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Herb · Cool season

Cilantro

Cilantro

Cilantro: crop reference photographCrop reference
Sun

Full sun to part shade; 4–6+ hours of direct sun, with afternoon shade helpful in heat.

Water

Aim for about 1 inch of water per week including rain; check soil 1 inch down and water at the roots when it begins to dry. Raised beds may need more frequent watering in heat. Keep moist, never waterlogged.

Spacing

6–8 in

Difficulty

Easy–Moderate

Planting and care

How to grow cilantro

When to grow

Cool season · Annual

How to start

Direct sow in cool weather

Mature size

12–24 in tall; taller when flowering

Time to harvest

Leaves: 30–50 days from seed. Coriander seed: about 90–120 days.

Feeding needs

Light feeder

Growth habit

Compact Herb

How to prune

Snip outer stems near the base while preserving the central growing point. Flower-stalk removal will not reliably reverse heat-driven bolting; sow a replacement crop.

How to harvest

Pick outer leafy stems when 4–6 inches tall. For coriander, leave flowers to set seed and collect dry brown seed heads into a paper bag before they scatter.

Harvest and kitchen use

Fresh leaves and tender stems for salsa and garnishes; dried seeds are coriander.

Nutrition and garden value

Aromatic herbs provide flavor and small amounts of vitamins/phytonutrients

High customer value in small space; flowers on many herbs support pollinators/beneficial insects

Common challenges and troubleshooting

Bolting, winter injury or root rot varies by herb