What’s So Special About Dill?

Seed Profile: Dill

“What’s so special about dill?” It’s more than just pickles y’all! I was lucky enough to purchase Dill seeds through Baker Creek Seed Company this past year. I had set the intention of interplanting Dill with Collard Greens in hopes to keep the flea beetles away, as they were currently destroying all the beautiful turnip greens, radishes, and kale I had just planted. I remember nervous anticipation about trying this method of Interplanting… reading articles here and there about companion crops, crops that bring in pollinators, keep away pests…

The Dill and Collards were planted together on the same day, roots getting to know one another, communication taking place beneath the soil. And as the days went on, the plants matured, not only were there no flea beetles eating the collards, so many insects were attracted to the Dill Flowers. I mean tons of pollinators! Native bees, iridescent wasps, not to mention the famous Swallow tail butterfly! These bugs were losing their minds over the sweet musky smell of the dill flowers! I mean they were laying eggs, eating pests, and having a party as the Collard Greens humbly grew next to them.

Now the seeds have been harvested, are available to the public, as well as reseeded themselves in the garden bed to regrow next year. The Dill seeds now have an impression on the land, a memory of all the friendly bugs that came to visit, memories of listening to High School students that gently picked their seeds while they talked about music and piercings they want to get. The seeds have a memory of taking care of collard greens, as well as the microbes and mycelium in the soil. So there’s so much of a big deal when it comes to growing Dill! Hoping y’all can take care of these plants as well!!!