How Do You Harvest Cilantro Seeds

You can harvest cilantro seeds by letting your cilantro plants bolt, flower, and then form seed heads that you collect once they turn brown and dry.
 
Those seeds are actually coriander, and they’re one of the easiest things to save from your garden.
 
If you’ve ever wondered how to harvest cilantro seeds, the good news is you don’t need any special tools or experience.
 
Cilantro seeds basically harvest themselves if you time it right and let nature do most of the work.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly when and how to harvest cilantro seeds so you can save them for cooking or planting next season.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

How Do You Harvest Cilantro Seeds? Start With Letting Cilantro Bolt

The first step in how to harvest cilantro seeds is simply letting your cilantro plant bolt.
 
Bolting means the plant shoots up a tall stem and starts producing flowers instead of those tasty leaves you’ve been snipping.
 
This is totally normal and it’s actually exactly what you want if your goal is harvesting cilantro seeds.
 
Once cilantro bolts, it stops focusing on leaf growth and pours all its energy into making flowers and eventually seeds.
 
So if you’ve been pinching off flowers to keep the leaves coming, stop doing that when you’re ready for seeds.
 
Let the plant do its thing.
 

1. Let the Flowers Bloom and Fade

Cilantro produces tiny white or pale pink flowers in little clusters called umbels.
 
These flowers attract pollinators like bees and beneficial insects, which is a nice bonus for your garden.
 
After the flowers fade, they dry up and the plant begins forming green seed pods where the blooms used to be.
 
Those green pods are your cilantro seeds in their early stage.
 
At this point, don’t rush to pick them because they’re not ready yet.
 

2. Watch for the Seeds to Turn Brown

The key moment in harvesting cilantro seeds is when those green pods shift to a light brown or tan color.
 
This color change tells you the seeds are maturing and getting close to ready.
 
You’ll also notice the seed heads feel dry and slightly papery when you touch them.
 
If the seeds are still green, they won’t store well and they won’t germinate properly if you plan to plant them.
 
So patience here really pays off when you harvest cilantro seeds.
 

3. Check the Seeds Before They Drop

Cilantro seeds scatter easily once they’re fully dry, so timing matters.
 
If you wait too long, you’ll walk out to your garden and find the seeds have already dropped to the soil.
 
A good trick is to gently shake a seed head and see if any seeds fall off on their own.
 
If they do, it’s harvest time.
 
If they hold tight, give them another day or two.
 

How to Harvest Cilantro Seeds Once They’re Ready

Now that your seeds are brown and dry, here’s how to actually harvest cilantro seeds without losing half of them to the ground.
 

1. Snip the Seed Heads Off

Grab a pair of garden scissors or pruners and cut the seed heads off the plant.
 
Leave a few inches of stem attached so you have something to hold onto.
 
Do this early in the morning when it’s cool and dry, since moisture can cause seeds to mold.
 
Cut over a bowl or bag so any loose seeds that fall get caught instead of disappearing into the dirt.
 

2. Put Them in a Paper Bag to Dry

Place the cut seed heads into a brown paper bag, stem side up.
 
The bag lets air circulate while catching any seeds that drop as they finish drying.
 
Leave the bag in a cool, dry spot for about a week or two.
 
Shake the bag every couple of days and you’ll hear seeds rattling around at the bottom.
 
That rattling sound means your cilantro seeds are ready to be separated.
 

3. Separate the Seeds From the Chaff

Once everything is dry, pull the seed heads out of the bag and rub them between your fingers over a bowl.
 
The seeds will pop right out while the dried stems and flower bits stay behind.
 
You can also gently blow on the mixture to let the lighter chaff float away while the heavier cilantro seeds drop back into the bowl.
 
This is the same winnowing method people have used for centuries.
 

4. Store Your Harvested Cilantro Seeds

Store your cilantro seeds in a small glass jar or an airtight container.
 
Keep it in a cool, dark place like a pantry shelf or cupboard.
 
Label the jar with the date so you know how fresh your stash is.
 
When stored properly, cilantro seeds keep well for a year or more.
 
You can grind them for coriander spice or save them to plant a whole new crop next season.
 

So, How Do You Harvest Cilantro Seeds?

You harvest cilantro seeds by letting your plants bolt, flower, and form seed heads that turn brown and dry before you collect them.
 
Then you snip those seed heads, dry them in a paper bag, separate the seeds from the chaff, and store them in an airtight container.
 
Whether you’re harvesting cilantro seeds for cooking or for replanting, the process is simple and forgiving.
 
So let a few of your cilantro plants go to seed this season.
 
You’ll end up with a free supply of coriander and next year’s cilantro crop all from the same little plant.
 
Happy harvesting.