Usually dill is planted in the spring, but some gardeners prefer to sow dill for winter to get an early harvest. About the features of the process and varieties suitable for autumn sowing - below.
Zoning
Dill is so undemanding that it grows in various climatic zones. Harvested in the north and in the south. However, in order for dill to sprout, it is necessary to adhere to the timing of autumn seeding in the following areas:
- for the Urals - the end of October;
- for Siberia - the second half of October;
- for Moscow and Moscow Region - the first days of November;
- for the southern regions - mid-November and later.
Grade selection
Early varieties are suitable for planting seeds in autumn, they will give young greenery 2 weeks earlier than plants sown in spring.
Varieties suitable for winter sowing:
- Aurora - only 20-25 days pass from sowing to collecting tender greens. Leaves have a rich aroma.
- Gribovsky - the variety is the least demanding on the temperature regime. 30-38 days after the emergence of seedlings, dark green greens with a bluish tint are torn off.
- Grenadier - greens are removed after 30-35 days. The variety is unpretentious with green foliage and fairly large segments.
- Early miracle - cuts off when it reaches a height of 20-30 cm, that is, 30-35 days after the emergence of seedlings. The variety is resistant to low and high temperatures, as well as to most diseases.
- Vologda lace - the crop is removed on the 40-45th day after planting the seeds. This is a cold-resistant variety, tolerates temperature "anomalies" and is resistant to stem.
grade Aurora
grade Gribovsky
Grenadier variety
grade Early miracle
grade Vologda lace
However, if you want to get fresh greens constantly, then middle and late ripe varieties are planted:
- Amazon - a variety of medium ripening. Juicy and fragrant greens are cut on the 50-55th day. The culture is undemanding to soil and climate.
- Umbrella - mid-season variety, harvested on the 34-37th day. The plant tolerates adverse weather conditions, resistant to diseases and pests.
- Salute - the crop is removed after 55-60 days. A feature of the variety is that its leaves do not turn yellow and it practically does not shoot. Therefore, the crop is harvested in 2-3 doses.
- Northwind - late ripening grade. The plant is tall, in height it can reach up to 140 cm. In this crop, the leaves almost do not turn yellow. Greens are harvested for 45-55 days after emergence.
- Anna - mid-season variety with very fragrant greens, which is removed after 42-52 days.
- Alligator - medium late bush variety, harvesting of herbs occurs on 42-45 days. This low plant does not throw out umbrellas for a long time, therefore, it is harvested several times more from it than from ordinary varieties.
- Buyan - bush variety with late ripening. Greens are cut 60-75 days after sowing seeds. The plant is powerful, therefore, per 1 square. m leave no more than 30 bushes. The leaves are dark green with a bluish tint and covered with a noticeable waxy coating.
Amazon variety
grade Umbrella
variety Salute
grade Borey
grade Anna
Alligator variety
grade Buyan
More information about dill varieties can be found here.
When to plant dill?
For good growth, dill needs 10-14 hours of daylight. If it is smaller, the plant slows its growth and development. Therefore, it is sown in the fall, just in that period when daylight hours were significantly reduced.
Depending on climatic conditions, it is sown from the twentieth of October to mid-November. This is a “blurred” period and the gardener should be guided when planting in the first place on the ambient temperature.
Since dill seeds begin to germinate at + 3 ° C, it is sown when the temperature does not rise above this indicator, that is, the seeds are sown in the soil at a day temperature of 0 ... + 3 ° C and at night -3 ... -2 ° C, so that prevent their germination.
They will also know in advance whether weather forecasters predict or not warming. If the seeds germinate, then with further cooling, the entire crop will die.
Seat selection
For beds, choose a sunny place, slight shading is allowed, with light soil. Dill does not like shade and excess moisture in the ground. This negatively affects the yield and content of essential oils in plants.
The best predecessors of dill are considered tomatoes, legumes, potatoes and cabbage. But after carrots and celery it is not planted. It is not recommended to plant it next to fennel. They pollinate with each other, and, as a result, a change in the taste of both cultures occurs.
Dill prefers to grow on neutral soils. On acidic soils, its greens turn yellow; on alkaline soils, it acquires a reddish hue.
Preparation of beds
Having decided on the place, the beds are dug up and cleaned of weeds. If necessary, make organic fertilizers - 5 kg per 1 square. m. Dill has the ability to accumulate nitrates, so do not be zealous and make a dose more than expected. If the plot was timely fertilized with manure, then fertilizers are not applied.
Landing
When planting seeds in the winter, their consumption increases by 25%. Seeds are sown dry in damp soil. Additional preparation of the seed material is not required, since gardeners in this case are not interested in its rapid germination.
Landing methods:
- Fan-shaped. Seeds are scattered around the garden with a fan, in which case rows will not be needed.
- Tape.Seeds are sown in rows. The distance between them depends on the variety - the more powerful and longer the plant, the greater the distance between them.
But, no matter what method is used, the depth of seed placement will be 3-3.5 cm. This is 1-1.5 cm deeper than during spring planting and is necessary in order to prevent them from freezing out. After planting, the beds are mulched. This avoids the formation of a hard crust on the surface of the soil and rotting of the seeds.
Adhere to the following landing algorithm:
- seat selection;
- land preparation - digging, cultivating, fertilizing, leveling;
- sowing;
- seed placement;
- mulching the soil with hay or sawdust.
The rules of sowing dill for the winter will be shared by an experienced summer resident in the video below:
Dill Care
Autumn plant care is not required. In early spring, early varieties do not fertilize if all top dressings were applied in the autumn before sowing. The remaining mid- and late-ripening varieties need mineral phosphorus and potash fertilizing.
As soon as the first shoots appear, the aisles neatly break open. Dill is watered 1-2 times a week, focusing on soil moisture. It should not be waterlogged, but its drying out should not be allowed. Plants thin out as they grow, weeds are harvested in a timely manner.
Diseases and Pests
Plants planted before winter appear quite early. Most pests are still sleeping, and do not have time to cause dill harm. The same applies to pathogens, especially those that are transmitted by insects. With proper care - not thickened plantings, loosening the soil, removing weeds, dill is rarely sick.
Harvesting and storage
When greenery appears, it is torn off and used for its intended purpose. If early varieties are planted, then a large crop of greens is harvested after 35 days. Greens are torn in the morning, after dew.
Dill is perfectly stored in dry and frozen form, some housewives pour it with salt and store in jars, but usually the first greens - rich in vitamins and nutrients, are quickly eaten fresh.
Winter sowing has its advantages. Such a dill builds up an incredibly powerful tops, does not bloom for a long time, does not shoot. In addition, she is not afraid of frost, she is ready to cut 2 weeks earlier.