Growing Cilantro
Plan for leaves, flowers or coriander seed
A cilantro planting changes character quickly. Tender leaves give way to tall flower stems; later, the same plant supplies coriander seed. Decide which harvest you want before judging the planting a success.
Sow for more than one harvest window
Heat encourages bolting. Light afternoon shade can help, but it does not stop the plant's life cycle. Maryland Extension suggests sowing small batches every two to three weeks and thinning to 7–10 inches. Treat that interval as a starting experiment, then adjust it to your weather and kitchen use.
Let some plants finish
Pick leaves while plants are leafy. If you want coriander, leave a separate group to flower and mature; gather seed when the heads brown. Do not expect one plant to supply unlimited leaves and a full seed harvest simultaneously.
Compare successive sowings
Record each sowing date, the first usable leaves and the start of flowering. A short leaf-harvest window in hot weather is a timing observation, not proof that you need more fertilizer.
Sources and next steps
University of Maryland Extension: Cilantro supports the growing guidance. Regional timing and cultivar behavior vary; the profile above comes from our curated herb data. Reviewed September 23, 2026.
- Record a cilantro observation and include the herb name in your note.
- Compare the herb guides before grouping plants by care needs.
- Understand soil drainage.