Dill Alligator: variety description, cultivation and care with photo

Dill Alligator is on a special account with gardeners. The variety is unpretentious in care and is characterized by high productivity. Since the crop is a late-ripening variety, it is harvested several times a season, which is why the Alligator has earned high popularity.

Variety description

The variety has the following characteristics:

green leaves with a bluish tint;
late issue of umbrellas;
large, slightly raised rosette;
easy growing;
plant height reaches 160cm;
weight of 1 plant when assembled on greenery reaches 20 grams.

Alligator belongs to the late-ripening bush varieties. The ripening period takes 40-45 days for herbs, 115 days for spices.

It is optimal to land in loose black soil. Although in other types of soil Alligator will give a good harvest. It's all about the unpretentiousness of culture. In addition, dill is well adapted to low temperatures.

Growing

Growing a crop, although it seems simple, nevertheless requires a thorough approach to business. Dill seeds contain a large amount of essential oils, which slow down the germination period. Seeds will sprout in about 10 days under favorable conditions, but may take a little longer if temperatures are low.

In order to speed up the germination of seeds, they are soaked for a day in warm water. As it cools, the water should be changed periodically. In this case, seedlings will appear in 2-3 days.

For maximum harvest, growing temperature should be 18-20 degrees. It must be remembered that dill is a light-loving crop, regardless of variety.

For planting seeds in open ground, you can choose both spring and late autumn. The plant is cold-resistant, therefore it can withstand temperatures up to - 8 degrees. Also, seeds can be sown in early spring, as soon as the soil dries out from the snow.

Before sowing, the soil should be fed with organic matter. Dill seeds are sown in moist and loose soil, sowing is carried out across the beds. The optimal distance between the grooves is 15-20 cm. It is recommended to dig a layer of humus or peat on top of the furrow, slightly compacting the soil.

The landing site is covered with a film until germination.

Features of care

The varietal characteristics of the Alligator indicate that the variety does not require specific care. First of all, dill needs watering. For 1 sq. m is taken 5 liters of water. The procedure should be carried out at least 1 time per week, with severe drought - 2-3 times. No fertilizers are required during the ripening process. The culture is enough of the recharge that the soil was treated with before sowing.

Care also includes weeding, loosening and removing weeds. After 3-4 leaves appear on each seedling, dill will begin to grow rapidly, and weeds will no longer be an obstacle.

Pros and cons

The Alligator variety is one of the most popular and versatile. It gives a large harvest several times a season. It does not require special care. The culture can be grown in a greenhouse and in open ground. Thus, the advantages of the variety are:

high, multiple yields;
low light and pest resistant;
slow stemming;
one bush weighs an average of 50 grams;
thick greens, baskets do not form for a long time;
juicy leaves.

The description of the variety makes it clear that the Alligator has no shortcomings, except for the short duration of fresh storage, which is inherent in all types of dill.

Pests and diseases

Regardless of the type of dill root system, the main problem of this crop is Fusarium wilt, which is seed-borne. Especially often occurs under adverse conditions, including a sharp drop in air temperature.

Pay attention! Treating dill leaves with chemicals is unacceptable.

To minimize the risk of developing the disease, it is recommended to treat the seeds before sowing, that is, soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin.

If the previous crop was affected by this disease, it means that the area is infected. In advance, Trichodermin, the spores of the fungus, should be added to the soil. The drug is applied to moist soil, together with peat substrates. This will minimize the recurrence of the disease.

Also, the Alligator variety can be affected by the black leg. This is a fungal disease that is transmitted through infected seeds.

Another pest that can pretty much spoil the crop is powdery mildew. It lives in the ground and develops with insufficient tillage before planting. High temperature and humidity are the main provocateurs of the disease.

In some cases, there may be damage by bedbugs, caterpillars, aphids, larvae of the cockchafer. As for the Alligator dill variety, it is less often affected, but in case of insufficient tillage, this can happen.

In order to prevent fungal infection and grow a good harvest, it is important to prepare the soil and seeds for sowing, to ventilate the plantings. Prevention measures also include regular inspection of plants.

Collection and storage

The greens are harvested approximately 40 days after seed germination. Some gardeners produce a selective collection, some - a continuous method. The most valuable is young greens, about 5 cm in size. If it is not collected on time and the dill has sprouted, then the plants should be collected completely, otherwise inflorescences will form and the greens will lose their taste.