How to Grow Cilantro Microgreens
Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro microgreens offer a quick harvest of fresh flavor for salads and garnishes within just two weeks. Gardeners value these young plants for their intense taste and compact growth, making them an excellent choice for small spaces.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Cilantro Microgreens: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
You can start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost or sow directly outside during this same window.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil to a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing seeds broadcastly at a moderately dense rate. Since cilantro is a cool-season crop, start indoors or sow directly in the ground 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Seeds typically germinate within 7 to 10 days under suitable conditions.
Space your seedlings closely as you broadcast them densely, avoiding trellises since they grow low and bushy. Water lightly by misting once or twice daily, ensuring the soil stays moist but not soggy. Avoid heavy mulching in containers to prevent overheating, and no additional feeding is usually required for such a short growing cycle.
Watch for aphids and fungus gnats; maintain good airflow and avoid overwatering to stop root rot or damping off. Harvest your microgreens by snipping the stems when they reach maturity between 16 and 25 days after sowing. Use clean scissors to cut just above the soil line for a fresh batch.
When to Plant Cilantro Microgreens
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | — | January – December |
Companion Plants for Cilantro Microgreens
✓ Good companions
Thrives in same cool, moist conditions preferred by cilantro microgreens
Repels aphids and whiteflies that can damage cilantro microgreens
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids without competing for space
Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, efficient space utilization
Repels ants and rodents, though should be contained to prevent spreading
Nitrogen fixation benefits cilantro growth, similar moisture preferences
Fast-growing companion with similar care needs and harvest window
Compatible moisture and temperature requirements, quick harvest cycle
✗ Keep away from
Can cross-pollinate and compete for similar nutrients, may affect flavor
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of cilantro
Release allelopathic chemicals that suppress growth of smaller plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
