A quick answer from the garden notebook
How Often to Water Cilantro
By David Choi · Updated · How we source and review advice
Short answer
Water cilantro so the soil stays evenly moist, never soggy and never bone dry. In a garden bed, one deep watering a week is a good starting point, more in heat and less after rain. A pot dries out faster, so check it every day or two and water when the top half inch of soil feels dry.
Garden beds
University of Minnesota Extension says to water garden herbs deeply once a week, soaking the soil about eight inches down. Deep, less frequent watering sends roots down and keeps the plant steady on hot days. University of Wisconsin Extension says to keep cilantro evenly moist through the growing season.
Pots and planters
Soil in a pot dries from all sides. Minnesota Extension suggests watering potted herbs when the soil is dry half an inch below the surface. Push a finger in to check. In hot or windy weather that can mean watering every day.
Drainage matters as much as water
Cilantro likes moist soil with good drainage, according to North Carolina State Extension. Soggy ground starves the roots of air. Use a pot with a drainage hole and avoid heavy, waterlogged beds.
When to water less
If you are letting the plants flower to collect coriander seed, Wisconsin Extension says to reduce watering as the seeds near maturity.
Wilting at midday in hot weather does not always mean dry soil. Check the soil first. Wet soil and dry soil can both make a plant droop.
Sources
- Growing herbs in home gardens (University of Minnesota Extension)
- Cilantro / Coriander, Coriandrum sativum (University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 Long Does Cilantro Take to Grow?
Cilantro leaves are ready in 45 to 80 days from sowing, and you can start picking once plants are 6 inches tall.
- 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.
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