A quick answer from the garden notebook
How Long Does Cilantro Take to Grow?
By David Choi · Updated · How we source and review advice
Short answer
Cilantro leaves are ready to pick about 45 to 80 days after sowing. You can start earlier, as soon as the plants are about 6 inches tall. Coriander seeds take about three months.
From seed to first picking
University of Wisconsin Extension gives 45 to 80 days for leaves. Cool weather and steady moisture put you at the fast end. University of Florida Extension says you can harvest once the plants reach 6 inches tall and keep picking until the plant dies. North Carolina State Extension rates cilantro's growth as rapid.
How long the harvest lasts
A cilantro plant does not last all season. Once hot weather arrives it bolts, flowers, and the leafy harvest ends. For a steady supply, Wisconsin Extension suggests sowing again every two to three weeks.
Coriander seed
If you let the plants flower, Florida Extension says to look for seeds about three months after planting. Reduce watering as the seeds ripen.
Pick the older outer leaves first and leave the center growing. The plant keeps producing longer that way.
Sources
- Cilantro / Coriander, Coriandrum sativum (University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension)
- Cilantro (University of Florida IFAS Extension)
- Coriandrum sativum (North Carolina State University Extension)
The full growing guide
Cilantro
A cool-weather herb with fresh leaves called cilantro and dried seeds called coriander.
- Harvest
- 45 to 80 days
- Effort
- Season
- Cool
More cilantro questions
- Does Cilantro Need Full Sun or Shade?
Cilantro grows best in full sun, but light afternoon shade helps it last longer in hot weather.
- How Far Apart to Plant Cilantro
Thin cilantro to 3 to 6 inches apart in rows about a foot apart. Give plants grown for seed 12 inches.
- How Often to Water Cilantro
Keep cilantro evenly moist. In a garden bed, one deep watering a week is a good start. Pots need checking more often.
- What Temperature Can Cilantro Tolerate?
Cilantro is a cool-season herb. It grows best in mild weather, dies in a hard freeze, and bolts in heat.
- When to Plant Cilantro
Sow cilantro in early spring and again in late summer. In hot places, grow it in fall and winter.
Your next useful step
- How to Start a Garden
A small, realistic plan for growing food in a yard, raised bed, patio, or balcony.
- Planting Calendar
How to read planting and harvest windows around your local frost dates before using a personalized calendar.