How to intercrop dill

How to intercrop dill

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is a herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family with beneficial properties for the stomach, such as: digestive, aperitif, carminative (promotes the release of intestinal gas), antispasmodic (reduces muscle spasms and also relaxes the nervous system), diuretic (facilitates the release of urine) and anti-inflammatory (reduces an inflammatory state), calming and preparatory for sleep.
It is also grown as a cooking flavour; you can use fresh leaves or dried seeds. Similar to fennel in terms of aroma and properties. It is a spice widely used in Germany, in the British Isles, in Eastern Europe, in Scandinavia, in Turkey, in Albania, in Greece (where it enters the composition of the well-known Tzatziki), in China in Chinese ravioli and also in India and in numerous other countries of the world, mainly in fish-based dishes.
Furthermore, the leaves, fresh or dried, are used to flavor different culinary preparations, generally salads, fish, meats and sauces; while the seeds are used to flavor liqueurs and jams. An oil (dill oil) is also obtained from the seeds.
Dill is an easy-to-grow plant. It is a plant that prefers exposure to full sun and well-drained soil. However, it fears excessively humid soils and weeds, so, if not cultivated in intercropping, repeated weeding is necessary to keep the soil around the plants free.
Dill is therefore a plant that benefits from intercropping with some plants; among these we mention: basil, cabbage, cucumber, onion, lettuce, corn, pea and turnip, while the one with carrots, fennel and tomatoes is not recommended. Below we analyze some of the plants with which it can be combined and their mutual benefits.
Basil: Although there is no definitive scientific evidence, some gardeners believe that dill can help improve the flavor of basil and keep it away from some insects.
Cabbage and plants of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferous) family: Dill can help repel some insects that are harmful to cabbages and other plants of the Brassicaceae family, such as cauliflower and broccoli.
Cucumber: Dill can be beneficial to cucumbers, improving their growth and protecting them from some pests.
Onion and plants of the Alliaceae family: intercropping with onions, garlic, shallots and leeks can be advantageous, as dill can improve the growth of these plants and vice versa.
Lettuce: Dill can be beneficial for lettuce as it can help repel some pests that attack this plant.
Corn: Intercropping with corn can be beneficial to the growth of both, and dill can help protect the corn from some insects.
However, it is important to avoid planting dill near carrots, tomatoes and, especially, fennel.
Carrots: Dill can slow the growth of carrots and negatively affect their quality.
Tomatoes: Dill can interfere with the growth of tomatoes and attract some pests that can damage these plants.
Fennel: plant from the same family as dill, with identical needs and requirements for which it competes.
Combining dill with the right plants can therefore improve the health and yield of your garden, also helping to control parasites naturally; however, it is always necessary to evaluate the adaptability of this plant, and its associated plants, to the pedoclimatic characteristics where they are grown.