Fennel and dill: what's the difference?

Fennel and dill are fragrant spices, the greens of dill and fennel are very similar in appearance. Therefore, many greenery lovers confuse these plants with each other. They think that it is the same culture, only with different names. Although these cultures are very similar to each other, they are different representatives that belong to the Umbrella family. What is the difference between dill and fennel, we will tell you in this material.

Fennel and dill: the difference in appearance

As a rule, these crops are confused in appearance during sowing, as well as when the plants are still too young. Of course, there is a similarity in appearance. Firstly, the leaves of both cultures have a feathery dissected shape. Secondly, both crops have many inflorescences, which are grouped in double umbrellas. Thirdly, the flowers of fennel and dill are yellow in color. Fourthly, adult plants grow in height from one to two meters.

You can often hear the second name for fennel, pharmaceutical dill. This statement is not true for the reason that fennel and dill are different crops. Differences in the appearance of these herbs can be seen with a closer inspection of the plants. Dill and fennel may be the same in height, however, the height variations are different. Dill can grow from forty centimeters to one hundred and fifty centimeters, while fennel in its height reaches from ninety to two hundred centimeters. The dill stem usually grows straight or branches slightly. As for the fennel stem, it branches quite actively. Bottom branches are formed on petioles. Dill leaf plates are green in color, from time to time there are leaves with a bluish tone. Fennel leaves are quite dense, they are fluffy. In terms of color, fennel leaves are more bluish than green. Dill has pillow-shaped flowers. Dill roots are quite thin and elongated. As for the fennel root, it usually has a fleshy structure, and is quite large in size.

Different parts of fennel contain a large amount of vitamins and other beneficial elements for the human body. Various minerals, vitamins, acids can be found in plant roots, seeds and foliage. Fennel has a whole range of useful elements, it contains a lot of calcium, manganese, copper, and iron.

As for the beneficial substances contained in dill, they differ from those found in fennel. Among the trace elements, manganese, zinc, copper, potassium, and calcium prevail. In addition, dill contains various acids, including ascorbic and folic. Dill contains a lot of carotene and essential oils, as well as mineral salts.

As for the smell and taste of these spices, they are completely different, the aroma of fennel is a little sweetish, has a not strong bitterness. There are also anise, menthol, tarragon notes. The aroma of dill, in turn, is easily recognized, it is difficult to confuse it. A very special aroma of dill appears thanks to the essential oil, or rather the element that it contains. It's called D-carvon.

Fennel and dill: what is the difference between the seeds of these crops

In addition, there are clear differences in fennel and dill seeds.Dill seeds are round in shape, they are quite small in size, in their length they reach from three to five millimeters, and in width from one and a half to three millimeters. The aroma of dill seeds is characteristic, quite bright.

As for fennel seeds, they are elongated in shape, have a fairly large size, reach about ten millimeters in length and about three millimeters in width. Fennel seeds are divided into two parts.

The difference between dill and fennel agricultural technology

There may be some difficulties in growing these crops if gardeners mistakenly think that this is the same crop. The differences between fennel and dill are quite tangible, in addition to this, each of these crops has its own rules for growing and care.

Fennel is quite difficult to grow, it is quite whimsical, such plants need comfortable conditions. In order for the seeds to germinate, as well as to develop and grow further, the necessary conditions must be organized for fennel. The temperature of the soil as well as the air should be warm enough. The soil should contain a lot of lime. Water the plants with plenty of water on a regular basis. In addition, from time to time it is necessary to loosen the soil so that it is saturated with oxygen. Periodically you need to spud the plants. There should be enough free space between the plants for the plant to have enough sunlight and warmth. Fennel is quite demanding on heat, for this reason it is grown in open ground, as a rule, in the south of the country. If you want to grow fennel in the middle lane, then it is better to do this in greenhouse conditions or using seedlings. Do not plant dill and fennel in the same area in the neighborhood. This can lead to over-pollination of crops.

Dill, in turn, is not a whimsical culture, it is able to grow successfully in a variety of conditions. Dill does not even need a separate zone, the bushes show good results between rows among other plants. Dill grows quite successfully in the shade, and is also able to withstand a slight drop in temperature. There are no peculiarities in caring for dill; a decent harvest from fresh herbs is usually obtained without much effort. The crop can be harvested several times in one season.

What is the difference in the useful properties of these crops

Dill and fennel, of course, have common external features, but their chemical composition is quite different. For medical purposes, both one and the other culture are used. It is worth noting that these plants affect the human body in different ways. Dill has a diuretic effect, it is recommended to use it for problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Dill infusion helps get rid of a problem such as flatulence. In addition, dill infusion increases the degree of lactation, is able to lower blood pressure, helps to produce gastric juice, and reduces the level of excitability of the nervous system. Dill is used if there are problems with the nervous system. He successfully copes with insomnia, neuroses, depression. Dill helps to cope with arrhythmia, hypertension, angina pectoris and many other diseases associated with the system of the heart and blood vessels. Dill infusion is used for diseases of the genitourinary system. It is indicated for people who suffer from sand or kidney stones, cystitis. If there are skin problems, especially those related to allergies, then dill is also indicated in the daily diet.

As for fennel, it has a sedative, expectorant and antispasmodic effect. It has a lot of different natural ingredients in its composition, for this reason fennel is often used for medicinal purposes. For people with gastrointestinal conditions, fennel can be beneficial. It helps to cope with constipation, colic, bloating.Fennel is also good for the kidneys and can help fight stone disease. For bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, fennel can also help. For problems with the genitourinary system, for example, with inflammation of the genitourinary tract, fennel can be useful. If there are any skin problems, then fennel should also be included in the daily diet.

Fennel seeds are used to make the famous dill water, which is very often used to treat colic in young children. Licorice elixir, which is often used against coughs, is made with fennel essential oil.

It should be noted that only seeds are curative in dill, while fennel is used entirely for medicinal purposes.

How to use these crops for culinary purposes

Fennel is almost entirely used for culinary purposes. Fresh herbs, as well as fruits, can be used in food as a spice. They can be added raw to soups and salads. Fennel roots are excellently stewed and will complement fish or meat dishes well. Umbrellas and fennel stems are often canned. Fennel oil can be added to first and second courses, as well as to various preserves.

Dill is also widely used in many dishes. It perfectly complements main dishes, goes well with vegetables in various salads and appetizers, as well as preserves. Dill gives dishes its characteristic bright rich taste and aroma. Dill seeds are used in pickles and marinades. In addition to aromatics, it also provides natural preservation.

If you have hypotension, then you need to eat fennel and dill with extreme caution, this is due to the fact that these crops lower blood pressure. If you overdo it with the use of these spices, then you can get fainting.

What do you prefer after all?

Dill and fennel are very different from each other, however, this and other cultures have an excellent chemical composition, which has a beneficial effect on the human body. These are different cultures, so it is impossible to say for sure that fennel is better than dill, or vice versa. It should be noted that both spicy herbs should be added to the daily diet, but moderation should be observed. Some are of the opinion that the chemical composition of fennel has much more benefits for the human body than dill. They say that fennel contains more acids, trace elements, oils, proteins.

There are definitely differences between these herbs, for this reason it is absolutely necessary to distinguish between these two cultures. So you will use them correctly during the preparation of various dishes, as well as when used for medical purposes. Growing dill or fennel is not something very difficult, but it is important to know about the peculiarities of the care and cultivation of a particular crop.