Harvesting Dill: How to Grow, Store, and Use This Flavorful Herb

At BLeaves Farms, we love growing fresh herbs, and dill is one of our absolute favorites. We planted it in our fall garden, letting it thrive in the cool weather, and now that it’s going to seed, it’s time to harvest and store it for year-round use.

Dill is a versatile herb that adds a bright, slightly tangy flavor to dishes, and Jeff The Fire Chef swears by it for everything from seafood to soups. If you love cooking farm-to-table like we do, learning to harvest, dry, and store dill properly will keep this flavorful herb in your kitchen long after the growing season ends.

The Best Time to Harvest Dill

Dill is at its peak flavor just before it flowers. However, even if your plants are already going to seed, don’t worry! You can still harvest both the leaves and seeds for culinary use.

How to Harvest Dill Leaves

Use a sharp pair of herb scissors (these pruning shears work great) to snip off fresh fronds.
Cut in the morning for the best flavor, when the essential oils are most concentrated.
Leave the central stem intact so the plant can continue producing if you’re not ready to remove it entirely.

How to Harvest Dill Seeds

If your dill is bolting (producing flowers and seeds), you can still get a flavorful harvest.

Wait until the seed heads turn brown but haven’t dropped their seeds yet.
Clip the seed heads and place them upside-down in a paper bag to catch falling seeds.
Let them dry for a few weeks, then store them in an airtight container (these glass spice jars are perfect).

Drying and Storing Dill for Long-Term Use

How to Dry Dill Leaves

You have a few options to dry dill, depending on your preference:

Air-Drying (Traditional Method)
- Tie dill sprigs in small bunches with twine (like this natural jute twine) and hang them upside down in a warm, dry place.
- After 1-2 weeks, the leaves will be crumbly and ready for storage.
Using a Dehydrator (Faster & More Efficient)
- Lay dill in a single layer on a dehydrator tray (this one works well for herbs).
- Dry at 95°F (35°C) for 2-4 hours or until brittle.
Oven-Drying (Quick & Easy)
- Set your oven to its lowest temperature (preferably 170°F).
- Spread the dill on a baking sheet (like these non-stick ones) and bake for 1-2 hours, checking frequently.

How to Store Dried Dill

Once dried, store dill in an airtight container (these herb storage jars are perfect). Keep it in a cool, dark place to maintain flavor. Properly stored, dried dill lasts up to a year!

The Benefits of Dill

Dill isn’t just delicious, it’s also packed with health benefits:
✔ Aids digestion: Helps reduce bloating and gas.
✔ Rich in antioxidants: Supports immune health.
✔ Anti-inflammatory: May help with joint pain.
✔ Good for heart health: Contains heart-friendly flavonoids.

At BLeaves Farms, we love knowing that our homegrown herbs are not only flavorful but also contribute to a healthy lifestyle!

Ways to Use Dried Dill

Dried dill retains much of its signature flavor and works great in:

Homemade ranch dressing
Soups (like Jeff’s famous Polish Dill Pickle Soup–stick around, and maybe I can convince him to share the recipe!)
Potato salad
Homemade dill pickles
Salmon (for those who eat fish)

Here’s a worthwhile recipe to try, which you can slather on everything!

Garlic Dill Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, softened (this butter keeper keeps it fresh)
1 tsp dried dill
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl (these mixing bowls work well).
Spread over fresh bread, grilled meats, or steamed veggies.
Store leftovers in an airtight container (this butter dish is perfect).

Time to Plant the Spring Garden!

With our dill harvest stored away, it’s time to prepare the farm for our spring garden! If you’re looking to grow your own dill next season, check out these high-quality organic dill seeds (available here).

Do you grow your own herbs? How do you use dried dill in your kitchen? Let us know at our BLeaves Farms Facebook or Instagram!

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