Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro is a fast-cycling cool-season herb beloved in the kitchen and extraordinarily valuable in the garden for attracting beneficial insects. Its delicate white flowers draw hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and lacewings that prey on common garden pests.
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Soil
Well-draining loam; pH 6.2–6.8
Spacing
6–8 inches
Days to Maturity
21–28 days to first leaf harvest; 45–70 days to seed (coriander)
Growing Zones
Thrives in USDA Zones 3–10
Companion Planting
Keep Away From
When to Plant
Direct Sow
2 weeks before last frost; succession sow every 3 weeks
Harvest
Harvest leaves from 3 weeks; harvest seeds when they turn tan and start to drop
Organic Growing Tips
Succession sow every 3 weeks to ensure continuous fresh leaf harvest, as plants bolt quickly.
Allow some plants to flower and set seed — the flowers attract lacewings and hoverflies to your plot.
Harvest seeds (coriander) when the plant turns brown and seeds rattle when shaken.
Sow in cooler weather or in partial shade to slow bolting and extend the leaf harvest.
Common Pests
- Aphids
- Whitefly
- Bacterial Leaf Spot
All pest management in Garden uses safe, organic, non-toxic methods only. No synthetic pesticides, ever.