sub-species A. graveolens sowa from India has a slightly different flavour to the type species. The plant quickly runs to seed in dry weather. It often self-sows when growing in a suitable position. A good companion for corn and cabbages, also in moderation for cucumbers, lettuce and onions, but it inhibits the growth of carrots. Dill reduces a carrot crop if it is grown to maturity near them. However, the young plant will help to deter carrot root fly. The flowers are very attractive to bees. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Edible, Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers.

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Condiment Tea Leaves - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring in salads etc. The leaves lose their flavour if the are cooked for any length of time and so are best used raw or added to cooked dishes only a few minutes before the cooking is complete. The leaves can be harvested at any time the plant is growing, but are best just before the plant flowers. Per 100g, the plant contains 253 calories, 7.2g water, 20g protein, 4.4g fat, 55.8g carbohydrate, 11.9g fibre, 12.6g ash, 1784mg calcium, 543mg phosphorus, 48.8mg iron, 451mg magnesium, 208mg sodium, 3,308mg potassium, 3.3mg zinc, 0.42mg thiamine, 0.28mg riboflavin, 2.8mg niacin and 1.5mg vitamin B6. Seed - raw or cooked. Very pungent and bitter in taste. It is used as a flavouring in salads, preserves etc, its chief uses being perhaps in making dill vinegar and as a flavouring in pickled gherkins. It can also be sprouted and used in breads, soups and salad dressings. Per 100g, the seed contains 305 calories, 7.7g water, 14.5g fat (0.73g saturated, 124mg phytosterol and no cholesterol), 55.2g carbohydrate, 21g fibre, 6.7g ash, 1,516mg calcium, 277mg phosphorus, 16.3mg iron, 256mg magnesium, 20mg sodium, 1,186mg potassium, 5.2mg zinc, 53IU vitamin A, 0.42mg thiamine and 0.28mg riboflavin. An essential oil from the seed is used as a flavouring in the food industry. A tea is made from the leaves and/or the seeds.

Essential Insecticide The seed contains up to 4% essential oils. It is used in perfuming soaps, medicines and as a food flavouring. Some compounds of dill (d-carvone is mentioned as one of them), when added to insecticides, have greatly increased the effectiveness of the insecticides.

Heimisch: Algeria, Chad, Cyprus, Gulf States, Iran, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco Eingeführt: Afghanistan, Alabama, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina Northeast, Arizona, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colorado, Connecticut, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Galápagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Hungary, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Kriti, Krym, Laos, Leeward Is., Louisiana, Madeira, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Mozambique, NW. Balkan Pen., Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, New Jersey