How to plant dill in open ground with seeds to quickly sprout

Among the variety of greens, dill occupies one of the main positions in the list of herbs. The plant is used to add a new taste and decoration to dishes. To get a stable crop of greens, it is important to know how to properly plant dill and care for the crop. Subject to the rules of cultivation, dill will have a number of useful properties and pleasant taste characteristics.

Necessary conditions for growing dill

Dill refers to unpretentious plants and requires a minimum amount of growing conditions. Including:

It is better to plant a plant in a sunny area, since germination will be fast only in bright light.
Greens should be sown on land where fertilizers such as dolomite flour and lime have not previously been used.
When growing a plant in a continuous method in a greenhouse or in open beds, it is enough to scatter the seeds all over the ground and rake the surface for embedding, then start the sprayers or make abundant watering yourself.
Plants planted close to dill can cut off access to light and disrupt the root system.
When diseases and pests occur, only agrotechnical and mechanical methods of control should be used. A key role in eliminating dangerous third-party factors is given to competent crop rotation during planting.
Growing dill is possible between other crops.

The time of appearance of the first sprouts after planting in the spring directly depends on atmospheric conditions and the correct preparation of seeds. Under favorable circumstances, seedlings begin to germinate a week after sowing.

Planting dates in different regions

Due to the ability of dill to tolerate ambient temperatures down to -4 degrees, it is better to plant seeds in mid-spring, after the snow melts. Seed growth is possible at a temperature of more than 3 degrees, and the optimal conditions are considered to be a temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius. When grown in the territory of central Russia, it is recommended to plant dill at the end of April, when the risk of late frosts is low.

In the northern regions, winter sowing in open soil is allowed. To do this, the land is prepared for planting 2 weeks before frost, and during the first frost, seeds are brought in for wintering. This method makes it possible to get an early harvest of dill.

Seed preparation

Seeds that have overwintered in open soil germinate more actively than those planted in spring. The presence of essential oils in the composition slows down growth, therefore, before starting sowing, you need to properly prepare the seeds. To disinfect and accelerate the appearance of sprouts, the seeds are wrapped in gauze and soaked in water for 3 days. The initial water temperature should be around 50 degrees. To make the sprouts appear faster, the soaking water should be changed several times a day.

After water treatment, the seeds should be allowed to dry, laying them on gauze bags and sprinkled with steamed sawdust. Before direct sowing, it is recommended to dry the seeds additionally in fresh air for half an hour.

Optimal location for outdoor planting

Like many varieties of greens, dill is best grown outdoors. Since the culture needs light to grow well, it is best to choose a sunny site. Southern territories are ideal.

When choosing the optimal place for sowing, it is also important to take into account the temperature, which should be above 15 degrees during the period of active growth. At the same time, constant exposure to ultraviolet rays can lead to drought of the soil, which will require regular watering.

Neighbourhood preferences

Dill does not require spatial isolation from other plants, so it is allowed to grow greens in close proximity to tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and other vegetable crops. It is not recommended to only plant a plant in beds where celery was harvested in the previous season.

In order not to create unfavorable conditions for neighboring crops, a place should be left between the seedlings. Greens should not be near the stems of vegetables, as otherwise it will take away excess nutrients and moisture.

How to choose a place for planting and prepare a garden bed?

One of the important factors affecting the yield of dill is the right place for planting. When selecting terrain for beds, dark areas and areas near tall shrubs should be avoided. You should also avoid areas with waterlogged soil.

Having decided on a place for growing, it is necessary to prepare the soil for sowing. In the autumn period, you should first dig up the soil and carry out fertilizer treatment. One square of land will require half a bucket of humus. Mullein or bird droppings are also suitable as top dressing. To ensure the free passage of oxygen and water to the seedlings, all beds must be carefully loosened in mid-spring before planting. 1-2 days before sowing, it remains to water the soil for its shrinkage.

What kind of soil do dill like?

For growing large and fragrant greens, neutral soil or low acidity is best suited.The soil should be loosened and contain a number of useful trace elements. Before sowing, it is not necessary to treat the soil with fresh manure or compost, but the presence of humus in the soil can speed up the ripening process. If the predecessors of dill were cucumbers, cabbage or similar crops, then after them the soil will be saturated with organic matter.

During growth, greens accumulate nitrates, so the soil should not be fertilized with mineral top dressings. Nitrogen solutions are also completely excluded. To ensure uniform growth, the soil must be moderately moist. Do not allow excess moisture or severe drought. Another soil preference is a low pest count during previous plantings.

Planting a crop

Before sowing dill, prepare holes about 2 cm deep. The row spacing should be 15-20 cm. Furrows can be made along or across the beds. For sowing dill, a thickened planting scheme is suitable, in which 1 g of seeds is required per 1 square of land, and when sown in autumn - 2 g.

Before you put the seeds in the holes, you need to water the soil with water. After sowing, the furrows are covered with earth.

Immediately after planting, watering is not required, since the dry soil acts as a mulch and allows water to remain for a long time. Dill can be sown in small batches every 2 weeks to always have fresh herbs available.

The next year after growing dill, it is recommended to plant eggplants, lettuce, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers or crops similar in characteristics on the same beds. The soil after greenery will contain a minimum amount of pathogenic spores, which will positively affect the quality and quantity of the future crop.