How to Grow Cilantro

General Information

Botanical Name:	Coriandrum sativum
Common Names:	Cilantro, coriander, Chinese parsley. “Cilantro” usually refers to the fresh leaves and stems. “Coriander” usually refers to the seeds.
Plant Family:	Apiaceae.
Type:	Annual; Culinary; Medicinal; Aromatic; Cool Season. Cilantro grows best in cool weather and bolts easily in heat.
Our Favorite Varieties:	Santo, Calypso, and Leisure (All three are slow-bolting)

Know Before You Grow

Growing Zones:	2–11, usually grown as a cool-season annual.
Frost Hardy:	Yes, light frost tolerant. Cilantro prefers cool spring and fall weather.
Heat Tolerant:	No. It bolts easily in hotter climates.
Stratification:	No
Rows, Beds, Containers:	Yes to all three.

Starting from Seed

When:	Start indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost only if you must, but direct sowing is usually preferred because cilantro dislikes root disturbance. Sow outdoors in spring and again in late summer or fall for cool-season harvests. Successive sowings every 2–3 weeks help extend harvest.
Soil:	Seed-starting mix.
Depth:	1/4″ to 1/2″
Water:	Keep evenly moist, not soggy.
Germination:	7–10 days.
Up Pot:	Not ideal. Cilantro prefers to be direct sown. If started indoors, up pot only very carefully and only if absolutely necessary.
Light:	14–16 hours under grow lights indoors; full sun to light shade outdoors.
Soil Temperature:	65°F–70°F
Heat Mat:	Helpful, but not required.
Harden Off:	Yes, if started indoors.

Row, Bed, Container Prep

Soil:	Medium-moist, well-drained soil.
pH:	6.2–6.8 is a good working range for cilantro.
Soil Depth or Pot Size:	8–10 inches of workable soil. Use a container at least 8–10 inches deep because cilantro forms a taproot. This taproot point is a horticultural inference from cilantro’s dislike of transplanting and root disturbance.
Trellis:	no
Fertilizer/Feed:	Go light. Too much nitrogen can give you lush growth that bolts fast and may reduce flavor quality. Rich soil with compost is usually enough for leaf production.
Compost:	Mix in compost before planting.

Transplanting/Up Potting

When:	Only when seedlings are still small and conditions are cool. Direct sowing is preferred.
How:	Transplant very gently and disturb roots as little as possible.
Depth:	Same depth it was growing before.
Spacing:	2–4 inches apart for coriander seed production; for leaf harvest, cilantro can be grown more thickly and does not need much thinning.
Mulch:	Water in well and keep evenly moist while it establishes.
Water:	Light mulch can help hold moisture and cool the soil.

Direct Sowing

When:	Direct seed spring through late summer, depending on climate, and again in fall where seasons allow. Successive sowings every 2–3 weeks help maintain leaf harvest.
Depth:	1/4″ to 1/2″
Spacing:	Sow 1/4″ to 1/2″ apart in rows at least 3″ apart. For leaf harvest, no thinning is necessary. For coriander seed production, thin to 2–4″ apart.
Water:	Keep the seed zone evenly moist until germination and establishment.
Light:	Sun to light shade.
# in Sq. Ft. Planting:	4–16 depending on harvest style. For cut-and-come-again leaf harvest, it can be grown thickly. For larger individual plants, use about 4 per square foot.

Growing Care

Fertilizer/Feed:	Feed lightly if needed. Compost and reasonably fertile soil are usually enough for cilantro grown for leaves.
Days to Maturity:	About 40–55 days for leaves; longer for coriander seed.
Water:	Keep evenly moist. Dry stress speeds bolting.
Pruning/Harvesting:	Cut outer leaves or whole young stems often to keep harvest going. Succession sow for the best steady supply because cilantro naturally bolts fairly fast.
Mulching:	Light mulch helps keep soil cool and moist.
Pollination:	Not needed for leaf production. Flowers attract beneficial insects.

Companions & Antagonists

Plant Family:	Antagonists:
Leafy Greens	None, but avoid crowding it with tall, shading plants or pairing it with hot-season crops that need very different timing.
Onions	–
Brassicas	–

Attracts & Repels

Attracts:	Repels:
Beneficial insects and pollinators when flowering.	Sometimes included in mixed plantings for insect confusion, but strong source-backed claims for a specific repellent effect are limited.

Pests & Disease

Pests:	Disease:
Aphids	Leaf Spots
Leafhoppers	Powdery mildew
Armyworms	Damping Off
	Root Rot

Seed Saving

When:	When seed heads dry and turn tan or brown.
Method:	Let the seed heads dry on the plant, then cut and dry further if needed. Rub or thresh out the seeds. The mature seeds are coriander.

Harvest Time

When:	Start harvesting once plants are leafy and established. Harvest leaves before bolting for best quality.
How:	Snip outer stems or cut whole young plants.
What:	Leaves, tender stems, flowers, and seeds. The fresh herb is cilantro. The mature seed is coriander.
Storing:	Use fresh leaves quickly. Refrigerate short term. Seeds store dry much longer.
Preservation Methods:	Freezing, chutneys, sauces, compound butters, drying seeds for coriander.

Medicinal Uses:

Traditionally Used for:	Traditionally used for digestive complaints such as gas, bloating, and stomach discomfort. Coriander seed has the stronger documented traditional medicinal history.
Forms:	Tea/infusion, crushed seed, tincture, syrup, culinary use, essential oil preparations.
Dosage or Application:	Traditional household use is more strongly documented for coriander seed than for cilantro leaf. For leaf use, traditional dosage is not well standardized in reliable monographs I could verify. I would keep this general unless you want the entry written specifically for coriander seed rather than cilantro leaf.
NOTICE:	This information is based on historical/traditional fact. It is for educational purposes only. Lowe Bridges Farm will not be held liable for your use of this information. Your use of this information and the results thereof is your responsibility, and yours alone.

Culinary Uses:

Flavor Profile:	Bright, fresh, citrusy, pungent, green. The seed is warmer, nuttier, and more spice-like than the leaf.
Best Used In:	Salsas, tacos, curries, soups, rice dishes, beans, chutneys, Asian dishes, Caribbean dishes, Latin American dishes.
Forms:	Fresh leaf, chopped, whole stems, flowers, whole seed, ground seed.

As an Aromatic:

Used for:	Cilantros fresh green scent is used for brightness and freshness, while coriander seed is used more for warm citrus-spice aroma. The reason coriander seed is more important aromatically is its volatile oil content, especially linalool, which gives it a sweet, citrus-floral scent.
How:	Fresh herb in bouquets and kitchen use; seeds in sachets, spice blends, and aromatic culinary blends.

Troubleshooting

Bolting fast:	Normal in heat. Grow it in cool weather and succession sow.
Poor germination:	Keep seed evenly moist and do not let the seed zone dry out.
Weak plants after transplanting:	Cilantro dislikes root disturbance, so direct sow when possible.
Yellowing:	Often uneven water, heat stress, or soil that is too poor.
Rotting at base:	Usually soggy soil or poor drainage.