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

Your comments and tips

26 Jan 20, Adam (Australia - temperate climate)
-- sounds a very good idea, but I don't' have huge garden so basically I know what I am growing. I just grow what I like to eat. ( I wish if I can grow some chicken and meat but yah doesn't work this way) . well, they are very big parsley seed. they look like parsley seeds but they are probably 3 times as big. I will sow them next week and see in a few months what are they if they ever grow. ---------------
27 Jan 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Gardening throws up many different things at us. The thing is to think about it from a different angle. All you can do is what you say, try planting them. I just tried planting seeds from a hybrid corn variety, they say they might not throw true to type. I had bicolour corn and yes I grew yellow corn, whitish corn and the yellow and white mix and I don't think it tasted as good as the hybrid. So I won't do that again. All about trying and learning.
16 Jan 20, Roger Davidon (Australia - temperate climate)
Various attempts to grow coriander in pots in Adelaide to no avail, could you please advise on growing conditions, watering, soil type and prep, fertiliser etc. Thank you very much
07 Mar 22, Craig (Australia - temperate climate)
Goolwa SA....you can plant in pots as the temperature of summer cools down....as in right now...(march 2022)....they will grow for ages from now before going to seed..they seem to love the temperatures cooling down..but plant enough because you will only get a short growing period if planted in September because as the days begin to heat up again they will bolt to seed quickly...keep them moist and use some thrive soluble fertiliser when watering occasionally to keep them at their best....I use potting mix and compost and some neutrog rapid raiser as they love food....this year i tried to grow some in summer in pots in between rainwater tanks to keep them cool but they bolted to seed quickly even though it wasnt a hot summer here
24 Jan 20, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I never had any luck with this plant until I ignored recommendations to grow in sun. Once I grew in partial shade, it flourished and stopped bolting. It only likes full sun in cool weather. Also snails love it so I raise my pots off the ground.
17 Jan 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here, I suggest you use seedlings. Good friable sandy loam soil, not sand not clay. A light fertilising and my suggestion don't grow it in pots. If in pots PAY attention to it ever day.
16 Jun 20, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
I say do NOT start with seedlings. That is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with coriander. Transplanting shock often causes them to bolt to seed. Sow seed directly where it is to grow. Partial shade often helps in hotter climates. ( It says that here - www.gardenate.com/plant/Coriander?zone=2)
12 Jan 20, adam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had great success in 2019 with coriander in Adelaide. now mid of January I have 2 coriander plants ( already bolting) and they started giving me seeds. The STRANGE thing is both of them gave very weird looking seeds, the seeds look more like parsley seeds!! I am 100% sure they started as coriander so no chance I mixed the seeds up when planting. The other thing I should mention they grow very close to Parsely plants, so is it possible to be cross-pollinated? or is it a different variety of coriander? my plan is to harvest the seeds and plant them again and see what will grow! but I wish if someone can tell me what is going on.
13 Jan 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
I record what I plant - date, crop, variety, fertiliser I used etc. You could take the seeds to a nursery or try looking up on the net what different seeds look like. I purchased the thick stalked celery seedlings from Bunnings for 6 years and every time they grew into open heart, thin stalks, hollow inside, I believe they were Italian parsley. Have never grown them since. Maybe start with some new seeds.
02 Jan 20, Soniya Dahal (Australia - tropical climate)
How can I grow coriander in a pot in humid climate of Darwin??
Showing 21 - 30 of 166 comments

After years of growing coriander I've settled on two scenerios for success. Firstly when growing the traditional coriander variety, only grow from seed where you want to grow it, as root disturbance during transplant can cause it to bolt, only try growing in the cooler months if you get summer days over 30deg. Also when you go to harvest, harvest the whole plant roots and all and use them in your cooking, harvesting the leaves only will again cause the plant to bolt to seed. The other scenario, and a better option for hot, humid climates or for year round harvest, is to plant 'Saw tooth' or 'perennial' coriander, this stuff is almost bulletproof and will grow from cool climates right up into the humid tropics

- Andy

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