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Post by cf on Jan 24, 2021 11:55:44 GMT -5
Just wanted to share this. My dill keeps growing tall gangly shoots, but really fast So to avoid having to raise the light above the happiness of other plants, I have been cutting these long stalks with poofs of dill at their tops at the base. This may not be the best way to grow Dill, but in the process, this has meant small amounts of harvesting dill at a time.
I have been laying it out with dense leaf clusters intact, but removing the main stem. Letting the poofs dry overnight on a plate. By next morning it turns brittle, meaning that it has dried, so I've been carefully transferring it into a fairly airtight, screw top jar with as little breakage as possible as I keep accumulating. bit by bit.
The flavor is intense and absolutely wonderful. I've been crumbling it into eggs, potatoes, carrots, whatever and it seems dry enough so it won't mold, but I'm keeping everything intact. Again, no long stems allowed. I don't know how this compares with hanging an entire bunch for a week, only that I'm having very good luck doing it this way and it definitely accommodates small Dill harvesting at a time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2021 14:23:39 GMT -5
I'm glad you've found a method that works well for you. Thanks for sharing!
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jan 24, 2021 16:17:24 GMT -5
I like the idea of harvesting small amounts of dill often and using those mini harvests as you cut them.
I quit growing dill because I let it get massive and all that dill was overwhelming.
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661 
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Post by mike on Jan 24, 2021 20:47:19 GMT -5
Interesting. I've microwaved mine for a brief time, then let it sit on a paper plate in an unused cupboard not susceptible to drafts for a couple of days. I'm not happy with that. I don't think I want to use the microwave anymore. While I prefer fresh, I love dill on most things.
I'm going to do a dill and basil garden again soon.
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Post by cf on Feb 1, 2021 15:38:17 GMT -5
Interesting. I've microwaved mine for a brief time, then let it sit on a paper plate in an unused cupboard not susceptible to drafts for a couple of days. I'm not happy with that. I don't think I want to use the microwave anymore. While I prefer fresh, I love dill on most things. I'm going to do a dill and basil garden again soon. Pepper King, I tried the nuker also. At first I thought it would be the way to go but then that it really gave up a ton of its flavor. Then thought drying it under just the light in the oven (creates an 80-degree proofing box). Same thing. I've found overnight just lying on a plate in the room... it gets dried, but stays intact. If you pick it up and rub it between your fingers, it'll shatter. But it'll leave a TON of scent on your fingers and in the room. I've been using it dried this way on eggs and in other things and it definitely retains more flavor. It actually almost seems like more concentrated flavor than if fresh off the plant. |
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661
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Post by mike on Feb 1, 2021 16:39:04 GMT -5
Yes, this time I will put it on fruit roll-up trays in my dehydrator with the power off. My dehydrator doesn't get used for months at a time, so that won't be a problem.
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Post by cf on Feb 1, 2021 17:53:37 GMT -5
Yes, this time I will put it on fruit roll-up trays in my dehydrator with the power off. My dehydrator doesn't get used for months at a time, so that won't be a problem. Can the same amount of room air get to it? If you don't have a mouse in the house, it might be just as good to leave it on a plate overnight. I don't strip the stems, it seems to do best if it's more intact. But I don't leave any appreciable length stems on it. Sometimes I'm only cutting off a half inch or less of plain stem. Not playing expert, and I have not kept it for months to make any claims there. However, after it has air dried, I sort of pour it, or brush it, keeping it as intact as possible, into a glass spice jar, tight screw top, and have been really impressed. If you happen to bake your own bread, I am getting to be somewhat savvy about jars and the jars that yeast come in are golden. They are dark brown glass, meant to block light and their lids are not only screw-ons, but they have that added inner ring that surrounds the edge of the jar's rim which is meant to increase air tightness. Yeast being what it is, it's packaging is top notch. If you don't bake your own bread, you might know someone who does and ask them to save their yeast jars for you. As a big bonus, their labels scrape off after being soaked in hot water so I can't think of a better storage jar for herbs. |
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661
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Post by mike on Feb 1, 2021 18:18:53 GMT -5
Yes, I have an Excalibur. I will just leave the front cover off. My only problem now is getting the correct dill seeds. The one I received are a 5-ft. tall plant. OK folks, which is the best variety of dill for the AG? I'm sure I purchased from Park Seed in the past. They were out when I ordered from Seeds 'n Such.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2021 19:30:28 GMT -5
mike Maybe the Fernleaf? Still 18 inches, but that would work with a bounty.
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661
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Post by mike on Feb 1, 2021 19:32:12 GMT -5
I'm trying to decide between the fernleaf and the hera.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2021 19:42:06 GMT -5
I'm trying to decide between the fernleaf and the hera. I hate to be a seed pusher, but this sounds like an excellent opportunity for a side-by-side experiment. |
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mike
The Pepper King
Posts: 3,661
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Post by mike on Feb 1, 2021 19:53:59 GMT -5
I decided to be cheap. I already bought the wrong dill once. I ordered the Park Fernleaf from Amazon for $4.95. The Burpee Hera is $9.39.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267 
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Post by Shawn on Feb 2, 2021 5:43:04 GMT -5
I decided to be cheap. I already bought the wrong dill once. I ordered the Park Fernleaf from Amazon for $4.95. The Burpee Hera is $9.39.
That is expensive
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