<Coriander is a very fragrant annual herb, but can grow up to 2 meters tall. Cilantro is sometimes called Chinese parsley. Coriander is grown for its seeds and leaves, both of which are used for culinary purposes. The leaves can be used raw in salads, sandwiches and sauces or in hot curries.
Cilantro is sensitive to transplanting and the shock of the change can be irreversible. For this reason, it is advisable to sow coriander seeds and not transplant them later. If you decide to plant cilantro outdoors, be sure to remove weeds, dig and rake the soil before planting.
If sowing outdoors, my advice is to wait until May when soil temperatures are warmer, which should encourage germination with better success rates. Sow the seeds to a depth of about 1 cm and then cover with soil and/or compost. Arrange the rows 35cm apart. Sow the seeds about 4 cm apart from each other..
The seeds need a few days to a maximum of two weeks to germinate. Once the plants are about 4 or 5 cm tall, you can separate them about 20 cm apart, but very gently.
If you have decided to grow them in a container, make sure that the container is at least 15 cm deep, so that the tap root can develop correctly.
Coriander seeds should be sown every few weeks to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
Like most herbs, coriander loves lots of light, so if you have chosen to grow it indoors, make sure your pot of coriander is on a south-facing windowsill. At least 4 hours of sun per day are recommended.
Coriander also appreciates warm places (it is native to the Mediterranean and Asia).
The soil must be well drained and well aerated. If planting in containers, make sure drainage is sufficient; material helps, such as pots, broken bricks and/or coarse gravel are ideal at the bottom of the container.
You can apply a liquid fertilizer to the soil for a few weeks to encourage growth.
Don’t overwater coriander because it doesn’t like its roots submerged in water.
You can start harvesting the leaves as soon as the plant reaches a height of 10 cm.
Harvesting mature leaves promotes the growth of the plant.