How To Harvest Home Grown Cilantro

To harvest home grown cilantro, you snip the outer stems near the base of the plant once they reach about 6 inches tall.
 
This simple method lets you harvest home grown cilantro continuously, so you always have fresh leaves on hand for tacos, salsas, and soups.
 
The best part is that harvesting home grown cilantro correctly actually encourages more growth instead of killing the plant.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to harvest home grown cilantro without damaging it, you’re in the right place.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through when to harvest home grown cilantro, the right tools to use, step-by-step techniques, and how to store your harvest so nothing goes to waste.
 
Let’s get into it.
 

When to Harvest Home Grown Cilantro

Timing matters more with cilantro than with most herbs, so knowing when to harvest home grown cilantro is half the battle.
 
Here’s what to keep in mind:
 

1. Harvest When Plants Reach 6 Inches

You can start to harvest home grown cilantro once the plant is about 6 inches tall.
 
At this stage, the stems are tender and the leaves are packed with flavor.
 
If you wait much longer, the plant may start bolting, which means it sends up a flower stalk and the leaves turn bitter.
 
So the earlier you begin to harvest home grown cilantro, the better your leaves will taste.
 

2. Harvest in the Cool of the Morning

The best time to harvest home grown cilantro is early morning before the heat sets in.
 
That’s when the leaves are crisp and fully hydrated.
 
Harvesting home grown cilantro in the afternoon heat can leave you with limp, wilted leaves that don’t store well.
 
A quick morning harvest home grown cilantro session keeps everything fresh.
 

3. Watch for Bolting Signals

Once you see tall stems shooting up with lacy white flowers, your cilantro is bolting.
 
You can still harvest home grown cilantro at this stage, but the flavor will be sharper and more pungent.
 
Many gardeners actually let a few plants bolt on purpose because the flowers attract beneficial insects.
 
But if you want mild leaves, harvest home grown cilantro well before those flowers appear.
 

How to Harvest Home Grown Cilantro Step by Step

Now for the fun part, the actual process to harvest home grown cilantro the right way.
 

1. Grab the Right Tools

All you need to harvest home grown cilantro is a pair of sharp scissors or garden shears.
 
Sharp blades make clean cuts, which helps the plant heal faster.
 
Dull tools crush the stems and can invite disease.
 
So before you harvest home grown cilantro, give your scissors a quick wipe with rubbing alcohol.
 

2. Snip the Outer Stems First

Start with the outermost stems when you harvest home grown cilantro.
 
Cut them about an inch above the soil line, right where the stem meets the base.
 
This approach lets the inner stems keep growing, so you can harvest home grown cilantro again in a couple of weeks.
 
Never pull the plant up by the roots unless you’re done with it for the season.
 

3. Never Take More Than a Third at Once

Here’s a rule that keeps your plant alive, only harvest home grown cilantro up to one-third of the plant at a time.
 
Taking more than that stresses the plant and slows regrowth.
 
If you harvest home grown cilantro gently and leave two-thirds intact, the plant bounces back fast.
 
This is the secret to a steady supply all season long.
 

4. Pinch Flowers to Extend Leaf Production

If you spot flower buds, pinch them off with your fingers.
 
This delays bolting, which means you get to harvest home grown cilantro leaves for weeks longer.
 
Once the plant fully bolts, leaf production slows way down.
 
So stay on top of those buds if fresh leaves are your goal.
 

Storing Your Cilantro Harvest

Knowing how to store what you harvest home grown cilantro matters just as much as picking it.
 

1. Wash and Dry Gently

Rinse your harvest home grown cilantro under cool water to remove dirt and grit.
 
Then pat the leaves dry with a clean towel or spin them in a salad spinner.
 
Excess moisture speeds up spoilage, so dry them well before storing.
 

2. Store in a Jar or Damp Paper Towel

You can stand the stems in a glass of water and cover the leaves with a plastic bag.
 
Or wrap your harvest home grown cilantro in a slightly damp paper towel and tuck it into a zip-top bag.
 
Either way, your cilantro stays fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks.
 

3. Freeze for Long-Term Use

If you harvest home grown cilantro faster than you can eat it, freeze the excess.
 
Chop the leaves, pack them into ice cube trays with a little water or olive oil, and freeze.
 
Then pop out a cube anytime a recipe calls for fresh cilantro flavor.
 
This trick means nothing from your harvest home grown cilantro efforts goes to waste.
 

So, How Do You Harvest Home Grown Cilantro?

To harvest home grown cilantro, snip the outer stems about an inch above the soil when the plant hits 6 inches tall.
 
Harvest home grown cilantro in the morning, take no more than a third at a time, and pinch off flower buds to keep leaves coming.
 
Store your harvest home grown cilantro in water, a damp towel, or the freezer so every leaf gets used.
 
With these simple habits, you’ll harvest home grown cilantro again and again from a single plant.
 
Happy harvesting.