When To Plant Cilantro For Fall

The best time to plant cilantro for fall is late summer to early fall, once the intense heat has passed.
 
If you’ve been wondering when to plant cilantro for a fall harvest, the answer depends a lot on your local climate and first frost date.
 
Cilantro loves cool weather, so timing your fall planting right is the key to getting tender, flavorful leaves instead of a plant that bolts overnight.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly when to plant cilantro for fall, how to do it, and how to keep it productive all season long.
 

When to Plant Cilantro for Fall

When you plant cilantro for fall, you want to aim for a window where daytime temps stay between 60°F and 75°F.
 
That usually means planting cilantro for fall about 6 to 8 weeks before your first expected frost date.
 
If you live in a warm climate, you can plant cilantro for fall even later, sometimes into October or November.
 
The whole idea is to let cilantro establish itself while the soil is still warm but the air is starting to cool.
 

1. Count Back From Your First Frost Date

Your first frost date is the anchor for when to plant cilantro for fall.
 
Count back 6 to 8 weeks from that date, and that’s your target planting window.
 
For example, if your first frost arrives around November 1st, you’d plant cilantro for fall in early to mid-September.
 
This gives cilantro enough time to grow healthy leaves before cold weather slows it down.
 

2. Watch Your Local Temperatures

Cilantro germinates best when soil temps are between 55°F and 70°F.
 
If you plant cilantro for fall too early while it’s still scorching hot, the seeds struggle to sprout and the plants bolt fast.
 
If you plant too late, the cold can stunt growth before you get a decent harvest.
 
So keep an eye on your forecast and plant cilantro for fall when the heat finally breaks.
 

3. Adjust for Your Growing Zone

In cooler zones like 3 to 5, you may need to plant cilantro for fall in late August.
 
In warmer zones like 8 to 10, you can wait until October and still get a great crop.
 
The warmer your climate, the later you can plant cilantro for fall without worrying about frost.
 
Just remember that cilantro is sensitive to heat, so cooler is always better than hotter.
 

How to Plant Cilantro for Fall

Once you know when to plant cilantro for fall, the actual planting process is pretty simple.
 
Getting the details right helps your cilantro thrive instead of struggling.
 

1. Choose the Right Spot

Cilantro enjoys partial shade, especially during the warmer part of the day.
 
If you plant cilantro for fall in a spot that gets full afternoon sun, it may still bolt prematurely.
 
A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for a fall crop.
 

2. Prepare Loose, Well-Draining Soil

Cilantro grows best in loose, fertile soil that drains well.
 
Before you plant cilantro for fall, mix in some compost to give the roots a healthy start.
 
Good drainage matters because soggy roots can rot, especially as fall rains pick up.
 

3. Sow Seeds Directly

Cilantro doesn’t transplant well, so it’s best to sow seeds directly where they’ll grow.
 
When you plant cilantro for fall, scatter seeds about a quarter inch deep and keep them moist.
 
You can succession plant every 2 to 3 weeks to stretch your harvest through the season.
 

4. Water Consistently

Keep the soil evenly moist while seeds germinate, which usually takes 7 to 10 days.
 
After you plant cilantro for fall, regular watering helps the plants stay tender and slows bolting.
 
Aim for about an inch of water per week, more if the weather stays warm.
 

5. Feed Lightly

Cilantro isn’t a heavy feeder, but a light dose of nitrogen can help leafy growth.
 
Once your cilantro is a few inches tall after you plant cilantro for fall, feed it every few weeks.
 
Too much fertilizer can actually encourage bolting, so keep it modest.
 

Tips to Keep Fall Cilantro Productive

Even with perfect timing, cilantro can bolt if conditions aren’t right.
 
Here are a few tricks to keep your fall cilantro going strong.
 

1. Harvest Often

Regular harvesting encourages cilantro to keep producing fresh leaves.
 
Snip the outer stems first and let the center keep growing.
 
This is one of the easiest ways to extend your harvest after you plant cilantro for fall.
 

2. Provide Shade During Warm Spells

If an unexpected heat wave hits, shade cloth can protect your plants.
 
Since you plant cilantro for fall to avoid the heat, a little extra protection goes a long way.
 

3. Use Row Covers for Frost

Cilantro can handle a light frost, but a hard freeze will kill it.
 
If temperatures drop, row covers help you squeeze a few more weeks out of your crop.
 

4. Let Some Go to Seed

If your cilantro does bolt, don’t panic.
 
The seeds, known as coriander, are edible and delicious.
 
So even when you plant cilantro for fall and it flowers, you still get a bonus harvest.
 

So, When to Plant Cilantro for Fall?

The best time to plant cilantro for fall is 6 to 8 weeks before your first frost date, when temperatures cool to 60–75°F.
 
If you’ve been asking when to plant cilantro for fall, the answer boils down to watching your local weather and counting back from frost.
 
Plant cilantro for fall in partial shade with loose, moist soil, and you’ll be rewarded with fresh, tender leaves all season.
 
Hope this post has helped you figure out exactly when to plant cilantro for fall so your cool-weather harvest thrives.