Eating Garden

How to Grow Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

A cool-weather herb with fresh leaves called cilantro and dried seeds called coriander.

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At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Easy

    1 of 5 · More shovels, more care

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

    6 hours a day

  • Water

    Average thirst

  • First harvest

    45 to 80 days

    from sowing

  • Growing in a pot

    Suitable for pots

  • Plant spacing

    3 to 6 in apart

More about this plant

Cilantro grows quickly in cool weather and flowers quickly in heat. Sow small batches every few weeks, keep the soil evenly moist and start picking once the plants are about 6 inches tall.

  • Grows for one season.
  • Can grow in raised beds, the open ground.
  • Fine in a small space.
  • A good one to grow together with children.
  • Ready to pick quickly.

Make it your plan

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What are you starting with?
Where will it grow?

Your plan, starting Nov 10, 2026

Estimated harvest: Dec 25, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027. Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Estimated first harvest

Dec 25, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027

Counted from sowing. Variety, plant age, weather, and care can change this estimate.

Start picking when plants are about 6 inches tall and have plenty of fresh leaves. Flowering means the leafy harvest is nearing its end.

Cool spring or fall weather. In warm regions, cilantro is often easiest in fall and winter. Hot, long days make it flower quickly.

First, gather a few things

  • Cilantro seeds
  • A draining pot with room for the roots
  • Potting mix that drains well
  • A watering can or hose

Get ready

Do these before you put the plant or seeds in place.

  1. Start here

    1. Choose a cool growing window

    Plant in spring or fall when the weather is mild. In warm regions, fall and winter are often easier.

Start or plant it

Follow the steps for the way you chose to start.

  1. 1. Sow where it will grow

    Plant seeds a quarter to half an inch deep. Cilantro grows quickly, so direct sowing keeps the process simple.

Water

Check the soil first. Heat, rain, and pots can change how often this plant needs water.

  1. 1. Check before you water

    Push a finger about 1 inch into the soil. Water when it feels dry there.

  2. 2. Water the roots

    Water slowly at the base until the soil feels moist a few inches down. For a pot, water until a little runs out of the drainage holes.

    Keep the soil evenly moist. In a garden bed, one deep watering a week is a useful starting point, adjusted for rain and heat.

Need help judging moisture? Read how to check the soil and water the roots.

While it grows

Check on your plant and do these jobs as they come up.

  1. 1. Thin crowded seedlings

    Leave about 3 to 6 inches between plants so air and light reach the leaves.

  2. 2. Sow another small batchOptional

    Repeat every 2 to 3 weeks for a steadier supply before hot weather makes the plants flower.

Looking after it

  • ThinningThin seedlings to 4 in apartCrowded seedlings stay small. Pull the weaker ones and keep the strongest.
  • PollinationIf you let cilantro flower, its small pale flowers feed visiting pollinators before the coriander seeds form.

Pick and store it

Use the plant's signs of readiness, then harvest gently.

  1. 1. Check if it is ready

    Start picking when plants are about 6 inches tall and have plenty of fresh leaves. Flowering means the leafy harvest is nearing its end.

  2. 2. Pick it

    Snip the older outer leaves and stems as needed. You can also cut a whole plant about an inch above the ground for a possible second flush.

  3. 3. Keep it fresh

    Refrigerate cut leaves for about a week, or stand the stems like a bouquet in water in the refrigerator. Freeze extra leaves because drying removes much of their flavor.

More picking tips

  1. 1. Pick at about 6 inches tall

    Snip older outer leaves first and leave the center to keep growing.

Common problems

    Common mistakes

    • Planting during hot weather

      Heat and long days push cilantro into flowering quickly, leaving less time for leafy harvests.

    • Sowing only once

      One planting can flower before you are ready. Sow a small new batch every few weeks.

    • Keeping the soil soggy

      Cilantro likes steady moisture, but its roots still need air and drainage.

    Companion plants for cilantro

    Some of this is measured in trials and some is long-standing garden practice. Each note below says which it is.

