Review of the best varieties of dill for greens and umbrellas, recommendations for their correct choice
In ancient times, dill was used exclusively as an ornamental plant. Today, green bushes grow in any garden and are actively used in preparing a wide variety of dishes. It’s impossible to imagine winter preparations or everyone’s favorite okroshka without dill.
Among the variety of varieties, it is important to choose those that are easy to care for, have a pleasant aroma and good taste, and have a long shelf life. In the article we will consider a description of the best varieties of dill for greens and umbrellas and find out the varietal differences between their varieties.
Types of dill
Dill comes in two types: for greens and for umbrellas.
Let's study in detail the features of each:
- Dill on greens. Inexperienced gardeners mistakenly assume that such dill does not have umbrellas. However, this is not true, since the plant still has umbrellas, they just appear later. Dill for greens retains its freshness for a long time, which is why many summer residents love it so much. Green varieties have high and stable yields, a bright aroma, and rich color. The bushes are compact, covered with small leaves.
- Dill for umbrellas. Tall and powerful plants grow in a chaotic manner throughout the garden. Yellow and green umbrellas are used for preservation; they add a spicy herbal aroma to dishes. Umbrellas also produce high-quality seeds, from which a new crop grows the following season.
Important! As expected, dill can be early ripening, mid ripening and late.Some varieties are planted on balconies or loggias, some on personal plots.
The best varieties
Dill is unpretentious in care, most varieties take root in any climatic region. Let's look at common varieties and find out their strengths and weaknesses.
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Mammoth
The greens variety Mammoth is a mid-season variety.. It has juicy and tender greens with a rich, fresh aroma. The plant is cold-resistant, suitable for growing both in the south of the country and in Siberia. Prefers nutritious loose soils with neutral acidity.
To increase productivity, the beds are dug up and mulched before planting.. Mammoth does not require special knowledge to care for; the main thing is to water the beds and thin out the rows to prevent the appearance of insect pests.
Maturation and return are friendly, from 1 sq. m gardeners collect 2-3 kg of fresh herbs. Dill is used for drying or freezing, and added to salads and soups.
Interesting. Without dill, it is impossible to prepare the famous French tartar sauce. To prepare, in addition to greens, you will need pickled cucumbers, garlic and mayonnaise. Tartar is served with fish and seafood, and vegetable side dishes. Dill is also added to canned cucumbers, tomatoes and sweet peppers. Both greenery and umbrellas are used.
Superducat
The homeland of the variety with the interesting name Superducat is Denmark.. It is late-ripening; summer residents harvest 100-105 days after planting. Bushes are semi-spreading, medium-sized rosette. The leaves are deep green in color and have a strong aroma. Superducat is planted on clean and fertile soil.
Water once every 5 days; if there is a lack of moisture, the leaves become coarser. The optimal water temperature for irrigation is at least +18 °C. Moisten the soil in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn. If all agrotechnical rules are observed, the yield is about 3.5 kg per 1 sq. m. Superducat is universal in application.
Gribovsky
Unpretentious frost-resistant dill ripens in 50-60 days. Greens are planted in late April-early May. Gribovsky grows quickly in loose and well-lit soils. In addition to watering, gardeners regularly organize fertilizing. For this, organic substances and mineral components are used: liquid manure, compost, potassium salt, superphosphate.
The interval between feedings is 15-20 days.. Productivity is average, per 1 sq. m harvest about 1.5 kg. Gribovsky dill is included in various seasonings for meat and fish and has a pronounced taste. Suitable for freezing and fresh consumption.
Firework
The late-ripening variety Salute is recommended to be planted in seedlings.. This allows you to get the best yield and avoid common diseases. Seedlings are prepared 2-3 weeks before planting dill in the ground. The seedlings are watered only with warm water and fertilized with liquid organic matter.
Dill is planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other.. The bushes of the Salut variety are tall, up to 35 cm. The leaves are thick, with a slight waxy coating. The taste and aroma are very pronounced; Salut dill is dried for the winter and added to dishes.
Interesting. Regular consumption of dill in small quantities promotes weight loss. Greens contain a special essential oil with a spicy aroma. It speeds up metabolism and removes harmful substances from the body. Dill helps rid the body of excess fluid and prevents bloating.Dill tea is especially effective (use 2 bunches of greens for 1 liter of boiling water).
Diamond
The Almaz variety has powerful bushes and a dense rosette. The leaves are dense and wide, with a strong aroma. Diamond does not bloom for a long time, so fresh greenery is collected throughout the summer. The plant is planted in seedlings. In addition to watering and fertilizing, gardeners do hardening: they take the seedlings out to the balcony every day for 2-3 hours.
Hardening strengthens plant immunity and prevents the development of diseases. When the first leaf appears, the seedlings are picked and planted in a larger container. Almaz is transplanted into the garden in early May, after frost. Dill is used to prepare aromatic spices and herbs.
It can be useful:
Lesnogorodsky
Mid-season Lesnogorodsky ripens in 65-70 days from planting. The semi-spreading bush has large and wide leaves. Germination is friendly, the variety is unpretentious in care. To obtain a rich harvest, the bushes are covered with plastic wrap in the first 7 days. Then it is removed and the beds are watered.
