Cilantro
Type: Annual
Description: It is very pungent and used a lot in hispanic cooking. the leaf has three ends and it soft.
When to plant: Spring/Fall
Level of difficulty: 1
How to plant: Cilantro is very easy to grow and a great addition to the kitchen!
- The “seeds” of cilantro are actually husks holding two cilantro seeds. We need to prepare the seeds to raise the chance of germination. To do this, you must gently crush the husks.
- Soak seeds in water for 24 to 48 hours and after you let them soak, remove them and allow them to dry.
- Prepare your pot by filling it up with light and airy potting soil/seed starter soil and leaving a ½ inch space at the top.
- Plant the seeds, and then cover them with a ¼ inch layer of soil.
- Leave on a window sill to grow until they become 2 inches tall.
- Let it get morning/and or afternoon sun. Keep it out of harsh sunlight, it needs to be in a COOL yet sunny place or else it will BOLT and go straight to seed. Keep it at a temperature of 70F or lower.
- When the plants become two inches tall, thin them to be about 3 inches apart. You need the leaves to shelter the roots in hot weather so the plant will not bolt.
- As the cilantro grows, prune it often to prevent bolting and extend it’s life.
- Once the cilantro finally bolts, leave the seeds on so it will grow again for you next year, or collect the seeds (coriander) and use them in cooking.
Tips/Facts/Uses:
- Prepared and dried seeds can last for months
- Seeds can be used in cooking or to regrow cilantro.
- Keep plant at 70F degrees or below or it will BOLT. Do not give it too much sunlight or it will BOLT. Do not let it grow too tall without pruning or it will BOLT. Do not keep on repotting or it will BOLT! Only repot from the starting pot ONCE or it will BOLT. Or if bringing the plant from a store only repot it ONCE! Cilantro will BOLT very easily! (Sorry I had to stress this heavily.)