How To Harvest Cilantro That Has Flowered

You can harvest cilantro that has flowered by continuing to snip the leaves and by collecting the seeds once the flowers dry.
 
Yes, your cilantro has bolted, but that doesn’t mean the plant is useless.
 
In fact, when cilantro has flowered, you’re in a great position to get two harvests out of one plant.
 
The leaves are still edible, and those little flowers will soon turn into coriander seeds you can use in your kitchen.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to harvest cilantro that has flowered, what changes when it bolts, and how to get the most out of the plant before it’s done.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

How to Harvest Cilantro That Has Flowered

Knowing how to harvest cilantro that has flowered comes down to two things: picking the remaining leaves and gathering the seeds.
 
Here’s how to handle each part of the plant so nothing goes to waste.
 

1. Keep Sniping the Leaves

When cilantro has flowered, the leaves are still perfectly usable, they just taste a bit different.
 
Bolted cilantro leaves tend to be smaller, a little tougher, and more intensely flavored.
 
To harvest cilantro that has flowered, simply pinch or snip the leaves you need, just like you did before the plant bolted.
 
Focus on the younger leaves near the top of the stems, since they’re the most tender.
 
Older leaves lower down can get stringy once the plant has flowered, so leave those if you can.
 

2. Let the Flowers Turn Into Seeds

The flowers are the beginning of the plant’s seed production, and this is where the real bonus comes in.
 
After cilantro has flowered, the tiny white blossoms will slowly dry out and form round green seeds.
 
Those green seeds eventually turn brown and become what we call coriander.
 
So when you’re harvesting cilantro that has flowered, you’re actually harvesting coriander too.
 
Give the flowers time to mature, and don’t rush the process.
 

3. Watch for the Right Seed Color

Timing matters when you harvest cilantro seeds.
 
Harvest cilantro seeds when they turn light brown, but before they split open and fall to the ground.
 
If you wait too long, the seeds will scatter, and you’ll lose most of your harvest.
 
Check your plants every day or two once the flowers fade.
 
This is the most important step in how to harvest cilantro that has flowered, because the seeds are the real reward.
 

4. Cut the Seed Heads Off

Once the seeds are brown, snip the entire seed head off the plant with a pair of scissors or garden shears.
 
Hold a bowl or paper bag underneath as you cut, so you don’t lose any seeds.
 
This is the cleanest way to harvest cilantro seeds without making a mess.
 
You can also pull the whole plant up at this point if you’re done with it.
 

Why Cilantro Flowers and What It Means

Cilantro flowers because of a natural process called bolting.
 
When the weather gets hot, cilantro shifts its energy from growing leaves to producing flowers and seeds.
 
This is the plant’s way of reproducing before the heat kills it off.
 
So if you’ve wondered why your cilantro has flowered so fast, temperature is usually the answer.
 

1. Heat Triggers Bolting

Cilantro loves cool weather, and once temperatures climb above 75°F, it starts to bolt.
 
Longer daylight hours can speed this up too.
 
This is why spring and fall plantings tend to last longer than summer ones.
 

2. Flowering Doesn’t Ruin the Plant

A lot of gardeners think flowering means the end, but that’s not true.
 
When cilantro has flowered, you just shift your harvest strategy.
 
You stop chasing tender leaves and start collecting seeds instead.
 

3. The Seeds Are a Bonus Crop

Coriander seeds are warm, citrusy, and slightly nutty.
 
You can use them whole or ground in curries, soups, pickles, and spice blends.
 
So when you harvest cilantro that has flowered, you gain a whole new ingredient for your kitchen.
 

Tips for Harvesting Cilantro After Flowering

A few simple habits will help you get the most from a flowering cilantro plant.
 

1. Harvest in the Morning

The best time to harvest cilantro leaves is early in the morning.
 
That’s when the plant is cool and hydrated, so the leaves are at their freshest.
 

2. Dry the Seeds Properly

After you harvest cilantro seeds, spread them out in a single layer to dry.
 
Leave them in a cool, dry spot for about a week.
 
Once they’re fully dry, store them in an airtight jar.
 

3. Keep Watering Until You’re Done

Don’t stop watering just because the plant has flowered.
 
Keeping the soil moist helps the seeds develop fully.
 

4. Sow New Cilantro for a Fresh Crop

If you want more tender leaves, plant a new batch of cilantro every few weeks.
 
That way, you always have fresh leaves while your older plants finish producing seeds.
 

So, How Do You Harvest Cilantro That Has Flowered?

You harvest cilantro that has flowered by snipping the remaining leaves and collecting the seeds once they turn brown.
 
The leaves are still usable, and the seeds give you coriander as a bonus.
 
So don’t toss your bolted cilantro, harvest cilantro that has flowered and enjoy everything the plant has to offer.
 
Hope this guide helps you get the most out of your flowering cilantro plant.
 
Now go grab those seeds before they hit the ground.