Description
Grow cilantro/coriander for bright, garden-fresh flavor whenever you cook. Harvest tender cilantro leaves in just weeks, then let a few plants set warm, nutty coriander seeds for your spice jar. Save trips to the store, pick only what you need, and keep dishes tasting lively and clean.
Key Features
- Dual harvest: Enjoy leafy cilantro now and aromatic coriander seeds later.
- Fast results: Sprout in 7–14 days; snip leaves in about a month.
- Cool-season friendly: Thrive in spring and fall; handle light frost.
- Great for small spaces: Grow in raised beds, planters, or window boxes.
- Bee-friendly blooms: Allow a few plants to flower and support pollinators.
Applications
Brighten salsa, tacos, pho, and salads with fresh-cut cilantro. Toast coriander seeds to season curries, roasted veggies, and marinades. Pick a handful before dinner and serve fresher flavor than store-bought herbs.
Specifications
- Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
- Life cycle: Annual herb
- Sun: Full sun to part shade (afternoon shade in heat)
- Sowing depth: 1/4 in (6 mm); direct sow for best roots
- Spacing: Thin to 6 in (15 cm); rows 12 in (30 cm)
- Height: 12–24 in (30–60 cm)
- Germination: 7–14 days
- Harvest: Leaves in 30–45 days; seeds in 70–90 days
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately rich; keep evenly moist
Sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady leaf supply. Pinch early flower stalks to extend leaf harvest, then let later plants bloom to collect coriander. Snip stems above a growth node, rinse gently, and add right before serving for the brightest taste.