Cilantro

• Germination Days: 14-21
• Hardiness Zone:3-11 (Annual)
• Planting Depth:1/4 “ – 1/2"
• Plant Spacing:6”
• Growth Habit:Upright
• Soil Preference:Well-drained yet moist
• Temp Preference:Cool
• Light Preference:Full Sun
• Days to Maturity:55

Cilantro and its seed, coriander, are essential ingredients in a variety of cuisines. This leafy green herb looks similar to parsley, with a distinctive, potent aroma, thin stalks, and feathered green leaves. It's a common ingredient in salsas, chutneys, and other diced compound salads, as well as a flavoring agent, or "aromatic" in soups, stews, and sauces. Coriander seeds have a warm, almost nutty aroma, with a hint of citrus. Many Mediterranean and Indian recipes, such as curries, call for coriander. This common spice has a distinctive aroma, and also provides many of the same health benefits as cilantro leaves, in reduced amounts.

Cilantro is a fast-growing, aromatic, annual herb that grows best in the cooler weather of spring and fall. Here’s how to grow cilantro in your garden. This herb is used to flavor many recipes and the entire plant is edible, though the leaves and seeds are used often.

Planting

• Sow seeds in the spring after the last frost date.
• Plant the seeds in light, well-drained soil and space them 1 to 2 inches apart. Sow the seeds at 3-week intervals for continued harvest.
• Do not grow in summer heat as the plants will bolt. The leaves that grow on bolted plants tend to be bitter in flavor.
• Cilantro loves sun, it is best to choose a sunny site that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight 
• Space rows about 12 inches apart.
• It is important to keep the seeds moist during their germination, so remember to water the plants regularly.

Care

• Water the seedlings regularly throughout the growing season. They require about 1 inch of water per week for best growth.
• Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart so that they have room to develop healthy leaves.
• Once the plants are established, they do not need as much water per week. Keep them moist, but be careful not to overwater them.
• Fertilize once or twice during the growing season with nitrogen fertilizer. Apply ¼ cup of fertilizer per 25 feet of row. Be sure not to over-fertilizer the plants.
• To help prevent weeds, mulch around the plants as soon as they are visible above the soil. You can also till shallowly to help prevent root damage from weeds.

PESTS/DISEASES

To control for insects, use insecticidal soap once they are spotted under leaves. Clean up debris and spent plants to avoid wilt and mildew.

A common problem with cilantro is its fast growing cycle. As mentioned above, it will not grow properly in the heat of summer. Grow so that you harvest in spring, fall, or winter (in mild climates).

Harvest

• Cilantro leaves can be harvested at any time after the plant is 6 to 8 inches tall. Plants usually matures in about 75 days after sowing. To harvest coriander seed, the plant requires 100 or more days.
• Simply snip cilantro leaves for fresh use after the plant is 6 inches tall or more. Small tender leaves have the best flavor. Pick just the top 2 to 3 inches to ensure continuous growth. Snip off the tops of stems before the plant flowers for a continued harvest of leaves. Continue picking leaves until the plant flowers.
• Coriander seeds are harvested after cilantro flowers; the seed will be ready for harvest 2 to 3 weeks after flowering when they turn light brown. Hang stems and seed heads upside down in a paper bag in a cool, dry place. The seeds will fall into the bag as they ripen.