Should I cut the flowers of dill?

Dill has the moniker “dill weed” because, given the right circumstances, it will grow vigorously. It won’t be long before you need to learn how to prune and harvest your dill if you’re growing it in your garden this year and notice your plants growing quickly.

Herbs are not the same as ornamental plants when it comes to pruning. Herbs are “pruned” to prevent flowering and promote the development of more scrumptious leaves for you to harvest.

Here’s what you need to know about pruning and harvesting dill without harming your plants, whether you want to use it for pickling, sauerkraut, cooking, or drying.

This post focuses on how to harvest your dill. Please see this article on how to plant and grow your own dill for a detailed growing guide.

How to prune dill: step-by-step

Dill is pruned between four and eight weeks after planting, when the plant is still young and has about five leaves.

Start by pinching the growing tips to encourage a bushier plant. The bushier the plant, the more stems and leaves it has and so more available to harvest.

At this point you can also cut any longer stems so that all the stems are the same length and the plant has an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Be sure to use sharp secateurs or scissors to prevent your pruning from damaging the plant.

It is important to then leave the plant to recover and return to its previous size as this will ensure that your plant does not die due to over-pruning.

Then harvest the dill plant when required for culinary or aesthetic reasons. Little and often is a good approach. Cut the leaves at the point they join stem or cut the stem within a few inches of the ground, discarding the thick, tough stems, says Dan Drost in research for Utah State University (opens in new tab).

Pinch off the flower buds if you are growing dill for its foliage; the flavor will be most intense before the plant blooms, says Kristin Winterbottom from Park Seeds (opens in new tab). Doing this will extend the life of the plant and as a result ensure you are able to continue harvesting the herbs.

If you are growing your dill plant for seeds, then you will want to allow the dill plant to flower. You can achieve this by pruning the leaves but leaving the main stems and growing tips intact.

To harvest the seeds, secure a paper bag over the flowerhead as the blooms begin to pass. Shake the stem of the plant every so often; when the bag rattles, it is full of dill seeds, continues Winterbottom.

If you’re not interested in seeds, cut off entire plants for preserving either in oil or in the freezer just before flowers open, advises Amy Enfield, Horticulturist for Bonnie Plants (opens in new tab). This will ensure you have delicious dill ready to go all-year round.

( credit: Getty s)

Cutting and Shaping Dill

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Any time of year when it is green and growing, dill can be pruned. Trim the top leaves to encourage the plant to grow outwards rather than upwards. To prevent the plant from withering, make sure to leave at least two thirds of the plant when you prune it. When you see your plant starting to bloom, pinch the flowers off with your fingers. This will keep your plant healthy and prevent it from going to seed. Simply pinch off small branches with your fingers when gathering dill for your food. Dill shoots should be cut off the main stem at a perpendicular angle if you want to store it. Continue reading for more advice from our co-author in gardening, including how to keep your fresh dill.

Char SRQ “Finding out to not prune back more than the top third of my 2 mature plants was exactly the info I needed.”

With enough left over for pickles, using these dill pruning suggestions will help your plants grow bushy and full. Dill has a potent, fresh scent that is a little reminiscent of caraway, but it also has a unique flavor and aroma all its own. An entire plant can be harvested to produce an unforgettable fragrance for your home.

You can use the entire dill plant, whether it’s dried, chopped, or fresh fronds spread across a casserole, in food.

Understanding how to trim a dill plant is the solution if you notice that it is becoming tall and leggy. When the plant is a few months old, trim the leaves that are closest to the plant’s top with clean garden shears. Snip the leaves just above where they connect to the stem, and use them in recipes all season. They will produce a lot of leaves further down the stalk if you prune them from the top of the plant.

In addition, pruning the plant’s top buds will produce more lower leaves and stop it from going to seed too soon. It pays to keep an eye out and get rid of these buds as soon as they sprout. By doing this, the plant will be encouraged to grow more leaves lower down on its stalk rather than putting all of its energy into growing taller. Your dill plants will become bushier by pruning upper leaves and removing buds.

A dill plant should be staked separately because it can reach heights of up to 2 feet (61 cm) and 3 feet (91 cm). ). However, if you have more than one or two plants, they frequently support each other.

Harvesting Dill Flowers