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You can plant and care for cilantro easily by sowing seeds directly in your garden or a pot and giving the herb cool weather, steady moisture, and plenty of sunlight.
Cilantro is one of those herbs that rewards you fast when you plant and care for cilantro the right way.
If you have ever wondered how to plant and care for cilantro without it bolting overnight, you are in the right place.
Learning to plant and care for cilantro is simple once you understand what this cool-season herb really wants.
In this post, we will walk through how to plant and care for cilantro so you get a steady harvest of fresh leaves and seeds.
Let’s dig in and learn exactly how to plant and care for cilantro from seed to harvest.
How to Plant and Care for Cilantro
The best way to plant and care for cilantro is to start it from seed in cool weather and keep the soil evenly moist.
Here is how to plant and care for cilantro step by step:
1. Choose the Right Time to Plant Cilantro
To plant cilantro well, sow seeds in early spring or early fall when temperatures sit between 50°F and 70°F.
Cilantro hates heat, so if you plant cilantro in the middle of summer, it will bolt and go to seed quickly.
If you want to plant cilantro in a warm climate, choose a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
You can also plant cilantro in successions every two to three weeks for a longer harvest.
2. Pick the Right Spot and Soil
When you plant cilantro, choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Cilantro grows best in loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8.
Before you plant cilantro, mix in some compost to give the soil good drainage and nutrients.
If you plant cilantro in heavy clay, the roots will rot, so amend the soil first.
3. Sow the Seeds Correctly
To plant cilantro seeds, sow them about a quarter inch deep and one to two inches apart.
Cilantro seeds are actually two seeds in one husk, so you can gently crush them before you plant cilantro for better germination.
Keep the soil moist after you plant cilantro, and seedlings should pop up in seven to ten days.
Once seedlings are two inches tall, thin them to six to eight inches apart so each cilantro plant has room to grow.
4. Water and Feed Your Cilantro
To care for cilantro, water it regularly so the soil stays moist but never soggy.
Cilantro has shallow roots, so a light daily watering works better than a deep soak once a week.
When you care for cilantro, feed it with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks if your soil is poor.
Don’t overfeed, because too much nitrogen makes cilantro grow leaves fast but lose flavor.
5. Watch for Pests and Bolting
To care for cilantro properly, keep an eye out for aphids, whiteflies, and powdery mildew.
A strong spray of water or insecticidal soap handles most pests when you care for cilantro.
Bolting is the biggest challenge when you plant and care for cilantro, so harvest leaves often to delay it.
Once cilantro bolts, the leaves turn bitter, but you can let the flowers turn into coriander seeds.
Tips to Keep Cilantro Productive Longer
If you want to plant and care for cilantro like a pro, these tips will stretch your harvest.
1. Harvest from the Outside In
When you care for cilantro, snip the outer stems first and leave the inner ones to keep growing.
Never take more than a third of the plant at once when you harvest cilantro.
2. Shade It in Warm Weather
To plant and care for cilantro in summer, use a shade cloth or plant it near taller crops.
Cooler soil keeps cilantro from bolting too fast when you plant and care for cilantro in hot regions.
3. Replant Every Few Weeks
The easiest way to plant and care for cilantro is to sow new seeds every two to three weeks.
That way you always have fresh cilantro even after older plants bolt.
4. Grow Cilantro in Containers
You can plant and care for cilantro in pots if you use a deep container with drainage holes.
Container cilantro lets you move the plant to cooler spots when the weather heats up.
5. Save the Seeds
When you plant and care for cilantro, let some plants flower and dry out to collect coriander seeds.
Those seeds can be used in cooking or saved to plant cilantro again next season.
So, How Do You Plant and Care for Cilantro?
You plant and care for cilantro by sowing seeds in cool weather, keeping the soil moist, and harvesting often to delay bolting.
Cilantro is a fast, rewarding herb when you plant and care for cilantro with the right timing and a little shade.
Whether you grow it in a garden bed or a pot, you now know how to plant and care for cilantro from seed to harvest.
Give it a try, and you will enjoy fresh cilantro all season long.