How to Grow Cilantro - Coriander

How to Grow Cilantro – Coriander

Cilantro is also known as Coriander which is derived from a Spanish word. It is an herb with deep green leaves that are harvested fresh and would be nice to grow it in your garden. It’s a soft plant that grows to a height of 30 centimeters tall when the temperature is above 70 F. It grows in the countries like China, Russia, Europe, North Africa and southwestern Asia.

Cilantro seeds are different from fresh leaves or stems. Leaves are varied in shape broadly lobed into the base of the plant. Mainly the fresh leaves and dried seeds are used for cooking. They have different taste from the seeds and are used in large amounts for garnishing and flavoring purpose.

Cilantro is a wonderful source of fiber, iron, and magnesium. Leaves are rich in vitamin-A, vitamin-C, vitamin-K and seeds have a lower content of vitamins. Steps to be followed for growing cilantro in your home are listed below…

Contents
Choose time to grow cilantro

Best time to plant cilantro is the late spring season as it doesn’t survive in frosty conditions. Leaves that grow tend to be bitter in taste. Choose a sunny site and plant it in an herb garden. It’s better to start at indoors and transfer outside when temperature improves.

Select the hygiene soil

To grow cilantro in a well-structured format the soil content plays a major role. Select the soil where the cilantro gets fully exposed to sunlight. Soil should be very light and well drain with a pH of 6.2 – 6.8. If you wish to cultivate the soil before planting makes use of organic compost.

Plant cilantro seeds

Sow the seeds about (1/2) inches. deep and spaced at 6-8 inches cilantro seeds needs moisture to germinate. Make sure to water them on a daily basis. Within 2-3 weeks the seeds will germinate. As it grows quickly, harvest fresh and adds new seeds for every 4-6 weeks.

Growth and Care

When the seedlings reach 2 inches height you can fertilize them with organic matter. Once the plant grows they don’t need much of water. Be careful as over fertilizing may damage plant growth. Keep the soil damp as cilantro grows in dry climatic conditions.

Prevent overcrowding and pest control

Stop cilantro plants from overcrowding by thinning the seedlings when it is 2-3 inches apart. Now pull out the smaller plants and leave stronger once to grow larger about 8-10 inches between each plant. Mostly the smaller plants can be used for cooking and eating. You can also prevent weeds by spreading mulch around the base of the plant that acts as a pest control.

Harvest the cilantro

Harvest cilantro by cutting leaves and stems from the base of the plant near ground level when the cilantro reaches 4-6 inches tall. Use sharp knife or scissors to harvest fresh cilantro leaves and stems. When you harvest the leaves, the plant will continue to grow for more 2 or 3 cycles.

Decide whether you want to leave cilantro to flower

Sooner the coriander plants will start to flower. When it happens the plant will stop producing fresh leaves. At this stage, some people cut-off flowers hoping that plant will produce more leaves. If you like to harvest coriander seeds leave the plant to flower. Once the flower dries, you will be able to harvest coriander seeds that can be used in cooking. Further, you can save the dried seeds and plant them in next growing season.

Do’s

Plant cilantro in full sun and well-drained soil.
Stagger plantings to ensure an uninterrupted harvest.
Remember to fertilize for every 4-5 harvests.

Don’ts

Doesn’t harvest more than (1/3) of the plants at once, you may risk weakening the plant.
Once the seeds germinate, they don’t need much water.

Companion Plants

Companion planting is a great way to improve health and flavor of garden plants without using harmful chemicals. It also deters pests and disease problems. Cilantro needs little space and moderate sun to thrive faster. Because of its ever-lasting benefits in cooking recipes, they love to grow along with basil, mint, spinach, tomatoes, creeping thyme and sweet alyssum.

How to Grow Cilantro from Cuttings?

As we start growing cilantro from seeds, it is a lengthy and time taking process and needs to be done with proper care. Those who are willing to plant cilantro need lot of patience. Instead, we prefer a simple method just by cutting the roots of harvested cilantro. Here is the procedure for propagating cilantro from cuttings…

Take coriander root cuttings after harvesting the leaves.
Place the cuttings in a glass or jar of water.
Change the water in the jar for every 3 days to promote faster growth.
Place the setup in sunlight for a minimum of 6-8 hours a day.
After 2-3 weeks you can see the fresh leaves grown in a well-defined manner and is now ready to use.
If you wish to grow them in bulk transplant it to outdoors containing rich fertile soil.

Growing Tips

While planting cilantro in your home, certain measures need to be taken. Here are some tips that help you to grow coriander easily in your home…

Operate gardening tools such as shears or cutters safely.
Apply bio-chemicals and additives to cilantro plants with proper care.
Do not overwater, as it can damage the plant resulting in various diseases.
Use only organic fertilizers such as compost or manure for better plant growth.
When placed in pots, make sure it has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.
Follow the instructions on labels when you purchase seeds online before planting.
Keep children and pets away when you use mulches and fertilizers as it can cause severe health problems.
Wear gardening clothes when you spend more time at outdoors. Long sleeves, pants, hat, and sunscreen will cover your skin to reduce exposure to sun rays.

Cilantro Health Benefits

The disinfectant, antiseptic and anti-oxidant properties of cilantro helps to cure the diseases of anemia, skin disorders, urinary tract infections, diarrhea and reduce cholesterol levels.

Anemia: Cilantro is rich in iron that helps people who suffer from anemia. It is helpful for the proper functioning of organ systems, increase strength and promotes the health of bones.
Cholesterol levels: Acids in cilantro like linoleic acid helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. It completely eliminates bad cholesterol along the inner walls of arteries and veins.
Diarrhea: Linalool and borneol compounds in cilantro helps for the proper functioning of the liver. It is also helpful in curing diarrhea caused by the microbial and fungal action.
How do I dry coriander seeds?

First, cut the coriander seed heads with few inches of stalk. When the seeds are fully dry they fall out of the flower heads. Collect all the dry seeds and store them in a bag dry location.

Start growing cilantro in a pot or container that is useful in garnishing dishes and also monitors your health. If you have amazing ideas about growing cilantro in your home, please share your experience with us.

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