How to Grow Cilantro from Seed

Growing cilantro from seed is a straightforward process that allows you to enjoy fresh herbs right from your garden. It involves selecting the right location, preparing the soil, planting the seeds correctly, and providing ongoing care.

Getting Started: Location and Soil

Cilantro thrives in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. While it prefers full sun in cooler climates, it benefits from partial shade in hotter regions or during the warmest part of the day, as excessive heat can cause it to bolt (go to seed) quickly.

• Choose a Spot: Select a location that meets the light requirements based on your climate.
• Prepare the Soil: Amend the soil with compost to improve fertility and drainage. If you are using mulch, you will need to push away that mulch to plant the seeds directly into the soil below.

Planting Cilantro Seeds

Cilantro seeds are often sold as a single husk containing two seeds. You can plant the whole husk, or gently crack it open to separate the seeds, which may improve germination rate.

• Planting Depth: Sow seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.
• Spacing: Space seeds or husks roughly 6-8 inches apart, or sow closer together for a dense patch and thin later.
• Watering: Water gently after planting to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Keep the soil consistently moist until seeds germinate.

Caring for Your Cilantro

Consistent care helps ensure healthy growth and delays bolting.

• Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during dry periods. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this stresses the plant and encourages bolting.
• Temperature: Cilantro prefers cooler temperatures (50-85°F or 10-30°C). Protect from extreme heat if possible.
• Fertilizing: Cilantro generally doesn't require much fertilizer if grown in rich soil. An occasional light feeding with a balanced liquid fertilizer can be beneficial if growth seems slow.

Harvesting Cilantro

You can begin harvesting cilantro leaves once the plants are a few inches tall, usually within 3-4 weeks after planting.

• Harvesting Technique: Snip the outer leaves from the plant, leaving the center intact. This encourages the plant to produce more leaves.
• Frequency: Harvest regularly to encourage continued production and delay bolting.

Tip for Continuous Harvest

To ensure you always have fresh cilantro available throughout the growing season, you can stagger your plantings. Sow seeds every one to two weeks in succession. That way, as older plants mature or bolt, younger plants will be ready for harvest, providing a continuous supply of fresh cilantro.

Remember the mulch you may have used around other plants? As mentioned, you'll need to push it away when planting seeds. After the seedlings are established, you can gently replace some mulch around the plants to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, being careful not to cover the seedlings themselves.

For more visual guidance, consider searching for videos on growing cilantro from seed online Gardening Videos.