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Grow cilantro

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) has glossy parsley-like foliage that at times makes it hard to tell the difference between parsley and cilantro at the produce market. All you need to do is smell the light pungent aroma, and you’ll know the difference.

Grow cilantro in light well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Sow the seeds outdoors in late spring after the last frost date. Plant in rows in the garden or a container, cover with 1/2″ of soil and keep moist for good germination. Avoid heavy nitrogen feedings for best flavor. In the garden, thin seedlings 4″ apart. For continued supply, repeat sowing every two weeks until the hot weather arrives. Cilantro will start to mature quickly (bolt) and go to seed in the hot temperatures of summer. It may self seed or you can re-sow seeds in late summer for an additional fall harvest. Cilantro will tolerate a light frost.

Harvest the parsley-like foliage regularly to keep the plant producing more leaves. Cut the plant 2″ above the soil line. When the plant starts to produce feathery, upper foliage, it is an indication that it’s going to flower and will produce a round ribbed beige seeds. The seeds can be harvested and stored in a dark, airtight container.

Cilantro leaves are used in Mexican, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. Fresh leaves do not dry or freeze well. Stems are usually discarded but can be used to flavor soups and beans. The seeds are used in baked goods, curry powder and liqueurs. The Egyptians thought it was an aphrodisiac and Greeks used it to flavor wine.

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13 comments to Grow cilantro

  • Natasha

    I bought a potted cilantro plant at the grocery store 2 days ago. I kept the plant in the original container (with holes in the bottom) but put it in a larger pot with dirt around it. It is sitting in a semi-sunny west facing window (the only option), and I have not let the soil dry out. A few of the leaves are already turning yellow. What should I do?

    Hi Natasha
    If the lower leaves are turning yellow then your cilantro may need a bit of a balanced fertilizer. Be careful not to overwater it as that can also yellow the leaves. It may also be that the plant is older, stressed causing the leaves to turn yellow. Keep the plant in a shaded area for a few days so it can acclimate to the new environment.

  • Natasha

    Thanks for the tip. My plant is adjusting nicely, but I this morning I found small black balls on a few of the leaves. What is it, and what should I do about it?

    Hi Natasha,
    Off hand, I couldn’t say what that could be. Sometimes when caterpillars feed on plants, they leaves black “balls” on the leaves. It could just be insect poop.

  • Isa

    Hi!

    I planted my cilantro from seed. They grew up fine until 2.5-3 inch then they started to fall on the sides, as if the stem can’t support its own height. The new “cilantro-shaped” leaves (two so far on each plant) are healthy green.
    Do you have any idea of what might be causing the problem of them falling on the side?
    thanks

    Hi Isa
    Are your seedlings getting enough light? When starting seeds the newly emerging seedling require high light in order to produce sturdy stems. Are the stems black at the soil line?

  • Chantell

    I want to know how often do i water my cilantro plant ??

    Hi Chantell
    Water cilantro when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry. They do well in moist well-drained soil but are tolerant of dry soil.

  • lupita

    hola una pregunta fijate que compre una planta de cilantro en un invernadero,y ya que la trasplante a la maceta estuvo bien un mes si se puededecir,la usamos para cocinar etc, pero a cuestion de unos dias se ha puesto amarilla ,las hojas de caen junto con los tallos y ademas le estan saliendo unas plantas que salen de la misma raiz de los tallos del cilantro que tienen flores en la punta de color blanco,,,,me puedes ayudar y decirme que es porque a mi hermano le paso exactamente igual y su cilantro ya no exite desaparecio despues de que salieron esas plantitas del cilantro y la verdad quiero concervarlo,,porque aqui en oaxaca mexico se ocupa mucho en las comidas…..gracias..hasta pronto

    Lo siento, e yo no hablo Espaniol, podria por favor, escribeme en Ingles.

