Coriander Growing Tips, Techniques, and Secrets

Cilantro/Coriander Growing Tips, Techniques, Ideas, and Secrets

Hello gardeners, we are here with a new topic and the topic is all about cilantro/coriander growing tips, techniques, ideas, and secrets. Do you want to grow your own coriander and do you want to know all the basic tips for growing coriander? Well and then you will need to follow this complete article to know all the tips, secrets, and ideas for growing coriander.

Introduction to Coriander/Cilantro

Coriander is an annual herb and that belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is also known as Chinese parsley, dhania, and even cilantro. All parts of this plant are very edible, but the fresh leaves and even the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking.

Cilantro is botanically called Coriandrum sativum and it is a herb with savoury and deep green leaves that are usually harvested fresh and used to flavour a variety of Asian and even Latin dishes. It is also known as coriander and even Chinese parsley. Cilantro is not very difficult to grow, and the seeds can be planted directly in the soil as soon as all danger of frost has passed or they can be even grown in a pot.

A Guide to Cilantro/Coriander Growing Tips, Techniques, Tricks, Ideas, and Secrets

The Overview Table of Coriander is Given Below

Botanical Name	Coriandrum sativum
Common Name	Cilantro, coriander, and Chinese parsley
Plant Type	Annual herb
Mature Size	18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide
Sun Exposure	Partly sun and filtered sun
Soil Type	Loamy and well-drained
Soil pH	6.5 to 7.5
Bloom Time	Spring
Flower Colour	White and pale pink

Coriander Types/Varieties

Calypso

This type produces very full plants that are among the slowest to bolt.

Cruiser

This variety has very large leaves and full stems with an upright growing habit.

Leisure

This is a very standard type of cilantro and that also attracts beneficial insects.

Santa

This variety is another very slow-bolting plant with good bushy leaves.

Confetti

This is a highly ornamental variety, with fine and even fern-like leaves.

Basic Caring Tips for Growing Coriander

Coriander usually prefers cool weather similar to spinach and even lettuce alike. It can be grown in partial sun as the herb does not demand full sun to grow well.

Better to avoid transplanting or repotting the germinated seeds and you need to prefer starting from the seeds straight. This will also help you avoid bolting.

The key to growing a very good and healthy coriander herb is regular and even steady watering. Remember, you need to mulch to keep the soil surface cool.

For a steady supply, we usually suggest planting very small patches every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the complete growing season.

Coriander Soil Preparation Tips and Ideas

Coriander does best in airy, light, and even fast-draining soil with plenty of perlites or even sharp sand mixed in to increase drainage. If the cilantro is in the garden, then add mulch around the plants as soon as they have grown enough to be easily visible. In a container, you need to use a premium potting mix rather than garden soil, which is too heavy.

What type of soil does coriander grow well and best in?

Outdoors, coriander usually prefers a cool position and even light shade, and very well-drained soil. Coriander is most commonly grown in a pot – either in a little shade on the patio or even on a windowsill that does not receive direct and burning sunlight in summer and which does not get too hot.

Tips for Germinating Coriander Seeds Fast

Coriander Seedling (Image credit: pixabay)

You need to always buy seeds from sources that are trustworthy when growing coriander.

Better to buy coriander seeds that are just meant for sowing purposes. Coriander seeds meant for culinary purposes are usually dried or even dehydrated to stop them from getting spoiled over time. Processed coriander seeds will not germinate.

You need to use fresh coriander seeds. Coriander seeds especially are easily prone to infestation by very small bugs that dwell inside the seed. They will eat away from the inside, just by making it nonviable.

Coriander Planting Techniques

Once you have prepared the coriander seeds, then you need to plant the seeds. You can either start cilantro indoors or even outdoors. If you are starting the seeds indoors, then you’ll be transplanting cilantro to the outdoors later on.

You need to put the seeds in the soil and then cover them with about a 1/4-inch or 6mm. the layer of soil. Leave the coriander growing until it is at least 2 inches or 5 cm. tall. At this time, better to thin the cilantro to be nearly about 3 to 4 inches or 7.6 to 10 cm. apart. You want to grow cilantro in crowded conditions because the leaves will shade the roots and this helps to keep the plant from bolting in very hot weather.

