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You can collect cilantro seeds from your plant by letting the flowers mature into seed heads and then harvesting them once they turn brown.
If you’ve ever wondered how to collect cilantro seeds from a plant you grew yourself, the good news is that it’s one of the easiest seed-saving projects you can take on.
Those little round seeds are actually coriander, a spice you’ve probably used in your kitchen, so you’re getting two harvests from one plant.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to collect cilantro seeds from your plant, when to do it, and how to store them so they stay viable.
Let’s dig in.
How to Collect Cilantro Seeds From Your Plant
Learning how to collect cilantro seeds from a plant starts with understanding the plant’s natural life cycle.
Cilantro is a cool-season herb that bolts, or goes to seed, once the weather heats up.
That’s not a bad thing, because that’s exactly the moment you need to collect cilantro seeds from the plant.
Here’s how the process works step by step.
1. Let Your Cilantro Bolt Naturally
If you want to collect cilantro seeds, you have to let the plant flower.
Bolting happens when cilantro sends up a tall stem topped with lacy white or pink flowers.
At this stage, don’t cut the plant back, because those flowers are the future seeds.
This is the first real step in how to collect cilantro seeds, and rushing it won’t help.
2. Watch the Flowers Turn Into Seed Heads
Once cilantro flowers are pollinated, they slowly transform into small green seed pods.
That green stage means the cilantro seeds aren’t ready yet.
Over a couple of weeks, the pods swell and change color from green to tan and then brown.
This color shift is your signal that the seeds are maturing and nearly ready to collect.
3. Wait Until the Seeds Turn Brown
Timing matters when you collect cilantro seeds.
If you pick too early, the seeds won’t germinate well next season, and the flavor will be weak.
You’ll know the cilantro seeds are ready when the seed heads are dry, brown, and starting to rattle slightly in the breeze.
At that point, the seeds are fully mature and packed with that warm, citrusy coriander aroma.
4. Cut the Seed Heads Off the Plant
Grab a pair of clean scissors or pruning shears.
Cut the brown seed heads off, leaving a few inches of stem attached.
Hold them carefully, because dry cilantro seeds can scatter fast if you bump the stems.
This is the hands-on part of how to collect cilantro seeds, and a gentle touch goes a long way.
5. Dry the Seed Heads Further
Even if the seed heads look dry on the plant, give them a few more days of drying indoors.
Tie the stems in small bundles and hang them upside down in a paper bag, or lay them flat on a screen.
Leave them in a cool, dry spot with good airflow for about one to two weeks.
This extra drying step makes it much easier to collect cilantro seeds without them molding in storage.
6. Separate the Seeds From the Chaff
Once everything is bone dry, it’s time to extract the seeds.
Rub the seed heads between your fingers over a bowl, or gently shake them inside a paper bag.
The round cilantro seeds will fall away from the dried stems and husks.
Pick out any leftover plant bits so your collected cilantro seeds are clean and ready to store.
Best Time to Collect Cilantro Seeds
The best time to collect cilantro seeds is late summer into early fall, depending on your climate.
Cilantro planted in spring usually bolts by early summer, with seeds ready a few weeks later.
If you plant cilantro in fall, you may be collecting cilantro seeds in late fall or even early winter.
The key is watching the plant, not the calendar, since heat and daylight speed up the process.
1. Morning Is the Best Time of Day
Harvest in the morning after any dew has dried.
The air is usually calm, so the seeds are less likely to scatter while you work.
It also keeps you from dealing with the hottest part of the day, which makes the task more pleasant.
2. Dry Weather Matters
Avoid collecting cilantro seeds right after rain.
Wet seed heads can develop mold during the drying process.
Wait for a stretch of dry weather, then harvest when the pods are crisp.
How to Store Collected Cilantro Seeds
Storing your cilantro seeds properly keeps them useful for cooking and replanting.
1. Use an Airtight Container
Place the dried cilantro seeds in a small glass jar or airtight container.
Label it with the date so you know how fresh your stash is.
2. Keep Them Cool and Dark
Store the container in a cool, dark cupboard away from heat and moisture.
Cilantro seeds keep well for two to three years when stored this way, whether you use them as coriander or save them for planting.
3. Save Some for Next Season
Set aside a portion of your collected cilantro seeds for planting.
Sowing them next spring is a great way to grow cilantro for free, year after year.
So, How Do You Collect Cilantro Seeds From a Plant?
You can collect cilantro seeds from your plant by letting it bolt, waiting for the seed heads to turn brown, and harvesting them once they’re fully dry.
It’s a simple process that rewards you with coriander for your spice rack and seeds for your next garden.
With a little patience and a dry, airtight jar, you’ll know exactly how to collect cilantro seeds from a plant every single season.