Coriander is a highly fragrant annual herb and will grow to up to 2 feet in height. Coriander seeds are known as Coriander, and its leaves are often known as Cilantro. Coriander is sometimes known as Chinese Parsley. Coriander is grown for both its seeds and leaves, and both are used for culinary purposes. The leaves can be used raw in salads, sandwiches, and salsas or in cooked items such as Bread or Curry.
Preparation
Coriander is sensitive to transplanting and the shock can cause boliting. Because of this it is advisable to sow coriander seeds where you want them to remain. If growing outside then weed, dig over, and rake the soil before planting.
Sowing
Outdoor Sowing
- Wait until May to ensure warm soil temperatures for better germination.
- Sow seeds in drills about 1cm deep and cover with soil or compost.
- Space rows approximately 35cm apart and sow seeds around 4cm apart.
Germination and Thinning
- Seeds will germinate in roughly 2 weeks (a few days earlier or later).
- Once seedlings reach 4-5cm in height, thin them to about 20cm apart.
Container Sowing
- Use containers that are at least 15cm deep to allow proper tap root development.
Continuous Cropping
For a steady harvest throughout the growing season, sow coriander seeds every few weeks.
Position
Like most herbs, Coriander likes a lot of light so if growing indoors make sure your Coriander is positioned on a south facing windowsill. A minimum of 4 hours sunshine a day is recommended.
Coriander will also do better in warm spots (it originated from the Mediterranean or Asia).
Soil type
The soil should be well drained and have good aeration. If planting in containers, ensure that sufficient drainage aiding materials, such as broken pots and/or coarse gravel, are in the base of the container.
Tending
A liquid fertiliser can be applied to the soil every few weeks to promote growth.
A shock to the plants system, such as lack of water, a significant drop in temperature, will cause Coriander to bolt (start producing seed). This process of bolting is a natural ‘survival’ process. If growing outside fluctuations in temperature can be reduced by growing under glass, in the greenhouse, cloche, or poly tunnel.
- Do not overwater Coriander as it does not like its roots to stand in water.
Harvesting
You can start to harvest the leaves after the plant has reached 10cm in height. Harvest mature leaves to encourage further growth.
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