If you are transplanting cilantro into your garden, then dig holes 3 to 4 inches or 7.6 to 10 cm. apart and then place the plants in them. Water thoroughly just after transplanting.

Tips for Growing Coriander Indoors

Coriander plants survive well in temperatures between 17°C to 27°C. Coriander is always best sown directly in pots rather than growing them in any seed trays and then transplanting the sprouts.

You can easily grow coriander in full sun and even well-drained soil with a pH range of 6.2 to 6.8. Sow the coriander seeds nearly about half to one inch deep in the soil. Then space the seeds at a gap of approximately 6 inches. You need to again press the soil over the seeds and then cover with the half-inch layer of fine mulch. After, that water thoroughly.

Water the coriander in dry periods. You should not over-water the plant to avoid root rot. Good soil drainage is the most essential thing to ensure good and healthy root health as coriander has deep taproots.

Germination of coriander will take up to 2 to 3 weeks. Just remember to thin young plants to 20 cm apart to allow them to grow to their full and desired size. To extend the coriander harvest, you will need to regularly snip soft stems, just by rotating the plant while you harvest.

Techniques for Growing Coriander in Pots

In case if you miss this: How To Grow Coriander In Greenhouse.

Coriander is a very fast-growing annual plant that reaches up to 12 to 22 inches in height. With a little more extra care, the coriander plant can easily grow indoors as well as it would grow outdoors. We usually recommend you to grow coriander herb in a huge planter with the rest of the herbs as herbs make great neighbors and then encourage healthy growth for each other.

Spot

Pick a good spot for your container that exposes the plant to run for at least four to five hours. Better prefer exposing the plant to the morning sun as it enjoys a lot of light but not too much heat.

Container

Take any container or planter that is approx. 10 inches deep enough for the roots. Make sure that you have good and plenty of drainage holes in the bottom of the container.

Soil

Coriander plant needs extra fertile soil to grow well. The root system range is limited and it can’t access as much soil for nutrients as in the garden, hence the nutrition content in the soil needs to be good and higher.

Sowing

You need to pre-soak the seeds overnight. Then space the seeds 3 to 4 inches apart while sowing in the container. You can even sprout the seeds before sowing.

Watering

Water the plants when the soil is enough dry to the touch. You need to water thoroughly until the water comes out of the drainage holes. Keep the soil moist but not soaked.

Additional Ideas for Growing Coriander

Even with ideal coriander growing conditions, this is often a short-lived herb. Taking the time to prune cilantro frequently will help delay bolting and prolong your harvest, but regardless of what proportion you prune cilantro, it’ll still eventually bolt. Plant new seeds about every six weeks to stay a gentle supply throughout the season.

Coriander also will reseed in many zones. Once the cilantro plant bolts, let it attend seed and it’ll grow again for you next year, or collect the cilantro seeds and use them as coriander in your cooking.

Coriander Watering Tips

How often does one water coriander?

General growing from seed

Once the seed has germinated, approximately 7 to 10 days after sowing, water semi-daily or because the weather demands. If it’s moist but a knuckle deep it’ll be fine.

Water the plants in dry periods. Make certain to not over-water the plant to avoid plant disease. Good soil drainage is important to make sure healthy root health as coriander has deep taproots.

Top Secrets to Grow Coriander

You may also check this: How To Grow Sweet Potato On Terrace.

1. Plant cilantro at the proper time

Cilantro usually prefers cooler weather and can ‘bolt’ (or attend seed) in very warm weather. Better to choose slow-bolt varieties if growing for the leaves (not the coriander seeds).

Plant after last spring frost date. The perfect soil temperature for planting is 13°C to 21°C.

Succession plant every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest of the leaves.

2. Plant cilantro correctly

Cilantro features a long taproot and does the best plant from seeds. Cilantro is grown from transplant often bolts more quickly than cilantro grown from seed. If you plant transplants, choose young transplants and handle the roots very carefully.

