Cilantro is infamous for bolting quickly in the heat, and it can be finicky with its water requirements. But given the right conditions, it's a low-maintenance plant. In fact, cilantro is one of the best herbs to grow in the spring and fall thanks to its cold tolerance. In many zones, it can even grow over the winter if given some protection.
Read on for everything you need to know about growing cilantro from seed, from its growing requirements to how to harvest it.
Jump to:
- When to grow cilantro
- When to sow cilantro seeds
- How to sow cilantro seeds indoors
- How to direct sow cilantro seeds
- How to plant cilantro outside or in pots
- Cilantro light requirements
- Cilantro soil requirements
- Cilantro water requirements
- How to harvest cilantro
- How to harvest coriander seeds
- How to grow cilantro indoors
- How long does coriander take to grow?
- How much sun does cilantro need?
- What are cilantro's soil requirements?
- How big do cilantro plants grow?
- When should you sow cilantro seeds?
- When should you harvest cilantro?
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Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a member of the Apiaceae family, a group of umbellifers that includes carrots, parsley, and celery. It's a cool season plant grown for its bright, flavorful leaves as well as its seeds, which make an aromatic seasoning. In the US, cilantro refers to the plant itself, while coriander refers only to the leaves; in other areas, both are known as coriander.
In most climates, cilantro does best in the spring and fall, when it can get full sun without the leaves burning. It has shallow roots that dry out easily, so it prefers regular watering and a generous amount of space for roots to grow.
When to grow cilantro
Cilantro likes cool weather, making early spring and fall ideal growing times. Like lettuce, cilantro wants to bolt (go to seed) nearly as soon as temperatures start to get hot, so it's not suited to mid-summer growing in most climates.
Plan to plant your cilantro in the spring after the last frost, or in the fall up to two months before the first frost. A greenhouse, cold frame, or garden fleeces will protect cilantro for the few weeks leading up to the last frost, extending the season. Plants will start to bolt as temperatures rise, as early as mid-May. Another planting in April or March can provide a harvest into the early summer, if planted in partial shade and watered regularly.
For a fall harvest, plant cilantro in early September or once the worst heat of the summer has passed. In warmer climates, cilantro planted in the fall can also overwinter in the ground to be harvested early the next year.
When to sow cilantro seeds
In moderate and cool climates, sow cilantro seeds indoors or in a greenhouse as early as January or February to enjoy a harvest through the spring. A second sowing in March or April can extend the harvest to early summer. For a fall harvest, sow cilantro seeds in August (to be planted in September).
Cilantro seedlings are ready to be planted into a pot or raised bed as soon as they have a few true leaves. For an earlier harvest, you can grow your cilantro seedlings indoors or in a cold frame for two to four weeks before planting.
How to sow cilantro seeds indoors
Sow cilantro ½" to ¼" deep into seed plugs or soil blocks with thoroughly dampened soil. Once the first true leaves start to grow, pot the plants up into slightly larger plugs (if needed). Let them develop multiple sets of leaves before planting them outside or into their final pots after the final frost.
For a steady supply of cilantro through the spring, sow cilantro every two to four weeks between February and late March. In the fall, the window between the cooler temperatures and the first frost is shorter, so there may only be time for one successional sowing in cool climates.
While waiting for seeds to sprout, it can be easy to overwater them, resulting in damping off within a few days of sprouting. To avoid this, water the soil thoroughly before sowing the seeds and keep them covered with a plastic dome until seedlings sprout.
Cilantro seedlings can take up to three weeks to emerge.
How to direct sow cilantro seeds
Sow cilantro directly three to four weeks before the last frost, dropping seeds into ½" deep drills every inch or so. Once seedlings emerge, thin to one plant every three to four inches (or twice that if you're growing it for seed.)
How to plant cilantro outside or in pots
Cilantro needs full sun or partial shade, a well draining soil, regular watering, and a healthy amount of rich organic matter in the soil.
