Growing Coriander, also Cilantro, Chinese parsley

Coriandrum sativum : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
        T              
      P P              

(Best months for growing Coriander in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: Thin to 18 inches
  • Harvest in 30-45 days.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dill, Chervil, Anise, Cabbages, Carrots
  • Avoid growing close to: Fennel
  • Coriander/Cilantro
  • Coriander flowers

Broadcast sow and thin to 45 cm apart. Grows to about 60 cm.

Harvest 30 - 45 days

A half-hardy herb with feathery leaves.

Grows more reliably from seeds as coriander is liable to bolt to flower and seed when seedlings are transplanted.

Coriander is frost tender but it doesn't like extreme heat. So in temperate zones grow coriander during summer, in sub-tropical/tropical zones grow it during the cooler season.

Needs a sunny spot and mulch to prevent drying out. Keep very well watered. If they dry out, then they will bolt to seed. Plant in successions (planting new seed every few weeks) to get a continuous supply.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Coriander

Use the leaves to flavour hot meals or add fresh to salads.
The seeds can be dried and ground up for curries.

Your comments and tips

17 Oct 23, Vaughn (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You say that harvest is in 30 to 45 days….is that from seed or from germination?
22 Nov 23, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Probably from germination - you will work it out.
07 Apr 23, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
This would interest any gardeners in PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. After repeated attempts of transplanting coriander in the spring and watching it slowly grow to a small growth then just bolt to seed. After hearing a quick excerpt from the Garden Gurus show last year recommending the autumn period (April-May)....the success was evident. I had a massive crop just with 3 plants....Hope this helps and....plant now!
06 May 23, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Good advice for my area as well -- thanks
19 Apr 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Coriander does not like being transplanted and handled much. Yes it bolts to seed quick so grow it in the autumn winter.
13 Jan 23, Kishinchand Chellaram (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi , which is the month to put the corinder seeds in the ground to grow, becauce i put the seeds last 3 months , nothing is seen planted
23 Jan 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
Try the autumn months. Hard to grow things in summer in Temperate and Tropical
24 Sep 21, chau vinh (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Is coriander perennial in zone 7a ?
28 Sep 21, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I don't think it's perennial anywhere but if left to go to seed it will self-sow and regrow so long as the seed doesn't freeze.
27 Sep 21, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
No, it's an annual plant regardless of zone. It will often reseed itself in good weather conditions though (not too hot, not too cold, moderate water).
Showing 1 - 10 of 166 comments

Instructions for growing coriander depend on whether you want to grow it for seed or to use the green foliage as a herb. Like most gardeners I just grow it for the green foliage - after all you can buy the seed in Continental / Middle Eastern grocery stores by the kg at a very reasonable price. And the greens picked fresh straight from the garden are delicious - better than from veggie shop. Space plants at 10 to 15 cm if you just want the greens - That's because you will be harvesting when the plants are around 20cm high. You can treat it as a cut-and-come-again crop to some extent. I find that in Sydney I can plant coriander seeds from late March right thru the winter till about October. I plant a small patch about once every 6 weeks during that time. It is at its most tender during cool to mild weather, and actually very easy to grow. Once your spring weather warms to max in the high 20s or more your coriander will quickly bolt to seed and be not worth eating. Unfortunately there are some Australian gardening books and seed packets that still advise the opposite - ie to plant thru summer which has resulted in very many garden failures, even with "slow bolt coriander" seeds. Btw seed direct, coriander doesn't transplant well.

- David Pritchard

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