Dill Seed Harvesting
WHEN TO HARVEST DILL SEEDS
In order for the dill plant to set seed, it must first flower.
Allowing a few dill plants to flower supply’s any of us home growers enough seeds for storage, sharing and replanting. One flower can put out aprox. 100-200 seeds.
Once the dill plant flowers & its tiny greenish flowers fade, the dill seeds will start to form at the tips in the flowers place. As seen in the picture above, the dill seeds are brownish grey in color easy to notice their growth and shift from flower to seed.
TO HARVEST:
Once you notice seeds forming, and turning brown allow the seeds to dry on the plant, a week or so is great but don’t leave dill seeds on the plant too long unless you are letting it fall and reseed in place for next season.
Cut down dill plant or pull from soil, then gently pull off all dried seeds, or alternatively place entire flower head into paper bag and shake loose.
Once collected place on plate or tray to further dry from any elements. (2-3 weeks should be ideal.) This is vitally important as any damp seeds can rot and ruin the rest of seeds.
Once dried for weeks in open air, store saved seed in envelope or glass jar with lid in dark even temperate conditions for short term storage.
For long term storage store seeds in envelope or jar in freezer.
SEED STORAGE —seed envelopes, mason jars, any small glass jar with lid, store in dark, cool area like back of cupboard or in freezer for longer term seed storage.
SEED USES —replanting, cooking, medicinal.
PFC Reminder —many times if growing in ground in same location you don’t even have to collect dill seeds, often if left to live out their life cycle they will readily reseed themselves with no help from us at all.
FUN FACT — “Dill is host plant for the swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. So, even if you don’t love to eat dill, it’s still an essential herb to include in every vegetable garden.” To learn more on swallowtail butterfly pollinators read here.
