Cilantro Growing Guide – How to Grow Coriander

Cilantro Growing Guide – How to Grow Coriander

Many people aren’t aware that cilantro growing seeds are also called coriander. Whatever you call it, this cool-weather annual has pale mauve flowers that bees and other pollinators just love.

Cilantro Plant Information

Cilantro is an annual herb that grows to a height of 45 – 60 centimeters. The plant features a soft texture and is hairless. Cilantro leaves are found during a large sort of shape. the bottom of the leaf is broad while the outer edges are slender sort of a feather. Its flowers are small in size, irregular in shape, and are found in either white or light pink color. The diameter of its fruit usually varies between 3 – 5 millimeters.

The seeds are hard, round in shape, and are encased during a husk. Cilantro plants grow very quickly from their seeds but don’t provides a good response to transplantation. the perfect time to grow these plants is fall and spring, as they like cooler temperatures.

Cilantro Growing Guide

• Soil preference: Coriander prefers sunny sites with well-drained soil.
• Mulching: Good mulching helps these plants in many ways. First of all, this will supply essential nutrients to the soil and retain the soil moisture. It will also protect the delicate roots of the plants from the high temperature of the sun. Lastly, it will prevent the growth of weeds.
• Watering: When the plants are in the seedling stage, they need water on every alternative day. Once its roots are properly established, watering them once in a week or two will be enough. If you live in an area where the weather condition is hot and dry, then you may have to water them more frequently. Check out the dryness of the soil by dipping your finger into the soil. If you find the soil is dry to touch, then its time to water the plant.
• Planting: Sow the seeds directly in the garden about a ½ inch deep after the danger of frost has passed.
• Spacing: After the seedlings appear, thin them to 4 inches apart and keep them evenly moist.
• Fertilizing: Make sure you don’t over-fertilize this herb because too much nitrogen in the soil will produce a less-flavorful plant.
• Sun Exposure: Cilantro needs a good amount of sunlight for its growth. It should receive at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. Select a location in the garden for planting cilantro where it can receive the morning sun and gets shade in the afternoon. If you have planted them indoors, move the containers outdoors for a few hours so that it can get an adequate amount of sunlight.
• Harvesting: The suitable time for harvesting cilantro is when the plant reaches a height of about 6 inches. If you want only the leaves from the plants, then you can cut the entire plants. However, if you want to get its seeds too, then cut the matured leaves on the outer part of the plant and let the small leaves near the stalk grow. It can be done twice or thrice before the plants begin to seed. When the seeds are mature and have turned brown (which usually takes around four months), cut the plants and hang them upside down to collect the seeds.

Harvesting Hints Coriander

Harvest fresh coriander leaves as needed. Coriander seeds ripen and scatter quickly, so cut the entire plant as soon as the leaves and flowers turn brown. Tie the plants in bundles, and hang them upside down with a paper bag tied securely around the flowerheads to catch the seeds as they dry.

Trivia Tidbits

Greek and Roman doctors, including Hippocrates, made medicines from coriander, but it was also prized as a spice and as an ingredient in a Roman vinegar used to preserve meat. The Chinese used coriander as far back as the Han dynasty—207 b.c. to a.d. 220. At the time, it was thought that the coriander had the power to make a person immortal.

Top Growing Coriander Tips

In our opinion coriander may be a must-have herb for the garden. But sometimes it is often a touch tricky to grow. So we’ve pulled together all of our top tips for growing this somewhat particular but great tasting plant.

• Plant coriander when weather is steady (i.e not during a change of season) to stop it ‘bolting’ from the change in temperature
• Plant full sun, or partial sun in summer
• Avoid growing in a small pot indoors instead plant in a deep pot outside or during a free-draining a part of the garden
• Ensure soil isn’t hard or too compact by digging over. Dig in the potting mix if required mound the soil up and plant seedling on top to make sure soil is aerated and free-draining
• Water in the morning to permit water to dry off during the day and stop the disease
• Coriander doesn’t like damp or humid conditions. It likes a dry atmosphere but doesn’t let the soil dry out or it’s going to cause the plant to bolt
• Eat it quickly to make sure it doesn’t attend seed

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