Cilantro
$2.99
Direct sow short rows of cilantro seeds every other week from spring to late summer for continuous harvest. The mature seeds, better known as coriander, are easy to harvest, and used in many dishes – notably curry powder blends. Keep an eye you your cilantro crop because the flowering process (bolting) is famously quick in this plant. As soon as a central stem appears and the uppermost leaves become frilly, it’s time to harvest the whole plant, roots and all.
1 in stock
Product Description
Difficulty:
Easy
Timing:
Direct sow from just after the last frost date to late spring. Direct sow in the fall under cover for a winter crop. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 60°F. Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.
Starting:
Sow 1″ deep in short rows. Thin seedlings to stand 2-4″ apart if harvesting leaves. If growing for seed, allow 9-12″ between plants.
Growing:
Cilantro is tricky because several factors can cause it to bolt. Avoid transplanting for this reason, and avoid hot conditions as well as too much moisture. It does best in light, well-drained soil in partial shade, in relatively dry conditions. This is easy to achieve beneath a cloche in winter, where cilantro will thrive. Once it blooms, the seeds ripen suddenly, in only a couple of days, so care should be taken to prevent self sowing or simply losing those useful seeds.
Harvest:
Pick young leaves once they have reached about 10cm (4″) in height. The flavor, though intense when fresh, diminishes quickly when dried or cooked, so always add cilantro just before serving. Try freezing it in ice cube trays with water. The stems and roots are also full of flavor. Harvest the seeds by sticking 6 or 8 seed heads in a paper bag and hanging it up somewhere airy, away from direct sunlight. The bag will catch the seeds as they ripen and fall out.
Days to Maturity: 68 days
Planting Depth: 1/4″
Distance Apart: 9″ – 12″
Amount: 1g
