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

Your comments and tips

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22 Nov 12, Pearl (Australia - temperate climate)
I love coriander but have no clue on how to extract the seeds! Mine are flowering now and are turning from pink to pinkish brown. Do I have to wait until the flowers are dried out before trimming them off, or can I trim now and dry it out on a bench somewhere? Then do I just shake the dried flowers for the seeds? I buy coriander seedlings from Bunnings all the time to replant, but prefer to grow from my own seeds. Thank you.
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11 Mar 13, Crusty (Australia - temperate climate)
Wait - the seeds will come. The green seeds are good to cook with. Just leave them on the plant and they will dry and you can use them for planting or cooking.
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24 Jun 12, Erin (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just planted full grown coriander plants with roots(from herb section in supermarket) in a pot Will they stay alive like shallots do ?, I always plant these and they last for months I await your input Thanks
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29 Jun 12, Justine (Australia - temperate climate)
Usually, any seedling (or potted, in your case) coriander you plant will bolt to seed, it hates being transplanted. It is easy, and cheaper to buy a few packets of seeds, even from the cheapy $2 shops, and plant these instead. Just sprinkle on TOP of soil and press into soil lightly.... they like light to germinate. Keep moist and weed free. Once they grow, let them go to seed and you should have a constant source of coriander!
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30 Apr 12, Nancy ortiga (Australia - tropical climate)
What is the germination time for cilantro? Can we grow them at 35deg C?
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21 Apr 12, jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
i planted my coriander a month ago and it hasn't seeded yet. the tallest one is about 3 inches and none of them have very many leaves. The seeds where a 1.50$ pack from the reject shop. there's about 15 plants in 1 small pot and i keep it on my window sill where it get very little sun. not sure what to make of it, I'm going to try planting some more outside in the shade and see if they turn out better.
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02 Apr 12, Ken Shearing (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When you say "avoid growing with...." does that apply to 1.planting with or alongside, 2. planting in close proximity, or 3. can be separated by growing in individual pots?
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11 Mar 13, Crusty (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been told that parsley will steal nutrients away from other plants. In my experience this seems to happen with coriander.
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03 Apr 12, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It means do not plant in the same garden bed if possible.
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25 Mar 12, Ged Roberts (Australia - temperate climate)
Try growing mexican corriander also known as sawtooth corriander (Eryngium foetidum). This grows much better in the heat of the tropics or subtropics and has a very similar taste to the corriander you buy in the shops. Mexican corriander will grow well in shade or partial shade which is where I grow it.
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Showing 101 - 110 of 167 comments
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Hi Susan, Coriander like most of the herbs particularly the leafy ones do best on a complete fertilizer, but one high in nitrogen. I use the popular Tropic or CK88 granular fertilizer for beds and a soluble one like Aquasol. In fact you can expect to see a positive response from a deficient plant well within a week using a good soluble complete fertilizer; .as soon as deficiency symptoms start to appear I would water the plants weekly with the soluble fertiliser. Deficiency symptoms in coriander are very obvious from yellowing to even reddish leaves in severe cases. There are definitely different types/ cultivars of coriander, depending on the seed source. There are also two distinct types the more leafy cilantro type and the quicker seeders type coriander. However both go to seed/bolt easily in the warmer weather. I always continuously plant, from weekly in summer to monthly in winter to maintain a continuous supply of lovely leaves without flowers. Plants in partial shade tend to grow taller with thinner stems. Interplanting with other herbs or close planting usually negates the need fro supports. Of course the best way to overcome need fro support id to harvest regularly, which coriander loves. Hope this helps. John Bee Master Gardener.

- John Bee

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