Cilantro seedlings
Although sometimes a controversial herb in the culinary world, cilantro can definitely brighten up a dish when added. You could also freeze or dry it, but it’s best to use it when it’s fresh. It tastes best about a week in the refrigerator after you harvest it. How long will cilantro last?Ĭilantro is one of those herbs that you’ll want to use pretty much immediately. When cilantro goes to seed, it can also self-seed so you can still enjoy it throughout the growing season. You can cut cilantro while it’s still low, although you’ll only want to cut about a third of it at any given time - it should be ready for harvest once it’s about 6 inches tall. This herb tastes best when the leaves are new and fresh, and it actually benefits from continued pruning and pinching. Alternatively, you can also collect seed pods for coriander. While cilantro doesn’t usually come back, you can let it go to seed and reseed itself. (Though it may survive in areas with mild winters.) This herb has a pretty short life cycle, and you’ll especially want to pay attention to it when it gets too hot or cold. Once or twice during the growing season, consider treating your cilantro to a diluted nitrogen fertilizer after the seedlings reach above 2 inches.Ĭilantro is usually an annual, which means it lasts through one growing season. You can add compost or fish emulsion to your mix when you’re planting your seeds.
To plant it, sow seeds into loose, fast-draining soil a quarter of an inch deep, giving each plant 1 to 2 inches of space. Propagating cilantro from cuttings is difficult, so growing it from seeds is easiest. You can even grow cilantro hydroponically, although you have to be careful not to get its leaves wet, as it can develop bacterial leaf spot disease. You can also grow cilantro year-round indoors - just make sure to find it a permanent container, since it doesn’t transplant very well. If you live in a colder zone, plant your cilantro around late spring, about two weeks after the last frost. If you live in zone 8 or above, you may want to start cilantro in the fall so it can enjoy cool temperatures until late spring. You can grow cilantro year-round, but certain times of the year work better in different areas, especially if you’re keeping your plant outside.
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of cilantro leaves and stems, you can grow them to let the plant flower and let it go to seed and harvest coriander seeds that you can crush up for curries and soups. Cilantro and coriander come from the plant however, it’s technically the seed part that yields a warmer flavor, which is the coriander part. Controversial as its flavor may be, it can actually be found in cuisines everywhere, including dishes in North Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Believed to be from the Mediterranean, this popular herb is perhaps best known for its use in Mexican and Asian food here in the United States. Known for its divisive citrusy flavor, cilantro, or Coriandrum sativum, has flat, bright green leaves that resemble parsley leaves. The ideal growing conditions for cilantro.