Cilantro (coriander)

Coriandrum sativum · Carrot family (Apiaceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones	2 to 11
Sun	full sun to part shade
Water	moderate
Life cycle	annual
Frost	Half-hardy: takes a light frost
Soil pH	6.0–7.5
Spacing	3 to 6 inches
Days to harvest	45 to 80 days

About Cilantro (coriander)

Cilantro is a cool-season annual grown for its bright, citrusy leaves; its dried seeds are the spice coriander. It bolts quickly once the weather turns hot, so it is best sown in spring and fall, a little at a time.

Grown as a cool-season annual in every zone; it tolerates cool weather but will not survive a hard freeze.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Sow seeds outdoors: up to 2 weeks after the last frost

Days to harvest count from sowing, for leaves; a seed crop needs at least 100 days. Sow directly (the taproot makes it hard to transplant) in early spring, again every 2-3 weeks, and again in mid-August for fall; skip summer sowings, which bolt.

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile soil kept evenly moist; mulch helps keep the soil cool and delays bolting.

Work 2-4 inches of well-rotted compost into the top 4-6 inches of soil per 25 sq ft, leaving a loose seedbed; aim for a pH around 6.5.

Feeding

early summer (feed 1-2 times during the season): nitrogen fertilizer such as 21-0-0. Scatter about 1/4 cup per 25 sq ft of bed and water it in.

Too much nitrogen makes cilantro less flavorful.

Harvest

Pick leaves once plants are about 6 inches tall and before they bolt, or cut the whole bunch an inch above the ground. For coriander seed, cut the plants when the seeds turn light brown, usually 2-3 weeks after flowering.

Pick leaves once plants are about 6 inches tall, or cut the whole bunch an inch above the ground and let it regrow for a second cutting before it bolts. Sow every 2 to 3 weeks for a longer leaf harvest; let late plants go to seed for coriander.

Varieties (10)

Extension sources name about 10 cilantro cultivars; most are slow-bolting leaf types, and none hold up well in hot, long summer days (Wisconsin Extension). Utah State says all varieties do fine when grown for coriander seed.

Variety	Type	Days	Notes
Pot Cilantro 99057	Container type		Illinois Extension says it was the first cilantro bred for pots; sow directly into containers.
Confetti	Fine-leaf type		Best flavor and texture when plants are small. Ferny, finely divided leaves for baby leaf, microgreens and garnish; needs little chopping.
Calypso	Slow-bolt leaf type		Full, bulky plant with large leaf rosettes; Penn State says it bolts about three weeks later than Santo.
Cruiser	Slow-bolt leaf type		Upright plant that works well for bunching; slow to bolt.
Leisure	Slow-bolt leaf type	28 to 40 days	Uniform, high-yielding plants that tolerate heat and are slow to bolt.
Marino	Slow-bolt leaf type		Flavorful. Vigorous, quick-growing and high-yielding; slow to bolt, similar to Santo.
Santo	Slow-bolt leaf type		Good, even flavor. Widely available slow-bolting type with dark leaves, grown for foliage.
Slow Bolt	Slow-bolt leaf type	45 to 50 days	Easy to grow and slower to flower than many varieties.
California Long Standing
Delfino

Pests to watch for

Aphids, Cutworms, Carrot rust fly

Diseases and problems

Bacterial leaf spot, Aster yellows, Damping off, Bolting (going to seed)

In the kitchen

Leaves are used in salsa and in Mexican and Asian dishes; the dried seed (coriander) is a spice.

Keeping it: Stand stems in a glass of water, cover loosely with a bag, and refrigerate; it keeps up to about a week. Rinse just before use.

Pets: Not toxic to dogs, cats or horses (ASPCA)

Sources

Photo: Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 US). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.