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Planting and Growing Cilantro and Coriander

Image Credit:
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Coriandrum sativum
Grown as
Annual
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
Under 1 foot
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Fragrant
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Cold Hardy
Plant Type
Herbs
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Craving fresh flavor from garden to table? Cilantro (and its spicy alter ego, coriander) packs a punch in both leafy and seed forms. This cool-season herb is a must-have for salsa lovers, curry makers, and taco enthusiasts alike. But don’t let its delicate leaves fool you: cilantro is fast-growing, fuss-free, and totally edible from root to seed. 

Whether you’re planting for the herb (cilantro) or the spice (coriander), we’ll show you exactly how to grow, harvest, and savor this aromatic overachiever.

Cilantro vs. Coriander—What’s the Difference?

Cilantro and coriander are different parts of the same plant.

Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, usually refers to the plant’s leaves, which are used as an herb. The leaves are part of the vegetative stage of the plant’s life cycle.

Coriander refers to the seeds, which are typically ground and used as a spice. The seeds develop after the plant flowers.

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Planting

When to Plant Cilantro

  • Plant cilantro in the spring after the last frost date or in the fall. In the southwestern U.S., a fall planting may last through spring until the weather heats up again.
  • Do not grow in the summer heat, as the plants will bolt (such that it will be past harvesting). The leaves that grow on bolted plants tend to be bitter in flavor.

Where to Plant Cilantro

It is best to choose a sunny site that will allow cilantro to self-seed as it ought to do. Plant in an herb garden or the corner of a vegetable garden. When the weather gets warm, the plant will quickly finish its life cycle and send up a long stalk, which will produce blossoms and later seeds. Little plants will sprout during the season and the next spring.

How to Plant Cilantro

  • Plant the seeds in light, well-draining soil and space them 1 to 2 inches apart. Sow the seeds at 3-week intervals for continued harvest.
  • Space rows about 12 inches apart.
  • It is important to keep the seeds moist during their germination, so remember to water the plants regularly.

Growing

  • Water the seedlings regularly throughout the growing season. They require about 1 inch of water per week for best growth.
  • Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart so that they have room to develop healthy leaves.
  • Once the plants are established, they do not need as much water per week. Keep them moist, but be careful not to overwater them.
  • Fertilize once or twice during the growing season with nitrogen fertilizer. Apply 1/4 cup of fertilizer per 25 feet of row. Be sure not to overfertilize the plants.
  • To help prevent weeds, mulch around the plants as soon as they are visible above the soil. You can also till shallowly to help prevent root damage from weeds.

Harvesting

  • Harvest when the plant is 6 to 8 inches tall. When the cilantro grows its stalk, cut off the plant after the seeds drop and let it self-seed.
  • The large leaves can be cut individually from the plants. For the smaller leaves, cut off 1-1/2 to 2 inches above the crown.
  • You can also remove the entire plant at once, but doing so will mean you will not be able to continue harvesting for the rest of the growing season.

Coriander seeds.

  • To store coriander seeds, cut off the seed heads when the plant begins to turn brown and put them in a paper bag. Hang the bag until the plant dries and the seeds fall off. You can then store the seeds in sealed containers.
  • To store cilantro leaves, you can either freeze or dry them. To freeze, put the leaves in a resealable freezer bag and store them in your freezer. To dry them, hang the plant in a warm place until fully dried, then store the leaves in a resealable bag or container.

Pests and Problems

To control insects, use insecticidal soap once they are spotted under leaves.

Clean up debris and spent plants to avoid wilt and mildew.

A common problem with cilantro is its fast-growing cycle. As mentioned above, it will not grow properly in the heat of summer. Grow so that you harvest in spring, fall, or winter (in mild climates).

Types

Slow-bolting varieties, such as ‘Costa Rica’, ‘Leisure’, and ‘Long Standing’ are the best choices for harvesting the leaves.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Coriander is thought to symbolize hidden worth. Explore more plant meanings here.
  • Does cilantro taste like soap? Folks occasionally report a strong dislike for cilantro, claiming it tastes exactly like soap. Some studies show that this reaction may be influenced by genetics, while others propose that the taste is due to a molecule called aldehyde, which occurs naturally in cilantro, but is also used in some soaps. Does cilantro taste like soap to you? Let us know in the comments below!
  • There are two common methods for keeping cilantro fresh. The first requires a jar filled with about an inch of water; a mason jar works well. Place the stems in the water and then tent a zip-close plastic bag over the mouth of the jar. It is a good idea to put an elastic band around the base of the jar to keep the bag in place. Store in the refrigerator. The second method entails laying the cilantro on paper towels in a single layer. Then, roll up the paper towels and place them in a zip-close plastic bag or an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator. If you notice the paper towels becoming wet, change them.

