How Long Does It Take For Cilantro To Harvest

Cilantro takes about 30 to 55 days to harvest after planting, depending on whether you’re harvesting leaves or seeds.
 
If you’re growing cilantro for its fresh leaves, you can usually start snipping away at around 30 to 45 days.
 
If you’re after coriander seeds, you’ll need to wait longer, usually 45 to 55 days or more.
 
The exact harvest time for cilantro depends on a few factors like your climate, the variety you planted, and how you’re caring for it.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how long it takes for cilantro to harvest, what affects that timeline, and how to know exactly when your cilantro is ready to pick.
 
Let’s get growing.
 

How Long Does It Take for Cilantro to Harvest?

Cilantro is one of the fastest-growing herbs you can plant, which is great news for impatient gardeners.
 
On average, you’ll be able to harvest cilantro leaves in about 30 to 45 days from the time you sow seeds.
 
If you’re transplanting seedlings instead of sowing seeds directly, you can cut that wait down to about 20 to 30 days after transplanting.
 
That said, the cilantro harvest time isn’t set in stone.
 
Several things can speed it up or slow it down.
 
Here’s what plays a role in how long it takes for cilantro to be ready for harvest:
 

1. Growing Conditions

Cilantro thrives in cooler weather, usually between 50°F and 85°F.
 
When the temperature climbs above 85°F, the plant bolts quickly, meaning it shoots up a flower stalk and stops producing those tasty leaves.
 
In hot conditions, your cilantro harvest happens faster, but the leaves become bitter and the plant’s life cycle shortens dramatically.
 
Cool, consistent weather keeps cilantro in the leaf-producing stage longer, giving you a more extended harvest window.
 

2. The Variety You Planted

Different cilantro varieties mature at slightly different rates.
 
Slow-bolting types like ‘Santo’ or ‘Calypso’ tend to give you a longer window before the plant goes to seed.
 
Standard varieties might bolt sooner, meaning your cilantro harvest comes quicker but ends sooner too.
 
So if you want a steady supply of leaves, choosing a slow-bolt variety can make a big difference in how long you get to harvest cilantro.
 

3. Whether You Want Leaves or Seeds

This is probably the biggest factor in how long it takes for cilantro to harvest.
 
If you’re harvesting cilantro leaves, you can start picking them once the plant is about 6 inches tall, which happens around day 30.
 
If you’re growing cilantro for coriander seeds, you’ll need to let the plant bolt and then wait for the seed heads to turn brown and dry out, which pushes your cilantro harvest to around 45 to 55 days or even longer.
 

How to Know When Cilantro Is Ready to Harvest

Knowing when to harvest cilantro isn’t complicated once you know what to look for.
 
Here are the signs that your cilantro is ready:
 

1. The Plant Reaches 6 Inches Tall

This is your green light for harvesting cilantro leaves.
 
Once the plant hits about 6 inches in height, you can start snipping the outer stems.
 
Always harvest from the outside in and leave the inner growth alone so the plant keeps producing.
 

2. Leaves Are Bright Green and Fragrant

Healthy cilantro leaves are vibrant green and smell distinctly citrusy and fresh.
 
If the leaves start turning yellow or the scent fades, the plant is past its prime for leaf harvest.
 

3. Seed Heads Turn Brown

If you’re waiting for coriander seeds, watch for the flower heads to dry out and turn brown.
 
That’s when you know your cilantro harvest for seeds is ready.
 
Cut the stems, hang them upside down in a paper bag, and let the seeds drop as they dry.
 

Tips to Extend Your Cilantro Harvest

Since cilantro has a fairly short harvest window, here are a few tricks to keep it going:
 

1. Harvest Regularly

The more you cut cilantro, the more it grows.
 
Regular harvesting encourages new leaf production and delays bolting.
 
Just don’t take more than one-third of the plant at a time.
 

2. Succession Plant

Sow new cilantro seeds every two to three weeks.
 
This way, when one batch bolts, the next one is ready for harvest.
 
It’s the easiest way to enjoy a continuous cilantro harvest all season long.
 

3. Provide Shade in Warm Weather

If you’re growing cilantro in a hot climate, give it some afternoon shade.
 
This keeps temperatures down and slows bolting, extending how long it takes for cilantro to go to seed.
 

So, How Long Does It Take for Cilantro to Harvest?

Cilantro takes about 30 to 45 days to harvest for leaves and 45 to 55 days or more for seeds.
 
Growing conditions, variety, and what you’re harvesting all affect the timeline.
 
The key is to start harvesting cilantro leaves once the plant is 6 inches tall and to keep picking regularly to extend your harvest.
 
With succession planting and a little shade during hot spells, you can enjoy fresh cilantro for months instead of weeks.
 
Now you know exactly how long it takes for cilantro to harvest, so go ahead and get those seeds in the ground.