    • Marili

      Hola Lupita,
      Cilantro es una hierba de corta vida que florecera cuando las temperaturas son mas calientes. Una vez que florece, produce semilla, para de crecer y termina. Para retardar el florecimiento cosecha las ojas regularmente. Corta la planta a 2 pulgadas sobre la tierra, esto forzara la planta a producir mas ojas. La mejor forma de crecer silantro es plantar las semilla cada 2 Semanas para que continue un florecimiento abundante durante la temporada. Cuando la riegues hazlo solo cuando la tierra lla esta seca. Si la tierra se mantiene mojada toodo el tiempo causara que la raiz se pudra causando que a planta muera prematurament.

  • Marili

    This is Lupitas message translated;
    Hello, one question, I bought a cilantro plant at the nursery and once I re-potted it, it survived for about 1 month, we even used it on some of our cookings etc. After a couple o days it started getting yellowish and the leaves are falling along with the stems. Also there are little white flowers comming out of the roots. Could you help me. The same thing happend to my brothers cilantro and now he has no cilantro plant. I really want to keep my plant. This herb is used alot here in Oaxaca Mx. for all sorts of cooking.
    Thank you, talk to you all soon.

    Hola Lupita
    Cilantro is a short lived herb that will bolt (flower) when temperatures get too warm. Once they start to flower, they produce seeds, stop growing and are finished. To delay it from flowering, harvest the leaves regularily. Cut the plant down to 2 inches above the soil, this will force the plant to produce more leaves. The best way to grow cilantro is to plant the seeds every 2 weeks so that you will have continued leafy growth throughout the season. When watering, make sure your plant has a chance to dry out before watering again. If the soil is kept too wet, it will cause the roots to rot causing the plants to die prematurely.

  • Jack

    Do the seeds of cilantro form by themselves or do they need outside help? I have a cilantro plant that I have been taking care of for about five months since late 2008. There are a lot of flowers, but there are no seeds.

    The flowers need to be pollinated by insects in order to produce a seed.

  • Laura

    My cilantro just flowered. Should I yank the plant and start over or just cut it down to 2″ above the soil to get the best flavor?

    To get the best flavor start new plants although Cilantro grows best in cooler weather (Spring /Fall). It will have a tendency to quickly bolt (bloom) when temperatures are hot. Trimming the top growth (cutting the plant back) will encourage the plant to send out new growth. If you let some of it go to seed, you should have lots of new plants in late summer.

  • Rose

    I have my cilantro plant in a morning sun/afternoon shade spot and it is looking wilty. Not exactly dead, but wilty. How do I save it? It is less than 2 inches high.

    Hi Rose
    It may be suffering from a root problem caused by keeping it too wet. Reduce watering and move the plant to a more shaded area until it recovers.

  • Rose

    Well…I stopped watering altogether for the time being and put the cilantro in the shade. It looks even worse than before. Is there any way to save it?

  • Rose

    Another thing…I’m in the southern hemisphere, so it’s cold right now. I have my plant inside, but it’s cold inside too (40-50). Don’t know how that affects things.

    It certainly does affect things. I’m in the Northern hemisphere and we are in late summer. Cilantro is difficult to grow indoors-much easier if sown directly outdoors. It needs warmer temperatures to grow around 70F (40-50F is too cold) and lots of sun. You may still have a root rot problem from keeping the plant too wet. Give your plant filtered light for now, when the top inch of soil feels dry, water well, until it drains from the bottom. If the plant does not improve in a week then there’s no saving it. I would reseed and start new plants. Seeds need 55-85F temps. to germinate.

  • Rose

    I really have no green thumb~I just want cilantro! How do I reseed?

    Hi Rose
    Sow your cilantro seeds in light well drained soil. They need darkness to germinate so cover the seeds with 1/2″ of soil water well and keep the pot around 55-68F. You can place the container in a plastic bag until you see seeds sprouting. Temps in the 70’s would be ideal. Germination should take place in 10-15 days. You can also sow the seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date.

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