The dill was the first thing in my garden to get going this year (all on its own), and so it's way ahead of everything but the catnip. Well, before it gets too tall and stocky, it's time to harvest and dry it.
I started with three clumps of the tallest dill. Ella kindly loaned me a couple of her bracelet rubber bands to hold the stems together at the ends.
I'm using brown paper bags because Mama was saying how she didn't like drying dill and ending up with it all brown. I read online that being in the paper bag will keep sunlight from bleaching it, and also keep off dust.
The dill needs a lot of air flow, though, to prevent mildew. I cut slits in the bottom.
Slip the dill into the bag, up-side down. At first, I tried to staple the stem end to the bag to keep it closed and all held together, but that doesn't quite do the job, unless your clumps are much smaller. Instead, take a toothpick and start a couple holes through each side on both sides of the dill, then feed a twisty-tie through to secure it and close the bag.
This is what it should look like...
The dill is supposed to hang for around two weeks or until brittle to the touch, in a dry warm place. My room works. I bound the three bags to a wooden ladder with pipe-cleaner.
This was all two days ago... and then yesterday, when I went to the Goodwill with my Grandma and Emma, look what I found!
Old fashioned nails and everything; it's too cute. So the next time I dry herbs, I'll try some tiny clumps hanging from this.
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Update:
See the results!
