I can go out to my garden from spring until fall and harvest fresh cilantro for any dish. Here is how you can always have this fresh herb by growing your own cilantro from seed.
You either love cilantro or you hate it! Your genetics actually determine whether you enjoy or hate cilantro.
Thankfully I got the cilantro loving genetics. It tastes great on top of tacos, in salsa, or even in salads.
Cilantro is a very versatile herb, and I believe it is best used as fresh leaves. Having fresh cilantro whenever you want it is amazing!
Here is how you can grow a continuous supply of cilantro from spring until fall.
Step 1: Choose Your Seeds
I grow slow bolt cilantro in my garden. This variety is the slowest to bolt, so you get a longer harvest before it produces seed.
Unlike most plants, there aren't too many cilantro varieties. This slow bolt cilantro is the classic that is used in most dishes.
Step 2: Planting Cilantro Seeds
While most herbs have tiny seeds that are hard to start, cilantro is the exact opposite. Cilantro seeds are the size of a peppercorn and are rough.
You can either start cilantro indoors to get a head start on the season, or direct sow it in your garden. Below are steps for each route.
Starting Cilantro Indoors
To get a head start on the season I plant some cilantro in seed starting pots. I fill these pots with my homemade potting soil leaving about ¼ inch of room.
I sprinkle about 5 seeds per square inch of soil and then cover it, filling the pot with potting soil.
Deeply water your potting soil and the seeds should sprout in a week.
Note: Always sow cilantro in bunches. A single cilantro plant will not produce much, so you need to grow it in groupings for a great harvest.
Direct Sowing Cilantro
Once the soils warms up to about 45oF I start planting cilantro outdoors. To direct sow, first find an empty spot in your garden.
Break the top layer of soil up and move it aside until you have an area that is ¼ inch deep. Sprinkle a good amount of cilantro seeds (about 5 per square inch).
Cover the seeds with the dirt you pushed to the side and water deeply. Your cilantro will sprout within a week.
You can grow cilantro in rows, bunches, groupings, or in a large square. Cilantro grows so well no matter if it is direct sown or started indoors.
Step 3: Growing Cilantro
Cilantro hates one thing HEAT! If you let your plants get too hot or too dry, they will bolt (flower) and your cilantro will be done.
Here is how you can keep cilantro from bolting.
- Keep the soil moist (but not water logged)
- Plant in early spring and fall for cool weather
- Plant summer cilantro in a partly shady area
Other than bolting, cilantro is care free. It can grow without the need for fertilizer and I have never had any pest issues.
Step 4: Harvesting Cilantro
I use the cut-and-come-again method for harvesting cilantro. This helps me get a continuous harvest from my plants.
Once your cilantro grows about 6 inches tall you can harvest it. Cut off the leaves and stems, leaving the growth point intact. I cut the cilantro about 2-3 inches above the soil.
In a week or two more cilantro will grow back and you can cut the plant down. I can usually get 3-4 cuttings before my cilantro plants bolt.
Step 5: Succession Planting
To have a non-stop supply of fresh cilantro you need to succession plant. Here is my succession planting schedule for cilantro. (fast growing as herbs go)
I plant new cilantro seeds every 4-6 weeks. So just as one set of plants starts to bolt a new set is ready to harvest.
If you succession plant cilantro you always have fresh cilantro on hand. I can harvest cilantro from our garden 7-8 months out of the year!
Other Cilantro Tips
A few more tips for growing amazing cilantro plants.
Will Cilantro Die From Frost
Cilantro does love cool weather, but it also doesn't want frost. My plants have withstood light frosts but freezes usually kill the plant.
I usually plant my cilantro outdoors about 2-3 weeks before my projected last frost.
What To Do Once Cilantro Flowers
Cilantro has another name... Coriander! When you eat the leaves it's called cilantro and when you eat the seeds its called coriander.
You can either dry coriander seeds for planting, or you can crush them to make your own coriander powder for your spice cabinet.
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