Content
Sowing dill in spring in open ground is planned no earlier than mid-April. It is necessary to wait until the soil warms up to at least 5 degrees Celsius. If you want to get an early harvest, you need to grow seedlings.
When to plant dill in spring in open ground
You need to plant dill in open ground with seeds in the spring at a time when the weather outside has been above zero for several days. You should focus on the condition of the soil. Planting can begin when the top 10 cm of the soil warms up to +5°C. Checking this is quite simple - you need to bury the thermometer and wait 10-15 minutes. It is difficult to name specific planting dates in the spring, since they depend on weather conditions and the climate of the region.
According to the lunar calendar 2023
If you choose a planting day according to the lunar calendar, you should pay attention to favorable dates. In March 2023 they fall on the following days: 1-3, 7, 16, 24-25, 29-30.
Favorable days in April: 4, 5, 13, 21, 22, 25, 26.
Optimal dates in May: 3-5, 9, 22-24, 30.
Important! Unfavorable days traditionally fall on the full moon. In 2023, dill and other crops should not be planted on the following dates: March 7, April 6 and May 5.
Depending on the region
If you give an approximate date for when it is correct to sow dill in open ground in the spring, it will be mid-April. Experienced summer residents note that seeds germinate well in open ground when the temperature is consistently above 15 degrees.
In different regions of Russia, spring planting dates vary greatly:
- in the south you can start working at the end of March;
- in the middle zone - in the second ten days of April;
- in the North-West, Urals - at the end of the month;
- in Siberia and the Far East - until mid-May.
Selecting a location
Before planting dill in open ground with seeds in the spring, you need to choose a place for the garden bed. The plant is unpretentious, the basic requirements for the site are:
- good lighting, no shadow;
- without stagnant water (lowlands should not be considered);
- fertile soil with a loose structure.
Dill does not require special growing conditions
Greens grow quite well in different soils. But loam with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is best suited. At the same time, the place for planting in the spring should not be shady - otherwise the stems will be weak and thin, and the dill will not have many essential oils, which will have a bad effect on its aroma.
Preparing the bed
Before planting dill seeds in open ground in the spring, you need to prepare the bed.You should start work several months in advance - preferably in the fall, and if the deadline is missed, then in early spring. The main activities are as follows:
- Clear the area of debris.
- Dig on the bayonet of a shovel.
- Add compost or humus in an amount of 7-10 kg per 1 m2.
- If there is a lot of clay in the soil, also add sand or sawdust up to 5 kg per 1 m2.
If there is no organic matter, you can apply complex mineral fertilizer - 40-50 g per square meter. It also happens that the soil is too acidic. Then, before planting, wood ash is added to it in an amount of 200-300 g for the same area.
The beds themselves are not made very high, creating a mound of 10-12 cm. Sides are formed along the edges. The area for planting in spring should be large enough to accommodate at least three rows.
Preparing dill seeds
Dill seeds are covered with a coating of essential oils, which interferes with germination and can reduce germination. In addition, not all grains will sprout. Therefore, before planting in the spring, they should be properly prepared by performing several steps:
- Take a heaping tablespoon of salt and dissolve in 1 liter of warm water. Place the seeds and if any of them float, remove them.
- Soak the grains overnight in warm water with a few drops of growth stimulant. You can use Heteroauxin, Zircon, Epin or other drugs. If they are not available, it is recommended to use aloe leaf juice, diluted with water twice.
- Before planting, you should pickle the seeds in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for three hours or in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide for about five minutes.
- Next, the grains are placed on a damp cloth, covered with a second layer and germinated for several days. Then they are sown directly into the garden bed.
Planting material is pre-soaked and pickled
How to sow dill in spring in open ground
Most often, seeds are sown directly in open ground. Dill develops quite quickly, and the greens can be harvested after 1-1.5 months. But in the northern regions, planting by growing seedlings is also allowed. In this case, the seeds are sown in boxes from the end of March to the first ten days of April. And they are transferred to the garden bed in early May, when the threat of return frosts will be minimized.
