Cilantro Care Guide
Coriandrum sativum
Also known as Coriander
By Ellen Hermance · PlantCareAI Editorial
Cilantro is a cool-season annual, and nearly every complaint about it comes down to one thing: it bolts. Warm weather and long days push it to flower and set seed within weeks, and the leaves turn sparse and bitter as it does. The fix is timing rather than care. Grow it in spring and fall, sow a little every few weeks, and harvest early and often. Let a few plants flower and you get coriander seed, and often next year's cilantro, for free.
Quick Care Reference
| Care Aspect | Requirement | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Watering | Evenly moist | Every 2-4 days in dry weather |
| Light | Full sun when cool | Afternoon shade once it warms |
| Temperature | 50-75°F (10-24°C) | Grow in spring and fall |
| Sowing | Direct sow, 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep | Every 2-3 weeks in season |
| Harvest | Outer leaves, a third at a time | Weekly once 6 inches (15 cm) tall |
Watering
Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. In the ground that usually means watering every 2 to 4 days in dry weather; in a container, water when the top inch (2.5 cm) is dry. Drought stress is one of the triggers for bolting, so do not let it dry out completely. Water at the base, and mulch lightly once seedlings are up.
Light Requirements
In cool spring and fall weather cilantro grows best in full sun. Once days turn warm, afternoon shade slows bolting and keeps the leaves tender, so a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for a late spring sowing. Indoors it needs a very bright window.
Humidity & Temperature
Cilantro grows best between about 50 and 75°F (10 to 24°C). It tolerates light frost, so fall sowings in mild climates can carry on into winter. As temperatures rise above about 75°F (24°C) and days lengthen, it bolts quickly. In the South and Southwest it is grown mainly from fall through spring; farther north, sow in early spring and again in late summer.
Fertilizing
Cilantro needs little feeding. Compost worked into the bed at sowing is usually enough. A light feed of a balanced or slightly nitrogen-rich fertilizer when plants are a few inches tall helps on poor soil or in containers. Heavy feeding does not prevent bolting.
Propagation
Cilantro is grown from seed sown directly in the garden or in a deep container. It does not root well from cuttings.
Direct sowing
- Crush the seed husks lightly so they split in two
- Sow 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in rows, or scatter in a container
- Keep the surface moist; seed germinates in 7 to 14 days
- Thin seedlings to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) apart
Saving coriander seed
- Let a few healthy plants flower and set seed
- Wait until the seeds turn brown and dry on the plant
- Cut the seed heads into a paper bag and let them finish drying
- Rub the seeds free and store them dry; use for cooking or next year's sowing
Popular Varieties
Slow-bolt cilantro
Varieties selected to stay in leaf longer before flowering. Worth choosing for spring sowings.
Coriander for seed
Any cilantro left to flower gives coriander seed; some varieties are grown mainly for larger, more aromatic seed.
Vietnamese coriander
A different plant, Persicaria odorata, with a similar flavor. A tender perennial that does not bolt in heat, useful as a summer substitute.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring
Mar – May
- Sow outdoors from a few weeks before the last frost.
- Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks until the weather turns warm.
- Harvest outer leaves regularly once plants are 6 inches (15 cm) tall.
Summer
Jun – Aug
- Expect bolting in heat. Let bolting plants flower for beneficial insects and seed.
- Collect coriander seed once it turns brown.
- Sow again in late summer for a fall crop.
Fall
Sep – Nov
- Fall is the best season in most of the country. Sow every few weeks.
- Keep harvesting; plants tolerate light frost.
- In mild climates, keep sowing into winter.
Winter
Dec – Feb
- In mild winter regions, harvest and sow through the season.
- Elsewhere, grow a pot on a bright windowsill.
- Order seed of slow-bolting varieties for spring.
Troubleshooting
Plants send up tall stalks with feathery leaves and flowers
Why it happens: Bolting, triggered by heat, long days, drought or root disturbance
What to do: Harvest what you can; the plant will not go back to leaf. Sow again in a cooler season or a shadier spot, water evenly, and choose a slow-bolting variety.
Ask the AI about this →Few seedlings came up
Why it happens: Hot soil, seed sown too deep, or a surface that dried out
What to do: Resow 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep in cooler weather and keep the surface moist until seedlings appear. Crushing the husks first helps.
Ask the AI about this →Lower leaves turning yellow
Why it happens: Waterlogged soil, hunger, or the plant starting to bolt
What to do: Check drainage and let the top of the soil dry slightly. A light feed helps on poor soil. If a stalk is forming, it is bolting.
Learn more: Why Are My Plant Leaves Turning Yellow? → Ask the AI about this →Clusters of small insects on new growth
Why it happens: Aphids, which gather on tender stems and leaves
What to do: Rinse them off with a strong spray of water and check every few days. Flowering cilantro attracts hoverflies and lacewings, which eat aphids.
Learn more: Beneficial Insects for Plants → Ask the AI about this →Not sure what's wrong?
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