How to Grow Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro offers a fresh, citrusy flavor essential for many cuisines worldwide. Gardeners prize this cool-season herb for its rapid growth and ability to thrive in cooler temperatures before heat sets in.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Cilantro: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Cilantro is not usually started indoors.
Cilantro is best started directly in the garden rather than indoors, as it does not transplant well; simply sow seeds where they will grow.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 for best results. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date. Push seeds into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. You can expect germination within seven to twenty days depending on conditions.
Space plants four to six inches apart to ensure good air circulation. Keep the soil consistently moist, aiming for about one inch of water per week. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feeding is rarely necessary if your soil is healthy, but avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that encourage leafy growth at the expense of flavor.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, and leaf miners; treat infestations with insecticidal soap or by hand-picking. Prevent bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, and damping off by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering once seedlings emerge. Harvest leaves when the plant is 12 to 24 inches tall, typically sixteen to twenty-five days after germination.
When to Plant Cilantro
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | August – September |
| Zone 3 | April – May | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | — | April – December |
| Zone 11 | January | — | March – December |
Companion Plants for Cilantro
✓ Good companions
Improves cilantro germination and growth when planted nearby
Cilantro attracts beneficial insects that prey on carrot fly
Repels aphids and other pests that commonly attack cilantro
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps
Both prefer cool conditions and lettuce provides ground cover
Nitrogen fixation by peas benefits cilantro growth
Provides shade for cilantro in hot weather, preventing early bolting
Cilantro repels spider mites and aphids that damage tomato plants
✗ Keep away from
Inhibits cilantro growth through allelopathic compounds
Requires different watering needs and may compete for nutrients
Prefers dry conditions while cilantro needs consistent moisture
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