Herbs

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 08/06/2013 - 11:32

To use coriander seeds for spice: Collect the seeds and put in a brown paper bag and let them dry (for a few weeks). Once dry, measure out the amount of seeds needed, warm up a dry teflon frypan, toss in the seed, and shake the seeds about for a minute or two. Then, toss the seeds into a spice grinder (or use another time of grinder or mortar and pestle). Then, grind the seeds into corinander powder and enjoy the spice! 

 <span>Jimbolee11</span> Fri, 07/12/2013 - 02:57
I live in Arizona, up in the mountains. Grew some Cilantro from seed in a pot. I put 25% deodorized manure, 25% reg soil, & 50% organic gardening soil. The pot was a simple 12x12 pot I planted the seeds about 2 inches a part, 1 in the center & 4 others surrounding it. They grew quickly & we started getting great aromatic leaves that we could harvest rather quickly. Not very many, but i figured i was doing it right .But within a week or so the plant just got real tall very firm & kept growing leaves but very small ones & not wide but just tall & thin.. Now its like just stalled with little white flowers & it's not getting any taller. How can I just plant cilantro seeds, watch the plant grow clip off what I want to eat, & keep harvesting the same plant throughout the year? why does my plant keep flowering, why does it just seed it self why is this such a task? Please help me? What does bolt mean? What does sow mean? Why can't I grow a plant that can allow a harvest that I can bushel like the ones you see at the supermarket?
<span>Jakt</span> Wed, 05/14/2014 - 20:38
Hi! I hope to give you some basic answers to your beginner questions like I have. I was impressed with how detailed you were with how you planted and don't want you to give up on gardening your own herbs. The best feeling for me is when I can season my food with fresh cut herbs and I, too, was disappointed with how quickly my cilantro "bolted." Bolted is what you described your plants doing, it's when one shoot grows up usually the center of the plant and forms a flower head that, in this case, become the coriander spice/seeds for new cilantro plants. As the other person said (and I didn't know this, so I learned something new today!), cilantro grows better in lower temps and will bolt when it gets hot. Living in FL, I thought I had a few more weeks, but mine bolted starting in early April. I continued to use the thinner leaves, not finding them bitter, but not as satisfying as the big flat leaves. I also learned that you can harvest the seeds while green, they are citrus-y and were delicious added to salads, marinades, etc. So you can keep harvesting from plants that bolt. You can even let some of the coriander seeds dry on the stalk, then harvest them. I am in that process for the first time today! I guess if we want cilantro bunches a la the grocery store in our states, we will have to grow them indoors and in lots of pots started 3 weeks apart. Don't cut the plant all the way back, leave 3-4 shoots, so the plant will survive the trimming. I will have to find a good windowsill, because while mine was growing this spring, it became a favorite! Five plants also might have been a lot of herbs in one pot - I know basil likes lots of room for roots and is a water hog. Not sure how cilantro compares. Good luck and keep gardening!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 07/12/2013 - 07:28
This herb has a short harvest cycle if it is hot and that is just the way it is. To keep it growing in the Southwest, it may be best to plant in the fall and it may keep growing until spring when the weather heats up again. If you would like more harvest, you also want to start multiple plants 3 weeks apart. If you plant outside, you can just let cilantro drop its seeds when it is done and more plants will grow!
<span>Jolene Timon</span> Wed, 07/10/2013 - 10:37
I love coriander seeds in my pepper grinder with amixed pepper blend and all spice , also a lot of asian dishes call for ground coriander so if it goes to seed it isnt nessicarily wasted.
<span>Erin Hunter</span> Tue, 07/02/2013 - 12:13
I'm looking at a full grown plant with flowering. The stems have green and some purple redish stem. Mostly green above never grown before so would appreciate suggestions
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 07/08/2013 - 12:05
If your coriander flowered, it's gone to seed. Coriander has a very short harvesting window and it's easy to miss. If it's too hot, it will go straight to seed. Grow in a cooler season.
<span>Kathleen Pautler</span> Fri, 06/28/2013 - 07:48
I am volunteering at a community garden. The cilantro is veru tall & limp. The leaves are very small. The plant appeared to be very dry. Should they be staked?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 06/28/2013 - 12:10
Cilantro is really a cool-weather plant (spring and fall) and won't grow well in summer heat. This is what you are seeing: When the weather gets warm, the plant bolts and sends up a long, lanky flower stalks that will later seed. Even in cool conditions, cilantro yields a fast crop; plants are barely up before they try to flower and set seeds. Two weeks tops. So those tasty leaves aren't around long, especially in warm weather.
<span>Jaynekc</span> Sat, 06/29/2013 - 11:33
Since I have already planted my cilantro seeds too late, (6/16) should I just let them bloom? I now know it is a cooler weather plant so what should I do with the little leaves I am getting? Should I keep cutting until fall- any suggestions from community will be greatly appreciated!