Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is an herb with savory, deep green leaves that are harvested fresh and used to flavor a variety of Asian and Latin dishes. It is also known as coriander or Chinese parsley. Cilantro isn't difficult to grow, the seeds can be planted directly in the soil as soon as all danger of frost has passed or they can be grown in a pot. Here's how.
In the Garden
1Choose the time of year. The best time to plant cilantro depends on where you live. Cilantro won't survive in frosty conditions, but it doesn't like extreme heat either. In temperate climates, the best time to start planting cilantro is in late spring, between the months of March and May. In more tropical climates, cilantro will grow better during cooler, dry times of year, such as fall.
- If the weather grows too hot, the cilantro plants will start to bolt - which means they will flower and go to seed, so choose your time of year wisely.
2Prepare a spot in your garden. Select a patch of soil where the cilantro will get full exposure to the sun. It will tolerate some shade in southerly areas where the sun gets very hot during the day. The soil should be light and well-drained with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8.
- If you wish to cultivate the soil before planting, use a shovel, rototiller or spade to work 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of an organic mulch such as compost, rotten leaves or manure into the top layer of soil. Rake the area smooth before planting.
3Plant the cilantro seeds. Sow the seeds about 1⁄4 inch (0.6 cm) deep, spaced 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) apart, in rows approximately 1 foot (0.3 m) apart. Cilantro seeds need plenty of moisture to germinate, so make sure to water them frequently. They need about an inch of water per week. They should germinate in about 2 to 3 weeks.
- As cilantro grows so quickly, you should plant a new batch of seeds every 2 to 3 weeks to ensure that you have a fresh supply of cilantro throughout the growing season.
4Care for the cilantro. Once the seedlings have reached about 2 inches (5.1 cm) in height, you can fertilize them with a water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer. Be careful not to over-fertilize, you only need about 1/4 of a cup for every 25 feet (7.6 m) of growing space.
- Once the plants have established themselves, they do not need as much water. You should aim to keep the soil damp, but not soggy, as cilantro is a dry climate herb.
5Prevent overcrowding. Stop the cilantro plants from becoming overcrowded by thinning the seedlings when the cilantro is 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) tall. Pull out the smaller plants and leave the strongest ones to grow larger, allowing 8 to 10 inches (20.3 to 25.4 cm) between each plant. The smaller plants can be used in cooking and eaten.
- You can also prevent weeds from growing by spreading some mulch around the base of the plants as soon as they are visible above the soil.
6Harvest the cilantro. Harvest cilantro by cutting off individual leaves and stems from the base of the plant, near ground level, when the stems are 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) tall. Use the fresh, new shoots in cooking, not the older, ferny-type leaves which can taste bitter.
- Don't cut off more than one third of the leaves at one time, as this can weaken the plant.
- Once you have harvested the leaves, the plant will continue to grow for at least two or three more cycles.
7Decide whether or not you want to leave the cilantro plants to flower. Sooner or later the coriander plants will start to flower. When this happens, the plant will stop producing fresh, new shoots with edible leaves. At the this point, some people cut off the flowers in the hopes that the plant will produce more leaves.
- However, if you would also like to harvest coriander seeds from the plant you should leave it to flower. Once the flower dries, you will be able to harvest coriander seeds that can be used in cooking.
- Alternatively, you can allow the seeds to naturally fall to the ground where the cilantro plant will self sow, providing you with more cilantro plants the following growing season.
In a Pot
1Select an appropriate pot. Choose a flower pot or container that's at least 18 inches (45.7 cm) wide and 8 to 10 inches (20.3 to 25.4 cm) deep. Cilantro does not take kindly to being moved, so the pot needs to be big enough to contain the full grown plant.
2Plant the seeds. Fill the pot with some fast-draining soil. You can mix in some fertilizer too, if you like. Moisten the soil with a little water until it's just damp, not soggy. Sprinkle the seeds lightly over the soil to disperse evenly. Cover with another 1⁄4 inch (0.6 cm) of soil.
3Place the pot in a sunny spot. Cilantro needs full sun to grow, so place it in a sunny window-sill or conservatory. The seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days.
4Keep moist. Keep the soil moist using a spray bottle to lightly mist the soil. If you pour water onto the soil, it might displace the seeds.
5Harvest the cilantro. Once the stems of the cilantro reach 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) in length, it is ready to be harvested. Cut up to 2/3 of the leaves each week, as this will encourage the plant to keep growing. This way, it is possible to harvest four crops of cilantro from a single pot.
My cilantro is not germinating. It's been three weeks, but I could not see the green shrub coming out of soil. I'm watering it daily. What might be the reason?wikiHow ContributorIt could be that it is getting too much water. Cilantro's soil should be moist, not wet -- it is a dry herb.
Can I grow cilantro in a small pot?wikiHow ContributorCilantro roots grow fairly deep even from a 3 inch tall plant. Thus, any small pot should be a pot 8 to 10 inches deep at a minimum.
How can I make sure my cilantro grows okay in the cold?wikiHow ContributorCilantro is naturally very resistant to the cold, it can easily handle temperatures ranging even to the low/mid 20s Fahrenheit.
It is very hot and sunny where I live. Will cilantro bolt in this weather, even if they get some shade?wikiHow ContributorIf you live in a region where it is hot in summer and cool (some frosty mornings) in winter, you may find that if your plant your coriander (cilantro) in the summer, it does tend to bolt to seed quite quickly. To get around this, plant your main crop in the autumn, giving it a good start before the winter hits (as long as you're in a non-snowy area) and then it will just keeps going through the winter. The frosts don't kill it but slow down or even stop its growth. For areas with snow, plant direct into containers.
I am not using fresh seed to plant Cilantro. Will it grow?wikiHow ContributorCilantro seeds should last two years. If germination doesn't occur in 7 to 14 days, you'll know it isn't viable.
How should I grow cilantro during the rainy season?wikiHow ContributorCilantro is very susceptible to powdery mildew, so it is important to not wet the foliage. During rainy season, bring it indoors.
How do I dry cilantro for future use?wikiHow ContributorHang the cilantro in small bundles upside down in a dry area until they are dried out.
- Cilantro is a good choice for a butterfly garden, as the plant is a butterfly favorite, especially during the morning and evening.
- 'Costa Rica', 'Leisure', and 'Long Standing' are all good varieties of cilantro to begin growing with, as they are slow-bolting and will produce a plentiful harvest of leaves.
Things You'll Need
- Shovel, rototiller or spade
- Organic matter
- Cilantro seeds
- Watering can or garden hose with spray nozzle
- High-nitrogen granular fertilizer
- Flower pot or container
Sources and Citations
- ↑ 1.01.11.2http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-cilantro/
- ↑ 2.02.1http://www.burpee.com/herbs/cilantro/all-about-cilantro-article10222.html
- ↑ 3.03.1http://www.almanac.com/plant/coriander-and-cilantro
- ↑ http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-cilantro.html
- ↑ http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-coriander.html
- ↑ 6.06.16.2http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/better-way-grow-cilantro-00400000017171/
Categories: Growing Herbs and Spices
In other languages:
Español: cultivar cilantro, Deutsch: Koriander anpflanzen, Italiano: Coltivare il Coriandolo, Русский: выращивать кориандр, Français: faire pousser de la coriandre, Português: Cultivar Coentro, 中文: 种香菜, Nederlands: Koriander kweken, Čeština: Jak pěstovat koriandr, Bahasa Indonesia: Menanam Ketumbar, हिन्दी: धनिया उगाएं
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