Plant cilantro seeds ¼-½ inches deep, 3 to 4 inches apart. Keep soil moist until the seeds sprout.

Cilantro grows fully sun but needs partial shade in hot climate areas. an excessive amount of sun causes coriander to bolt.

Parsley, dill, peas, and even beans are good companion plants for coriander/cilantro.

3. Look after cilantro correctly

Cilantro needs regular water and doesn’t let the plant dry out.

Do not get water on leaves and can cause mildew.

Keep flowers crop to encourage leaf production.

4. Harvest cilantro often

Cilantro leaves can harvest 50 to 55 days after planting from seed. The seeds (coriander) are ready after nearly about 90 to 150 days.

Harvest leaves after the plant is 3 to 6 inches tall. To reap leaves, cut stalks at soil level.

Fertilizing Tips for Coriander

What is the simplest fertilizer for coriander?

So if you fertilize your coriander with a fertilizer with an NPK of, for instance, 5-1-1 or 10-0-0 that might be an honest choice. You ought to use very rich soil and a balanced NPK fertilizer but supplement it with additional N and even add calcium.

Does coriander need fertilizer?

Coriander doesn’t tend to urge suffering from too many pests and diseases but regular water with a seaweed solution and organic liquid fertilizer will encourage it to take care of its vigour. Coriander is extremely fast-growing and will be harvested often by taking the surface leaves from the bottom of the plant.

Coriander Pest and Diseases Controlling Tips

Bacterial leaf spot

Bacterial leaf spot is difficult to control; plant pathogen-free seed; avoid overhead irrigation; don’t work with plants once they are wet

Soft rot

Control relies on the avoidance of conditions conducive to bacterial infection: plant coriander in well-draining soils; allow plants to dry before irrigating again.

Damping-off

Avoid planting in poorly drained, cool, wet soil; planting in raised beds will help with soil drainage; plant high-quality seed that germinates quickly; treat seeds with fungicide before planting to eliminate fungal pathogens

Powdery mildew

Plant tolerant varieties; avoid excess fertilization; protective fungicide applications provide adequate protection; sulphur application are often utilized in infection occurs early within the season

Aphids

If the aphid population is restricted to only a couple of leaves or even shoots then the infestation are often pruned bent to provide control; check transplants for aphids before planting; you need to use tolerant varieties if available; reflective mulches like silver-coloured plastic can deter aphids from feeding on plants; sturdy plants are often sprayed with a robust jet of water to knock aphids from leaves and even insecticides are generally only required to treat aphids if the infestation is extremely high – plants generally tolerate low and medium level infestation; insecticidal soaps or even oils like neem or even vegetable oil are usually the simplest methods of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines before use

Armyworm

Organic methods of controlling armyworms include biological control by natural enemies which parasitize the larvae and therefore the application of Bacillus thuringiensis; there are chemicals available for commercial control but many who are just available for the house garden don’t provide adequate control of the larvae

Root-knot nematode

Plant resistant varieties if nematodes are known to be present within the soil; check roots of plants mid-season or sooner if symptoms indicate nematodes; solarizing soil can reduce nematode populations within the soil and levels of inoculum of the many other pathogens

Coriander Harvesting Techniques

When to harvest: Cilantro leaves are often harvested at any time after the plant is 6 to eight inches tall. Plants mature 60 to 75 days after sowing. To reap coriander, the plant requires 100 or more days.

How to Harvest: you need to snip cilantro leaves for fresh use after the plant is 6 inches tall or more. Small immature leaves have the simplest flavor. Pick just the highest 2 to three inches to make sure continuous growth. Nip the tops of stems before the plant flowers for a continued harvest of leaves. Continue picking leaves until the plant flowers.

For Seeds: Coriander seeds are harvested after cilantro flowers; the seed is going to be ready for harvest 2 to three weeks after flowering once they turn brown. Hang stems and seed heads the wrong way up in a sack in a cool, dry place. The seeds will fall under the bag as they ripen. Seeds are very small, just only about ⅛ inch in diameter. The ripe seed will smell spicy.