Coriander Seeds (Cilantro)
Whether you call it Coriander (UK) or Cilantro (US), this is the herb that defines Mexican tacos, Indian curries, and Thai stir-fries. It produces lush, bright green leaves with a distinct, citrusy-parsley flavour that simply cannot be replicated by dried herbs.
This is a true "two-for-one" plant. In the cool of spring and autumn, you harvest the fresh leaves. As the heat rises, the plant produces delicate white flowers (loved by pollinators) which turn into round, aromatic seeds. These can be harvested and ground to create the warm, nutty Coriander spice used in baking and curry pastes.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Coriander is a Hardy Annual.
It grows fast and dies young. It has a natural instinct to "bolt" (flower and set seed) as soon as the weather gets hot or the days get long.
The "Succession" Rule: Do not sow the whole packet at once! To have a constant supply of leaves, you must sow a small batch every 3-4 weeks. If you sow once in May, you will have no leaves left by July.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Coriander hates root disturbance. Never buy it as a supermarket pot plant; grow it from seed!
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from March to September. Scatter seeds into a drill and cover with 1cm of soil. Germination takes 7-14 days. You can also grow it indoors on a windowsill year-round.
Where to Sow:
It likes sun or partial shade. In the height of summer, grow it in a shady spot to stop it bolting too quickly. It loves well-drained, light soil.
Care While Growing:
Watering: Keep it moist. If it dries out, it panics and runs to seed immediately.
Harvesting: Pick the outer leaves first, allowing the centre to keep growing.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Coriandrum sativum |
| Common Name | Coriander / Cilantro / Chinese Parsley |
| Hardiness | H4 (Hardy Annual - tolerates light frost) |
| Light Required | Sun or Partial Shade ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 45cm - 60cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 20cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 20cm apart (or bunch closer for leaf harvest) |
| Great for | 🌮 Mexican & Asian Food 🍛 Curries 🐝 Pollinators 🏺 Window Boxes |
| Seed Count | Approx. 100 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Coriander is a sociable herb that helps protect its neighbours:
- 🍅 Tomatoes: The Salsa Bed. Grow Coriander at the base of your tomato plants. The strong scent of the herb can help deter aphids and spider mites, and you can harvest both ingredients for salsa at the same time.
- 🌶️ Chilli Peppers: The Curry Bed. Similar to tomatoes, Chillies love the company of Coriander. The white umbrella flowers of the herb attract hoverflies, which eat the pests that attack peppers.
📅 Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Sow little and often (Mar-Sept) for continuous leaves.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||
| Harvest Leaf | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ |
⚠️ The "Soap" Gene
Did you know about 10% of people have a gene that makes fresh Coriander taste like soap? If you are one of them, you can still harvest the seeds (Coriander Spice)—they taste warm and nutty, not soapy!
🏆 Edible Flowers
Don't just eat the leaves! The delicate white umbrella flowers are edible too. They have a strong coriander flavour and look beautiful garnished over a spicy curry.
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