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How to Grow Coriander (Cilantro)
See Also: How to Grow Mint
This is my pot of coriander (also known as cilantro or Chinese parsley) looking quite lush at one month after the seeds germinated. I decided to take the photos for this tutorial before I start using the coriander (and in case it dies on me the very next day), so if it continues to grow, I will update the progress photos. If you are someone like me who loves coriander but can’t always finish an entire packet bought from the supermarket, you may like to grow your own pot of coriander. I know I will definitely enjoy plucking the coriander as and when I need them as that they are as fresh as can be, and it’s also extra useful for me when I am taking food photos. If you like growing your own coriander, here is some tips from a noob gardener.
P.S. I don’t know much about gardening. I’m simply growing them (mainly edibles such as mint and spring onions) so that they can come in handy for my cooking and photo shoots. I am writing about my successful gardening projects to share with those who are interested to grow their own foods. Therefore, I apologize in advance for not being able to give any good advice on plant care, except for what type of conditions worked for me.
Seeds
These are the seeds I used. I tried using bottled coriander seeds from the supermarket (for cooking) but the seeds did not germinate. So I think there is a higher rate of success if you use seeds specifically for growing. The brand I used is “known-you” (a Taiwanese brand) but I don’t think the brand matters as long as you are using a seed pack. My coriander smells much stronger than the ones I usually buy, so I am not sure if the brand plays a part. I personally prefer a milder smelling coriander.
Care
I place my pot of coriander at a sunny spot where it gets ample morning sun all the way until noon. I water them once a day, every morning. Fertilize the plant every fortnightly with a tiny amount of organic fertilizer.
Progress Photos (photos from my instagram)
The seeds germinate after about 1-2 weeks. I scatter the seeds about 2-3cm apart. On retrospect, I think my pot of coriander is considered too crowded so you may wish to space them apart further.
10 days (after germination)
17 days
40 days. I have started using them for garnishing food. As you can see, my plant is quite crowded so I recommend putting fewer seeds with wider spacing.
Thanks for this post! This was very timely. Just yesterday, I bought a sweet basil plant. I am planning to start my own herb garden because like you, I can’t usually finish a pack of herbs from the supermarket without them dying on me first. I plan to grow parsley or coriander next. This post is a great reference. Thanks a lot! ^_^
Growing nicely! It’s great to eat your own organically grown cilantro!
Wow, your cilantro look so pretty and healthy…nothing like fresh cilantro. I must try to look for the seed since now it is time to plant.
Thanks for sharing this post and hope you are having a great week :)
Hey,
I am going to plant my seeds tomorrow. Hope I’ll be able to enjoy fresh coriander like you. I have a quick question, how do I harvest it? The top 1/3 of the stem or the bottom leaves?
If they are not mature yet, just pluck what you need. But when they are kind of full-grown, I harvest the entire bunch of coriander with the roots.
Hi hi, What brand of fertilizer did you use? Where do you buy them from?
And how much water to water?
I am trying to grow coriander from seeds but after one month plus, growth is slow and I notice the stems are very thin and weak. Its a vast difference from yours! :p
Hey, Its like 14 weeks ago I sowed my coriander seeds and they finally germinated four weeks ago and I see progress, one side of my pot didn’t grow so good but the other half rushed. I did see some aphids and do try to squat a few. The stems are growing in all directions but the leaves look pretty healthy to me. Not using any kind of fertilizer but so far so good.
Here’s what they look like now:
http://instagram.com/p/dO5qsjO4j8/
looking good! and no fertilizer wow!
But the aphids are a huge issue still. I don’t know what to do.
make an all-natural spray, for example diluted vinegar with distilled water. Google for natural, DIY pesticide.
Hi..where did u buy the seeds?
Oh i saw the other comments already..thanks!
It’s a good reference for me. I tried with a few coriander seeds 2 weeks ago. The weather was extremely hot recently, more than 30 degree Celsius. The seeds just started to germinate 3 days ago.
Hi, where did u get the seeds from?
Hi, I got mine from http://www.ecocityhydroponics.com, in early 2013. Back then, there was a hiccup with my order so I was not too impressed with their service. But they did rectify the situation after that. You can call them to enquire about ordering (human touch may be better) or order direct from their website. Hope this helps!
This is a great idea! Where I can find “known-you” brand? Thanks!
Hello! Please see comment above, my reply to red :)
Thanks so much!