A quick answer from the garden notebook
When to Plant Cilantro
By David Choi · Updated · How we source and review advice
Short answer
Sow cilantro seeds outdoors in early spring, around the time you would plant lettuce, once hard freezes are over. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop. In warm places with mild winters, plant in fall and winter instead, because long warm days make cilantro flower fast.
Spring: sow after the last hard freeze
University of Wisconsin Extension says to sow cilantro in early spring, at the same time lettuce is planted. Cilantro is a cool-season herb. It will not survive a hard freeze, so wait until that danger has passed. University of Minnesota Extension adds that herb seedlings go out after the frost danger has passed, once the soil stays at or above 50°F.
Fall: the second season
Cilantro bolts, or goes to seed, in hot weather. A late summer sowing gives you a second crop as the days cool. In Florida and other warm regions, University of Florida Extension says fall and winter are the best times, since cilantro flowers quickly when the days get long and warm.
Keep sowing every few weeks
One sowing lasts a few weeks before the plants bolt. Wisconsin Extension suggests sowing again every two to three weeks for a steady supply of leaves. Sow the seeds a quarter to half an inch deep.
Save your location on this site and the cilantro guide shows sowing dates built from your own local frost records.
Sources
- Cilantro / Coriander, Coriandrum sativum (University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension)
- Growing herbs in home gardens (University of Minnesota Extension)
- Cilantro (University of Florida IFAS 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.
- 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.
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.