Planting dill in spring in open ground with seeds
In order for the landing to take place correctly, you need to act like this:
- Level the surface of the soil and water lightly.
- Mark several shallow rows up to 1 cm at intervals of 15 cm.
- Distribute the sprouted seeds at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle with soil.
There are other ways of planting: spread evenly over the surface of the soil, and then sprinkle with soil and water. But in this case, planting in the spring will turn out to be too dense. Therefore, the emerging seedlings will definitely have to be thinned out.
Proper planting of dill seedlings in spring
It is possible to plant plants and seedlings in the spring. Sowing begins in the third decade of March. First you need to prepare the ground. It is made up of garden soil with peat, compost and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. You can also purchase universal soil for seedlings. Dill grows well in loose and nutritious soil and does not require special conditions.
Boxes for planting seedlings in spring should be wide enough and shallow (12 cm in height is sufficient). They are first disinfected in potassium permanganate. The soil needs to be treated in the same way.Instead of a solution of potassium permanganate, the soil can be kept in the freezer for several days or placed in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 120 degrees.
Next, several holes are made in the containers for drainage and soil is laid out. When planting in spring, proceed as follows:
- Pre-prepare dill seeds as described above.
- Then several grooves up to 1 cm deep are formed on the surface at a distance of 10 cm.
- Spread the seeds at intervals of 2-3 cm.
- Moisten with a spray bottle.
- Cover with film with holes or transparent glass.
- Leave on the windowsill or on a shelf, the temperature should be room temperature.
The optimal distance between rows is 20 cm
In the first week, the film is periodically removed for ventilation and watering is done. After the massive emergence of seedlings, it is finally removed, and after another week it is thinned out or planted in peat pots. They are easiest to transplant into the garden. The transfer to a permanent location begins no earlier than the beginning of May.
Further care
Dill is a fairly unpretentious plant, so after planting in the spring it does not require special care. If the soil is fertile enough, you can fertilize 1-2 times per season. It is best to use nettle infusion that has been fermented for five days. You can also give an infusion of mullein 1:10 or chicken manure 1:20. It is not recommended to use nitrogen compounds, since dill accumulates nitrates, and such greens will be less beneficial to health.
One of the basic rules for caring for dill after planting is regular and sufficiently abundant watering. If there is no rain at all, water is given weekly, and if hot, dry weather sets in, twice as often. At the same time, water is poured abundantly, 2-3 buckets per square meter.The best option is to install a drip irrigation system. In any case, you need to use settled water - chlorinated water from the tap can harm the plants.
The soil needs to be loosened regularly to prevent a dense crust from forming. If this is not done, the roots of the plant after planting in the spring will not receive enough oxygen. Weeding is especially important in the first month. It is necessary to regularly remove weeds so that they do not take away nutrients and water from the crop.
It is also recommended to periodically pinch the growing points so that lateral branches form. This is especially necessary if the central trunk is strongly extended. As soon as the greens have become lush enough, they are cut off with a sharp knife. If you need your own planting material, several bushes are left for flowering and seed ripening.
For dill to produce a good harvest, it needs to be watered and fed regularly.
Pest and disease control
When planted in spring, the plant rarely suffers from diseases and pests. But due to excess moisture and improper feeding, dill can suffer damage from infectious diseases. The most common are:
- Phomasis;
- blackleg;
- powdery mildew;
- fusarium;
- peronosporosis.
To combat them, fungicides are used, for example, Bordeaux mixture, HOM and others. Of the pests, bugs, aphids, caterpillars and umbrella moths are especially dangerous when planting in spring. They are fought with insecticides: “Karate”, “Inta-Vir”, “Fufanon” and others.
Conclusion
Sowing dill in open ground in spring is a simple procedure that is accessible to any summer resident, even with minimal experience. To ensure a higher germination rate, the seeds are carefully prepared. Then they are planted in shallow furrows and covered with soil.Then water regularly and feed occasionally.