Whether you're planting cilantro into raised beds or pots, use a soil with plenty of drainage and some added compost. In the cooler months, cilantro grows best in a sunny position. In hotter climates and during the summer, part shade and near daily watering will keep the plant slightly cooler and can help to delay bolting. Planting it alongside cilantro's companion plants can also help to create some shade as the season progresses.
Cilantro does not need to be fertilized through the growing season. In climates that don't have frosts, where cilantro can grow through the winter, a mulching with compost in the late fall will help the plant to stay healthy until the spring.
Read More: The 9 Best Companion Plants for Cilantro
Cilantro light requirements
Cilantro grows best in full sun in the spring and fall, but it can tolerate partial sun. As temperatures rise, a partial shade planting can slow cilantro sending up flowers and going to seed.
Cilantro soil requirements
Loamy, rich, well draining soil produces the best cilantro. A healthy amount of compost in the soil will help the plant to produce a mass of tasty, tender leaves. Vermiculite or perlite in the soil provide the drainage that the plant needs. Cilantro doesn't need fertilizer, though overwintering plants would benefit from a mulching with compost in the late fall.
Cilantro water requirements
Cilantro likes regular watering in all temperatures, but it does require good drainage. If the roots sit in water, the plants will start to bolt. As temperatures rise, plants may need daily watering to avoid bolting from the heat.
How to harvest cilantro
Cilantro can be harvested all at once by cutting the entire plant down to the soil. Alternatively, harvesting up to a third of the plant at a time can allow it to provide a modest harvest for up to three months. For a regular supply of cilantro, it's best to either grow multiple plants or succession sow new seeds every three to four weeks.
How to harvest coriander seeds
It can take three to four months for cilantro to go to seed, depending on the climate and how the plant is maintained. To harvest coriander seeds, let the plant's thin, delicate umbels of flowers go to seed. Wait for the seeds and the leaves to turn brown before cutting them from the plant. The easiest way to collect the coriander seeds is to tie a paper bag around the seed heads and hang the cuttings upside down. The seeds will gradually fall into the bag as the plant dries, and one final shake should free the rest of them.
How to grow cilantro indoors
Cilantro can do well in front of a bright window that gets strong sun for most of the day. Keep the cilantro in its sunny position, rotate it regularly, and water it frequently, as the soil in pots dries out quickly.
How long does coriander take to grow?
Depending on where you live, coriander can grow for six weeks to six months before putting out seeds. That said, it is generally short lived and will need to be taken up within four months of planting. Grown in proper conditions, cilantro can be ready to harvest as early as eight weeks after planting.
Keep in mind that if you're sowing cilantro seeds, they can take three weeks to emerge and another two or three weeks to be ready to plant into the garden. Coriander seeds can take four months to be ready to harvest.
How much sun does cilantro need?
Cilantro needs full sun or partial sun. Cilantro does bolt easily in warm weather, so partial sun and frequent watering is usually necessary during the hottest months of the year.
What are cilantro's soil requirements?
Cilantro likes rich, loamy, well draining soil. This can be a basic organic raised bed mix, or a combination of compost, leaf mold, and added drainage like vermiculite.
How big do cilantro plants grow?
Cilantro plants are small, only reaching about a foot in height and five to 10 inches in width.
When should you sow cilantro seeds?
Sow cilantro seeds as early as January for an early spring harvest, and up to early April for a late spring harvest. To harvest cilantro in the fall, sow seeds about three months before harvesting prior to the first frost. If you have shelter for your cilantro (like a cold frame or garden cloche) or live in a very mild climate, the growing window can extend well into the winter months. If you're growing cilantro for seeds, sow it four to five months before you plan to harvest the coriander.
When should you harvest cilantro?
Allow your cilantro plants to become well established before harvesting any leaves. Cilantro is ready to harvest as soon as its leaves have reached around 6" in height. For multiple harvests, take only up to a third of each plant at a time.