Growing Coriander, also Cilantro, Chinese parsley

Coriandrum sativum : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Coriander in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: Thin to 18 inches
  • Harvest in 30-45 days.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dill, Chervil, Anise, Cabbages, Carrots
  • Avoid growing close to: Fennel
  • Coriander/Cilantro
  • Coriander flowers

Broadcast sow and thin to 45 cm apart. Grows to about 60 cm.

Harvest 30 - 45 days

A half-hardy herb with feathery leaves.

Grows more reliably from seeds as coriander is liable to bolt to flower and seed when seedlings are transplanted.

Coriander is frost tender but it doesn't like extreme heat. So in temperate zones grow coriander during summer, in sub-tropical/tropical zones grow it during the cooler season.

Needs a sunny spot and mulch to prevent drying out. Keep very well watered. If they dry out, then they will bolt to seed. Plant in successions (planting new seed every few weeks) to get a continuous supply.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Coriander

Use the leaves to flavour hot meals or add fresh to salads.
The seeds can be dried and ground up for curries.

Your comments and tips

29 May 24, Kishinchand (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi, i used to plant,coriander and parsely well. But now i tried to plant since one year but nothing is growing .so please help me what is the easy way to plant them? so may be how to lmprove the soil ,what to use
17 Oct 23, Vaughn (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You say that harvest is in 30 to 45 days….is that from seed or from germination?
22 Nov 23, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Probably from germination - you will work it out.
07 Apr 23, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
This would interest any gardeners in PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. After repeated attempts of transplanting coriander in the spring and watching it slowly grow to a small growth then just bolt to seed. After hearing a quick excerpt from the Garden Gurus show last year recommending the autumn period (April-May)....the success was evident. I had a massive crop just with 3 plants....Hope this helps and....plant now!
06 May 23, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Good advice for my area as well -- thanks
19 Apr 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Coriander does not like being transplanted and handled much. Yes it bolts to seed quick so grow it in the autumn winter.
13 Jan 23, Kishinchand Chellaram (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi , which is the month to put the corinder seeds in the ground to grow, becauce i put the seeds last 3 months , nothing is seen planted
23 Jan 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
Try the autumn months. Hard to grow things in summer in Temperate and Tropical
24 Sep 21, chau vinh (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Is coriander perennial in zone 7a ?
28 Sep 21, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I don't think it's perennial anywhere but if left to go to seed it will self-sow and regrow so long as the seed doesn't freeze.
Showing 1 - 10 of 167 comments

I've tried coriander numerous times in pots and it always dies off. For some reason, I ended up putting coriender seedlings straight into the garden in about May, and now I have coriander 'trees', one two feet high! All my friends are swapping for other plants. I have no idea what to use them for! Mine have morning sun which fades about 2pm. They're in a clay soil, and I surround them with mulch. Goodluck!

- Kandy

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