How to Grow Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
Cool-season herb that gives leaves (cilantro) and seeds (coriander) from one plant.
About cilantro
Cilantro is a fast cool-season herb that bolts quickly in heat, so it’s best grown in spring and fall and sown in succession. The leaves are cilantro; let the same plant flower and set seed and you get coriander. It’s easy from seed but resents transplanting, so sow it where it will grow.
When to plant and harvest cilantro
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
Not recommended — it dislikes transplanting
Transplant outdoors
Direct-sow
Direct sow
2–3 weeks before last frost, succession-sow; again in fall
Harvest
Spring and fall
How to grow cilantro step by step
- 1
Direct-sow ½ in deep where the plant will grow; it resents root disturbance.
- 2
Succession-sow every 2–3 weeks — it bolts fast, so a steady supply means repeat sowing.
- 3
Give afternoon shade in warm weather to slow bolting.
- 4
Harvest outer leaves; let some plants flower and set seed for coriander.
Common problems growing cilantro
⚠ Rapid bolting
Heat and long days trigger flowering quickly — grow in cool seasons and succession-sow.
⚠ Sparse, leggy plants
Crowding or heat; thin and grow in cooler weather.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting cilantro
Snip outer leaves once plants are 4–6 in tall, taking no more than a third at a time. When it bolts, let flowers form and harvest the dry seed heads as coriander.
Cilantro: frequently asked questions
Why does my cilantro bolt so fast?＋
Heat and lengthening days. Grow it in spring and fall, give afternoon shade, and sow a fresh batch every couple of weeks.
Is cilantro the same as coriander?＋
Same plant — cilantro is the leaf, coriander is the dried seed. Let a plant flower and it produces coriander.
Grow cilantro in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside cilantro, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