Flowering begins only 2 months after germination. The taste and product quality are excellent. Lesnogorodsky is also planted on a balcony or windowsill. To do this, purchase plastic containers with pallets. They weigh little and are easy to use.
Abundant-leaved
Bush variety Abundant-leaved has immunity to insect pests, rarely gets sick. The greens are mid-season, the harvest is early, they are harvested 40 days after planting. Germination is friendly, bushes are of medium height.
It is unpretentious in planting and care, and is popular among gardeners in central Russia.. The taste is delicate and pleasant.Abundant leaf is added to fresh vegetable salads, appetizers and main courses. The aroma is unexpressed, neutral.
Amazon
The mid-season variety Amazon ripens in 40-45 days. Planted with both seedlings and seeds in open ground. The rosette is slightly raised, looking up. There are a lot of leaves, the dill is juicy and aromatic. The green variety is sensitive to watering, so gardeners use only clean and warm water.
Otherwise, Amazon is unpretentious, during the season it is fed 1-2 times with organic matter or minerals. Harvest in late June-early July. Dill is consumed fresh, frozen and dried for the winter. Amazon does not lose its taste and external qualities for up to six months.
Interesting. In the 17th century, dill was endowed with magical powers and used as amulets and talismans against evil spirits. Bunches were hung throughout the house and at the front door.
Boreas
The tall perennial variety Borey ripens in 50-60 days. The bushes are tall, up to 120 cm. Borey is resistant to diseases and pests, and tolerates frosts and frequent rains without consequences. The foliage is dense, dill umbrellas have a bright aroma. Productivity is stable, from 1 sq. m harvest about 4 kg of greens. Borey is suitable for freezing and fresh consumption.
Anchor
Large seeds are used for planting the Anker variety., having previously disinfected them in a solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. To increase yield, seed material is germinated for 5-7 days. To do this, the seeds are wrapped in damp gauze and put in a warm place, periodically adding a little water.
Choose a cloudy, windless day for planting.. Anker grows in 65-70 days, the bushes are large and powerful. Variety with 1 sq. m yields up to 3 kg of umbrellas and dill. The aroma is bright, spicy.
Ataman
Gardeners value the Ataman variety for its high marketability and taste.. It is recommended to plant in soils with neutral acidity. The beds are first cleared of debris and dug up. The light-loving Ataman ripens in 50-55 days. Bushes of medium height, spreading, bright green color. Fresh and dried pepper is added to marinades, salads and sauces.
How to choose the right variety
The choice of variety depends on a number of factors: growing region, purpose, planting and care. Some gardeners choose unpretentious varieties for the south, others for the northern regions.
Criterias of choice
First of all, pay attention to the timing of ripening of greens.. For temperate Russia, early ripening dill is chosen; in short and cool summer conditions, the plant does not have time to get sick and shows the best yield. For the south, late-ripening bushes with an extended fruiting period are suitable.
It is also important to consider the purpose of using dill: the Amazon and Salut varieties are excellent for freezing, and Borey - for preparing winter preparations. Lesnogorodsky, Almaz and Mammoth are grown to produce greens.
Important! Heat-loving varieties, such as Amazon and Abundant-leaved, are grown in greenhouse conditions. Cold-resistant - Lesnogorodsky and Gribovsky - in open beds. Before purchasing seeds, gardeners carefully read the recommendations on the packaging from the manufacturer.
Selection of variety depending on the growing region
The amount of harvest depends not only on compliance with agrotechnical rules, but also on the growing region:
- The southern regions are characterized by fertile nutritious soils, a warm climate, long summers, and the absence of frost. In such conditions, Superducat and Salyut perform well.
- For cultivation in areas with sudden weather changes and short summers, the Gribovsky and Mammoth varieties are recommended. The varieties are cold-resistant and less susceptible to insects.
Farmer reviews
Some people prefer to grow dill for greens, others like to get fragrant umbrellas. Let's study some reviews from experienced gardeners.
Maria, Rostov-on-Don: “I love greens, especially dill. The best varieties are Salyut and Almaz. Fragrant and aromatic bushes provide a harvest for 1.5-2 months. I plant them after potatoes or cabbage, water them and fertilize them with liquid droppings a couple of times a season. The taste is pleasant, I add dill to soups and salads, and freeze some for the winter.”
Lilya, Ufa: “A neighbor advised me to plant Gribovsky dill. I was pleased with the harvest. The bushes are of medium height, the greens are tender, the leaves are small. The dill was not sick, there were few weeds. I recommend Gribovsky for landing".
Roman, Tyumen: “I planted Mammoth dill using seedlings. The bushes sprang up slowly, the tips of the leaves were yellow-green. Several plants completely dried out, although I watered them regularly. I was left disappointed".
Conclusion
The best varieties of dill for greens are Salyut and Almaz, for umbrellas - Borey and Anker. For the northern regions, the seedling method of planting is used, in the south and in the middle zone they are planted with seeds. The seed material is disinfected and germinated to increase germination. To care for dill, it does not require special knowledge of agricultural technology; it is enough to observe crop rotation, watering and fertilizing regimes.
Also, the soil is regularly loosened and weeds are removed - this improves the quality of the soil and saturates the roots of the plant with oxygen. Harvest from July to August. Housewives add greens to dishes, freeze and dry them.In winter, greens are always on the table - they will add a spicy aroma to dinner and enrich the body with vitamins and minerals.