In outskirts of Moscow planting dill before winter begins in late autumn and is characterized by a number of features. But most often there is no need to plant the crop before winter; when planted in early spring, it sprouts quickly, and you can enjoy the greenery already in May. The culture is unpretentious and does not require special attention.
Zoning
With the development of agriculture, breeders determine the most favorable areas for growing certain crops.Suitable varieties for northern and southern regions are very different. But dill grows well in any climate zone. Therefore, it is actively grown in cold northern climates and favorable southern ones.
Varieties for the Moscow region
Any variety of crop is suitable for the Moscow region. The climatic conditions in this zone are favorable and growing greenery will not be difficult. The best varieties for the Moscow region are presented below.
For open ground
The best varieties for open ground:
- Redoubt is an early ripening variety. The height of dill stems reaches 28 cm. Dill is ready for cutting 35 days after planting the seeds in open ground.
- Dalny is another early-ripening variety of dill. The height of the stems is from 29 to 25 cm. The shade of the leaves is dark green.
- Kibray is a mid-season variety for open ground. The height of the stems is 40 cm. The dill branches are lush and thick, the greens have a pleasant dill aroma.
- Alligator is a mid-season variety characterized by tall stems. Their length reaches 160 cm. Dill greens are cut 40–45 days after planting.
Most varieties are planted in open ground.
For the greenhouse
Suitable varieties for the greenhouse:
- Gribovsky is an early variety for greenhouses. The height of the stems is from 20 cm. Suitable for harvesting for the winter. The aroma is pleasant, the greens are meaty.
- Umbrella - greens ripen 40–45 days after planting in the greenhouse.
The height of the plant in some cases exceeds 1.8 m.
Any variety can be grown in a greenhouse, providing favorable conditions.
How to plant dill before winter?
Before winter they begin to plant in late October - early November. Many summer residents prefer to navigate by the weather.
Planting begins after the air temperature has remained around +5 degrees for several days.
Seeds are sown to a depth of 3–4 cm. The beds are mulched before planting for the winter. In general, planting before winter is no different from spring planting of dill.
How to plant correctly in the Moscow region
The quality and quantity of the future harvest depends on the correct planting of any agricultural crop. Particular attention is paid to this stage of cultivation. Sowing dill It is not difficult, but if you observe the necessary planting conditions, you will be able to grow a rich harvest.
Preparation of seed material
Preparation of planting material is carried out in several stages. First, the seeds are placed in cheesecloth and soaked in warm water. The water is changed several times a day. They do this for 3 days.
Then take the seeds out of the gauze, lay them out in a thin layer on a damp cloth, and cover with a second piece of cloth. Leave them like this for 4 days. Periodically spray the fabric with water. Before planting in the soil, they are dried for 3 minutes.
Sowing
Sowing of dill begins after the soil has warmed up well. The optimal planting dates are the end of April and May. Planting later varieties will provide greenery in the fall.
Before planting, dig up the soil well and apply mineral or organic fertilizers. Then make shallow furrows and sow dill seeds.
It is not recommended to cover them heavily with soil, otherwise the sprouts will not sprout well.
Water the beds generously using a watering can.
How to care?
Dill care minimum. In most cases, regular watering and fertilization are enough for it. To prevent the appearance of pests, the bushes are periodically inspected.
Watering
Dill loves moist soil, but excess moisture in turn leads to the development of diseases and rotting of the stems. You need to water your greens with warm water 3-4 times a week. In dry weather, the amount of watering is increased. The main thing is not to water the plants with cold water, otherwise they may get sick and die.
Top dressing
Mullein solution or nitrogen-containing fertilizers must be added to the soil for growth. It is this element that dill needs most. Nitrogen promotes the growth of leaf mass. Nitrate, ammonia water or urea are used as nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
Weeding
Weeding is not necessary if there are no weeds in the beds. Once a week, the beds are loosened to saturate the soil with oxygen. This kind of weeding is quite enough for the plant. In order for dill to grow better, it is thinned out.
Diseases and pests
The most common type of aphid found in garden beds is the willow-carrot aphid. During a season, the pest can reproduce up to 17 generations, which makes their invasion a real disaster for gardeners.
To prepare the vinegar solution you need to take 1 tsp. vinegar and 1 liter of clean water. Stir and pour into a spray bottle. You can use apple cider vinegar instead of regular vinegar. It is no less effective in the fight against aphids.
To prepare a solution based on apple cider vinegar, take 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 liter of water. Mix and process in the same way as in the first option.
Collection and storage
You can cut the greens at any time when the dill has grown. Fresh herbs are used as a seasoning for various dishes.
The collected greens must be thoroughly washed under running water. Dill often contains a large number of insects, which must be washed off the greens before eating the greens.Fresh and stored in the refrigerator. In this form, it is suitable for soups, borscht, sauces and other dishes when greens are added during cooking. Dried dill is stored in glass jars with a closed lid. It is more flavorful than frozen and is also used for cooking.
