Dill
Grown as herb and spice; its yellow umbels offer exposed nectar in early summer, and fields left to seed provide useful support for bees.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,5-1,2 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Dill is an annual from south-west Asia and the Mediterranean, grown all over the world for its leaves and seed. Fields harvested early for fresh herb provide nothing for bees; in fields left to flower for seed, however, the open nectar in the yellow umbels is readily collected by honey bees, flies and wild bees. Nectar yield is moderate and the pollen contribution low.
Flowering
With spring sowing it flowers in June-July, and with successive sowings flowers can be seen until August; a single field stays in flower for 3-4 weeks.
Honey and pollen
Monofloral honey is not common.
Note for the beekeeper
In dill seed production, pollination is largely done by insects; colonies placed at the field edge can increase seed yield. Leaving a few plants to go to seed in the garden provides extra food for bees and beneficial insects in early summer.