When To Plant Cilantro In California

The best time to plant cilantro in California depends heavily on your specific climate zone, but generally, you should plant cilantro in California during the cooler months of fall, winter, and early spring.
 
Because cilantro is a cool-season herb, it absolutely hates the intense summer heat that much of California is famous for, so you need to work with your local temperatures.
 
If you’ve been wondering when to plant cilantro in California and felt a bit confused by the state’s massive size and varied climates, you are definitely not alone.
 
In this post, we will break down the best planting windows for different regions, how to handle the heat, and the simplest way to keep a steady harvest going.
 
Let’s dig into the perfect timing for your cilantro so you can enjoy fresh, flavorful leaves all year long.
 

When to Plant Cilantro in California: The Simple Answer

The golden rule for when to plant cilantro in California is to aim for temperatures between 50°F and 75°F, as this is the sweet spot for germination and leafy growth.
 
For most of the state, this means your main planting windows are from late September through November for a winter harvest, and again from February through April for a spring crop.
 
If you live in a hot inland area, you’ll need to plant earlier in the fall and earlier in the spring to beat the heat.
 
On the flip side, if you are near the coast where temperatures stay mild, you can often plant cilantro almost year-round with a bit of extra care.
 
The key is to always avoid planting during the peak summer months, as temperatures above 85°F will cause the plant to bolt and turn bitter very quickly.
 

Why Cool Weather Matters So Much for Cilantro

Cilantro is a true cool-season annual, which means it thrives when the soil is still cool and the air has a slight chill to it.
 
When you plant cilantro in California during the right season, the plant focuses its energy on producing those lush, aromatic leaves you love to add to salsas and tacos.
 
As soon as the days start getting longer and hotter, the plant shifts into survival mode, sending up a flower stalk and going to seed (which is coriander).
 
This process, called bolting, is exactly what you want to avoid if your goal is a continuous supply of fresh leaves.
 

Planting Cilantro in California by Region

Since California spans many different climate zones, let’s break down the best timing for when to plant cilantro in California based on where you actually live.
 

1. Coastal Regions (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego)

If you live along the coast, you have the most flexibility when it comes to planting cilantro in California.
 
The ocean’s moderating effect keeps summer temperatures down, so you can plant cilantro from late summer all the way through early spring.
 
A good trick for coastal gardeners is to plant a new batch every three to four weeks, starting in August, to ensure you always have young plants coming up.
 
Even during the summer, if you plant cilantro in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, it can still produce decent leaves in places like Santa Monica.
 

2. Inland Valleys (Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield)

Inland areas get baking hot in the summer, so you need to be very strategic about when to plant cilantro in California if you live here.
 
Your best bet is to sow seeds in early September for a fall crop and then again in late January or early February for a spring crop.
 
The trick here is that spring planting needs to happen early, because by May, the heat will have already arrived and ended your harvest.
 
For the fall planting, make sure you keep the soil moist during those still-warm September days to help the seeds germinate.
 

3. High Desert and Mountain Areas (Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe)

Desert and mountain regions have unique challenges, but you can still figure out when to plant cilantro in California.
 
In the high desert, your window is very similar to the inland valleys, but you’ll want to start even earlier in the fall, perhaps late August.
 
For mountain areas with freezing winters, plant cilantro in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, and then again in late summer for a fall crop.
 
Just be aware that in these extreme zones, a sudden heatwave or frost can kill your cilantro, so always keep row covers on hand.
 

Tips for Growing Cilantro in California Successfully

Once you know when to plant cilantro in California, you should also learn a few tricks to keep your plants happy and leafy for as long as possible.
 
Cilantro grows fast, so it’s all about working with the season rather than against it.
 

1. Direct Sow Your Seeds

Cilantro does not like to be transplanted because its taproot is very delicate, so always directly sow seeds into your garden bed.
 
When you plant cilantro in California, scatter the seeds about a quarter-inch deep and keep them moist until they sprout, which usually takes seven to ten days.
 

2. Use Shade Cloth for Summer

If you want to stretch your harvest, you can try planting cilantro in a spot that gets some afternoon shade or use a 40% shade cloth.
 
This helps keep the soil cooler and delays bolting, so even if you missed the ideal window for when to plant cilantro in California, you can still get a crop.
 

3. Harvest Frequently by Cutting Leaves

Instead of pulling up the whole plant, use scissors to snip off outer leaves, which encourages the plant to keep producing new growth.
 
When you plant cilantro in California, you can keep harvesting for many weeks by taking only what you need and leaving the center growing point intact.
 

4. Let Some Plants Go to Seed

Eventually, as the weather warms, your cilantro will bolt, but that is good news because you can let it form coriander seeds.
 
These seeds will drop to the ground, and you may get volunteer plants in the fall, which is a great, low-effort way to keep the cycle going.
 

So, When to Plant Cilantro in California?

The best time to plant cilantro in California is during the cool months of fall and spring, specifically from September to November and February to April.
 
Coastal gardeners can enjoy a much longer season, while inland and desert growers need to stick strictly to those cooler windows.
 
Remember, cilantro is a fast-growing, cool-weather herb, so as long as you avoid the summer heat, you can ensure a plentiful harvest of fresh leaves.
 
We hope this guide has cleared up any confusion about when to plant cilantro in California and that you now feel ready to get your hands dirty.
 
Happy planting, and may your garden be full of aromatic, vibrant cilantro all season long.