Cilantro/Coriander

When to Start

Spring: After the danger of frost has passed. (May 1 for Jefferson, GA)

Fall: About 45-60 days before the average freeze date. (Mid-September – September 30)

How to Start

The “seeds” are actually two cilantro seeds encased in a husk. Before planting, prepare the seeds to increase the chances that they will germinate by gently crushing the seed husk holding the two seeds together. Soak the cilantro seeds in water for 24 hours.

Direct-sow seeds in the soil and then cover them with about a 1/4-inch layer of soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Care

Cilantro is a cool-weather plant and dislikes temperatures when they reach the upper 70s F and above. This triggers the plant’s need to reproduce, and it will start to develop flowers. When flowers form, the leaves will change flavor and be unpalatable.

There are some areas, like Jefferson, where the date when the danger of frost has passed typically corresponds with when the temperatures are in the upper 70s. While this makes it a bit more challenging, you can still grow cilantro. I do, and it works very well. See my personal experience for how I grow it.

Leave the cilantro growing until it is at least 2 inches tall. Then thin the cilantro to be about 3 to 4 inches apart. You want to grow cilantro in crowded conditions because the leaves will shade the roots and help to keep the plant from bolting in hot weather.

Even with ideal cilantro growing conditions, this is a short-lived herb. Taking the time to prune cilantro frequently will help delay bolting and prolong your harvest time. Plant new seeds about every six weeks to keep a steady supply throughout the growing season. Once the cilantro plant bolts, let it go to seed.

Harvest

Leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season until they bolt. Bolting will change the flavor of the leaves. Harvest in the morning for peak flavor.

How to use

Cilantro is most often used in Mexican dishes; however, it is also popular in Asian dishes. It adds delicious flavor to Mexican cuisine like salsa and guacamole. Coriander, the seeds of cilantro, can be used to flavor many kinds of meats from beef to chicken. It is good paired with rice, potatoes, eggplant, carrots, and curries. It can also be used to make tea. Those who have a certain gene may not like cilantro, as it will taste like soap to those with the genetic trait.

To make tea: 1 Tablespoon of fresh leaves or 1/2 Tablespoon of dried leaves to 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep and then strain out the leaves. Mix it up by adding the leaves to a cup of black tea.

My personal experience

I love fresh cilantro! However, it can be tricky to grow if you don’t have long, cool springs. For Jefferson, GA, all danger of frost has passed by May 1. However, it typically gets too warm for cilantro at this point and will usually immediately bolt. This can be frustrating as once it bolts, the leaves taste horrible!

 

Cilantro doesn’t like to be transplanted, but I found a way! This is what I typically do. I use a washed TV dinner container that is the same circumference of the pot I’ll be transplanting into later. I cut slits into the bottom for drainage. Then, I line the container with newspaper so that the paper hangs over the sides. This is so I can lift the plant out of the container with minimal root disturbance. When it’s transplanted, the newspaper will decompose, and the roots will be able to punch through.

 

I fill the lined TV dinner tray with seed starting mix and sow the seeds. Then it is placed under grow lights. After it has outgrown the TV tray, I harden it off.

 

To transplant, I lift it out of the tray by the newspaper and set it on top of the soil in the pot it will grow in. This creates very little root disturbance, and I’ve had a great deal of success with growing it this way.

 

I may get one or two more harvests after it has established, but mostly I let it bolt at this point so I can collect the seeds. Once it starts to produce seeds, I start the process over to keep a fresh supply!

• Add raw or near the end of cooking for best flavor. 
• Calypso: Very prolific and slower to bolt than any other variety. Excellent in salsa, guacamole, sauces, and seafood.
• Fun Fact! Some people possess a gene that makes cilantro and coriander taste like soap. 

• Cilantro does not transplant well. Try biodegradable pots if you must transplant or see “My Personal Experience” for another way to transplant.
• For the South, try planting in partial shade, as cilantro likes to bolt in hot weather.
• If you want fresh cilantro during the summer months, try growing it indoors.

Sources:

Gardeningknowhow.com

johnnyseeds.com

The New York Botanical Garden, Herbal Handbook, Clarkson Potter.

Helmer, Jodi. Growing Your Own Tea Garden: the Guide to Growing and Harvesting Flavorful Teas in Your Backyard. Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd., 2019.