Growing Cilantro Gardening Advice

The seeds of this herb consist of two seeds. They are surrounded by a husk that is either a gray or a light brown. They must be prepared before they can be planted.

This is done by crushing the husk to remove the seeds. They are soaked in water from 24 to 48 hours and then allowed to dry.

Growing Cilantro from seeds

Cilantro seeds should be planted and covered with about  ¼ inch of soil. Once it sprouts and starts growing, at about 2 inches tall you will need to thin it out somewhat.

Do not thin it too much because cilantro does best when it is planted only 3 or 4 inches apart. Cilantro is not a hot weather plant and the leaves will shade the roots.

This keeps it from prematurely producing seeds. The sun will cause the cilantro to flower and seeds will be produced too early.

This is going to happen if the soil gets 75 degrees, so the best place to begin growing cilantro is in a shady area that receives sun in the morning or afternoon.

This garden herb grows quickly so the best way to get a good supply is to continuously plant during the growing season. About once every three weeks is the recommended planting time.

Cilantro Growing Tips

The best time to plant is in the spring and fall. You will want to plant cilantro where the soil drains well but retains moisture.

By adding mulch to the plants, you will provide more protection for the roots. Using compost will also help by adding nutrients to the soil.

When the plants start to flower, you can cut off the flower heads, which will allow the leaves to grow longer. This is what you want for the maximum growth.

Harvesting Cilantro Leaves

If you watch your plants closely and provide the optimum growing conditions, the cilantro should take about 8 weeks to be ready to harvest.

The leaves may be cut whenever you choose while still growing. However, if you let the plants get approximately 6 inches tall; this is the preferred time for cutting.

Start by cutting the outer leaves and let the smaller leave have a little more growing time. Cilantro grows rather quickly so it should be monitored closely.

You should be able to cut leaves from the plant at least 2 or 3 times before the plants go to seed. The seeds may be saved and used in cooking.

Seeds from the cilantro plants are called coriander. They may also be saved to use for planting again.

Once you cut the leaves from the growing cilantro plant, it is best to use them rather quickly. They tend to lose their flavor if they are dried. Cilantro herb is used in many Mexican dishes as well as South Western cuisine.

The flavor is quite distinctive and many people use it as an additive to ready made salsa for an added zest.

Disease and Insects

The cilantro herb is not very prone to insect infestation. The diseases could include powdery mildew. If this happens, applying a sulfur spray or copper spray will eliminate the problem from the plants and prevent it from spreading.

References: The Spruce - How to grow cilantro