Fernleaf Dill

This All America Winner for 1992 was bred by the W. Atlee Burpee Company. The objective was to diminish the plant size so that the dill could be grown in containers and the smallest of gardens. In addition to pickles, Fernleaf Dill makes a welcome addition to salads and is a lovely ornamental plant with its yellow flowers, deep green foliage, and compact growth habit.   150 seeds   PLANTING Anethum graveolens Annual Germination: 10-14 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 60-65ºF Seed Planting Depth:  Sow ⅛” deep Starting Indoors: Start indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost. Provide 60-65ºF soil temperatures.  Using peat, cow, or paper pots can help with the stress of transplanting, they grow delicate roots and successful transplanting may be challenging. Transplant 3-6” apart, around the last frost.    Sowing Outdoors: Mid-spring when the soil temperature reaches 60-65ºF. Sow seeds close,  1/2" -1" apart.  Growth Habit: Upright, branching Height and Width: 8-12” x 12-18” Spacing: 1-6” apart Light Needs: Full sun  Soil Needs: Fernleaf Dill needs average to fertile, well-drained soil  Flowering: 35-40 days- leaves, 90-100 days- seeds Harvest: Start when the plants are 6-8”, picking leaves as needed. Seeds are ready when they turn from green to brown. Harvest before they shatter to the ground. Place in a paper bag until they are fully ripened and dry Uses: Culinary, medicinal, flowers attract bees and beneficial insects Care: Water well during prolonged dry periods in summer. Removing flower stalks helps keep the plant producing leaves for a longer period. Reseeds easily- removing flower heads helps decrease next season's volunteers Tips: Sow a few times a season, every 3-4 weeks for continuous leaf harvests. Providing support can help tall varieties that might want to topple over. Can be grown in containers.