    Good together

    Extension programs recommend this pairing:

    • BasilCoriander (cilantro) has sometimes been found to deter pest insects when grown among basil.Recommended by extension programs
    • ParsleyCoriander (cilantro) has sometimes been found to deter pest insects when grown among parsley.Recommended by extension programs
    How to choose companion plants

    Questions about cilantro

    Tap a question to see the answer.

    Will cilantro grow where I live?

    Cool spring or fall weather. In warm regions, cilantro is often easiest in fall and winter. Hot, long days make it flower quickly.

    • LightFull sunAbout 6 hours of direct sun a day.
    • ShadeCopes with a little shade
    • SeasonA cool season cropUsually grown in spring or fall.
    • FrostFrost kills it
    • HeatStruggles in heat

    What soil is best for cilantro?

    • Soil pH6.0 to 7.5A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
    • DrainageWants well drained ground
    • RichnessAverage ground is fine

    Use rich soil that drains freely. Compost can help sandy soil hold moisture without making it soggy.

    Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. A soil test can show whether the bed needs anything else.

    Before changing your soil, learn how to test soil acidity and understand the result.

    When and how deep do I plant cilantro?

    When to plant

    Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

    • Sow outdoors 0 to 2 weeks after your last spring frostSow in early spring after the danger of a hard freeze has passed. Sow again in cooler fall weather where the season allows.
    • Ready to pick about 45 to 80 days from sowing.
    • For a steady supply, sow a few more every 18 days.

    What you need

    • How to start itFrom seedYou can sow it straight into the ground.
    • How deep to plant0.25 to 0.5 in
      Planting depth: 0.25 to 0.5 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
    • How far apart3 to 6 inLeave 12 in between rows.
      Leave 3 to 6 in between plants and 12 in between rows. View from above; drawing is not to scale.

    What happens to cilantro through the year?

    Measured from your last spring frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

    1. Sow outdoors

      0 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost

    How do I give cilantro a better start?

    Simple ways to help your cilantro grow, from the soil up.

    • Start with good soil

      Use rich soil that drains freely. Compost can help sandy soil hold moisture without making it soggy.

    • Make room to grow

      Thin seedlings to 4 inches apart.

    • Help with pollination

      If you let cilantro flower, its small pale flowers feed visiting pollinators before the coriander seeds form.

    Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. A soil test can show whether the bed needs anything else.

    Why did my cilantro flower so quickly?

    Heat and longer days make cilantro bolt. Sow again in cooler weather, or let this plant finish and collect coriander seeds.

    Can cilantro grow in part shade?

    Yes. Full sun is best in cool weather, but very light shade can help where afternoons are hot.

    When can I start picking cilantro?

    Begin when plants are about 6 inches tall. Take older outer leaves and stems as you need them.

    Is coriander a different plant?

    No. Cilantro is the leafy part of the plant. Its mature dried seeds are called coriander.

    Quick answers about cilantro

    One question each, answered first, with the source named.

    Helpful gardening guides

    Dig into the next thing you need, from starting a garden to getting watering right.

    Starting your first garden? Choose your space and get it ready, then plan local planting times.

    Browse all gardening guides

    Also filed under: Herbs

    Where this came from

    Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

    Sources & review dates
    Light and weather
    North Carolina State University Extension, Coriandrum sativum · checked 2026-09-15
    University of Minnesota Extension, Growing herbs in home gardens · checked 2026-09-15 · Six-hour general herb light minimum
    Timing
    University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, Cilantro / Coriander, Coriandrum sativum · checked 2026-09-15
    University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting · checked 2026-09-24 · Where frost is rare, cool-season crops are timed to months averaging 55°F to 75°F.
    Looking after it
    University of Florida IFAS Extension, Cilantro · checked 2026-09-15 · Succession sowing and bolting
    Questions people ask
    University of Florida IFAS Extension, Cilantro · checked 2026-09-15
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