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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

We've got ourselves a humdilly of a situation here.

When, two years ago, my neighbor fulfilled my request by giving me a (as in one single) dill plant because I felt my life was not complete without this herb, he also gave me a warning.  "They will take over your garden."  Ha, said I.  It was only one plant, after all.



Believe it or not, there are beets in there.  Six rows of them.  It started innocently enough - cute, ferny little seedlings that I could snip off here and there.  Then I turned my back on them and WHAM!  A virtual forest of dill.  And the kicker is, I just cannot make myself pull them out.  I have a weakness for plants - any plants - and it seems like such a waste.  So far, I have potted up a few dozen and palmed them off on friends (ahem).  I have three big bunches drying.  I have used them in salad dressings and on salads.  With fish, chicken, egg salad.   I am open to any and all ideas as to what I can use this much dill for.  I will continue to dry it - I do use a lot of dill, but....I mean....really.  If you're in the neighborhood, feel free to come by for a wagon load...

22 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

so, your dill came back after last winter? my dill dies off and i have to plant it each spring. mine is in pots though. i had no idea dill could be so prolific!

Charade said...

I'm amazed. I've never been able to keep dill growing without either premature bolting or just yellowing up. Maybe I should find a neighbor with a healthy batch and get some of that seed instead of buying starts from the local nursery. Wish you were nearby.

Susan said...

Jaz - With a vengance! My original lone plant was in one of my infamous tire planters. It is now everywhere.

Susan said...

Charade - Wish I was, too. I would be happy to give you all you could carry!

Mama Pea said...

I think you need a dill intervention. Think of those poor little beets the dill is choking out!

Dill here near the tundra doesn't survive to self-seed itself for the next year. So your "problem" seems like a desirable one to me. :o)

Jenyfer Matthews said...

Do chickens like it? They could pre-flavor your eggs :)

Fiona said...

Weirdly enough I have severe "DILL ENVY"....we had bad germination in our dill seed and we have 1....just 1 Long Island Mammoth Dill seedling! You give me hope! I love the photo of the dill/beet patch! Dill has insect repelling qualities for cabbage moth.

Carolyn said...

I have a SERIOUS problem when planting seeds....as in I just cannot fathom ripping out a seedling. Even though it needs to be done, even though having fifty-five carrot or turnip or parsnip seedlings per inch is bound to end up badly. My dill isn't doing so well this year, not sure why. Probably because I wanted to dry a bunch of it for my Onion Dill bread. Figures.

DFW said...

Susan, Wish I lived closer. I too have an aversion to killing a plant just to let another take over. Silly but I think, if it's growing there it should be allowed to do so.

Unknown said...

You should sell the extras, or dry them? Sell for use with fish, pickling, etc. I've killed ALL my dills :(

tpals said...

I'd like to have your problem. Dill pickles are a big favorite with my family and I never have enough plants.

Daphne Gould said...

Mine does the same. I'm a little more ruthless though. It does grow EVERYWHERE. The funny thing is that I never planted it at this house. I brought a bit of compost with me when I moved four years ago. That was all I needed.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Isn't it great when something like that multiplies. Yum. I'd be drying some for winter if I had that much.

Susan said...

Mama Pea - I do need to pull up my big girl panties and rescue the beets!

Susan said...

Jenyfer - Hey! Wouldn't that be great? I think I will try it.

Susan said...

Fiona - Wish you were closer and I'd fix that case of envy. Maybe if you let that Long Island big girl go to seed... I doubt if there is a cabbage moth within a mile of my garden at this point.

Susan said...

Carolyn - Well, if someone manages to dry enough dill (hint hint), she may be able to send a nice quantity to a certain someone south of here (hint hint).

Susan said...

DFW - That's exactly how I feel. And these are darn healthy dill plants, too.

Susan said...

Nancy - I am loathe to sell them, as if they are not planted soon, they tend to die and then there's a backlash from people who ought to know better. I might try that salmon that you made - I will have to look it up on your blog.

Susan said...

tpals - Funny how one person's 'problem' is another's desire, isn't it? Wish you could come and help yourself to the overload.

Susan said...

Daphne - At this rate, I will have to brace myself and get more ruthless. Otherwise, I may have a yard-ful by next year.

Susan said...

Kristina - Exactly what I'm doing - by the handfuls!