Ways to Grow Cilantro in Your Garden for Your Own Usage

If you’re a cilantro lover, try growing it in your herb garden for a bountiful supply! Learn how to get started!

cilantro in garden

Cilantro is an easy-to-maintain herb that is quite versatile in the kitchen, producing fresh leaves for harvest or dried seeds to use as a spice. Cilantro refers to the plant’s leaves, whereas the dried seeds are coriander. Use the fresh leaves in homemade salsa and guacamole to top your dishes, or add it to your garden salads for a refreshing taste! To use coriander seeds, toast them to release their earthy aroma or crush them and add them to soups, stews, or a spice rub.

Consider planting this flavorful herb and enjoy using it in many culinary dishes! Discover how to grow cilantro in your home garden — including when to sow seeds, proper plant care, and more.

Materials Needed
garden tools with herbs

Here is everything you will need to grow cilantro.

Cilantro seeds
Gardening gloves
Trowel
Watering can
Container (optional)
Compost
Fertilizer

Step 1: Plant at the Correct Time
cilantro seedling

Cilantro is a cool-season crop that grows best in the spring and fall. When the long days of summer set in and temperatures rise, cilantro plants tend to bolt and go to flower. Bolting is the act of a flower “going to seed” or digressing when temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the plant has bolted, it produces more bitter-tasting leaves. To avoid bolting, sow your seeds in early spring after the last frost date for your area. For a fall harvest, you can also sow seeds in late summer, around mid-August.

Step 2: Sow Your Seeds
cilantro seeds

Grow cilantro from seed rather than transplants. This type of plant doesn’t transplant well due to its sensitive taproot. If disturbed, you may cause serious damage to the plant. Plant cilantro from seed in the ground or a container, depending on your growing needs.

In the Ground

Before planting, work 2 to 4 inches of compost into the top few inches of soil. The compost adds vital nutrients to the soil to keep your cilantro plants healthy throughout the growing cycle. Sow cilantro seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep and about 1 to 2 inches apart. To grow multiple plants, sow seeds in rows spaced 12 inches apart. Continue to sow seeds every 2 to 3 weeks to extend your harvest and have plenty of fresh leaves to enjoy.

In Containers

Grow cilantro in a container 8 inches wide and deep for one to two plants. Cilantro has a long taproot, so don’t use a container that is smaller than this. Fill with high-quality potting soil designed for containers or pots. Sow multiple seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep and about 1 to 2 inches apart, the same as you would in the ground.

Step 3: Water Seedlings
Watering garden with a watering can.

After sowing the seeds, water thoroughly. Cilantro seeds are slower to germinate, taking up to 21 days. Keep the soil moist and do not let it dry out completely. Provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week during this time. Once the seedlings emerge and have a few true leaves, thin your seedlings leaving 3 to 6 inches between plants. Thinning allows the plants to develop strong roots and ample space to grow. To thin them, trim them with scissors at the soil level.

How to Care for Cilantro
Close-up shot of cilantro.

Once planted, follow the guidelines below to learn how to care for your cilantro plants properly.

Sunlight

Cilantro requires full sun to grow. Provide it with six to eight hours of sunlight daily. It can tolerate a few hours of shade but grows best when given plenty of sunlight. The proper amount of light also allows the plant to self-seed at the end of its life cycle, producing coriander seeds for you to harvest.

Watering Needs

Cilantro prefers to grow in light, well-draining soil as it doesn’t like overly damp ground. Water every few days to ensure optimal growth when the seedlings are young and before the plant is established. Once mature, water less often, about 1 inch of water per week. Check on your cilantro more often for container plants, as the container will dry out much faster. Be careful not to overwater these plants — only water when the first few inches of soil feel dry.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your plants one to two times throughout the growing season, during the spring and fall. Use a nitrogen-based fertilizer to promote foliage growth at a ratio of 21-0-0. Apply ¼ cup of fertilizer per 25 square feet of growing space. Avoid fertilizing more than two times in a growing season which can affect the taste of the leaves, making them less flavorful.

When to Harvest

Cilantro takes between 45 and 80 days to grow; however, you can begin harvesting leaves within a few weeks. Once the plant has multiple leaves and is about 6 inches tall, trim off a few leaves whenever you’d like!

Trim off the older leaves first, signaling the plant to keep producing new growth.

To harvest the entire plant, trim 1 inch above the soil level to allow the plant to regenerate and grow back for a second harvest. After harvesting, store cilantro in the refrigerator. Fill an empty glass with a few inches of water and submerge the stems to extend their shelf life. You can store cilantro like this for a few days, but for the most flavor, use your cilantro leaves when they are fresh.

Allow your cilantro plant to flower and go to seed to produce coriander seeds, which take up to 100 days. Harvest them off the plant once the seeds turn a light brown color, typically 2 to 3 weeks after flowering. To harvest the seeds, cut off the entire stem and bring them indoors. Hang it upside down in a warm, dry place. Leave a cloth underneath as seeds begin to fall out as they dry. Plant the coriander seeds again to produce a new plant, or store them in an airtight container for several months and use them for various culinary purposes.

Cilantro Lovers Unite!

While some have a love-or-hate relationship with cilantro, those who love it can try growing it in their herb garden for a bountiful supply! Provide plenty of sunlight, regular watering, and fertilize your plants no more than two times throughout the growing process. In a few short weeks, you’ll be harvesting plenty of fresh leaves off your plant.

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