Coriander / Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum • Apiaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Herb
🌍 Origin Region
Southern Europe, North Africa, and Southwestern Asia
📅 Days to Maturity
50 to 55 days for leaf harvest (cilantro), and about 100 days for seed harvest (coriander).
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 11, grown primarily as a cool-season annual.
About This Seed
The seeds are small, round, ribbed schizocarps that have been commercially treated, giving them a distinct metallic teal-green coating. The resulting plant is an annual herb featuring finely divided lacy foliage, small white or pinkish-white umbel flowers, and aromatic leaves known as cilantro and seeds known as coriander.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Cool season crop, plant in early spring or fall, direct sow recommended
Germination
Germinates in 7 to 21 days at optimal soil temperatures of 55°F to 68°F. Seeds can benefit from gently cracking them in half before planting to speed up germination.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spaced 2 to 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Prefers rich, well-draining loamy soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade with about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; sensitive to drought which triggers premature bolting.
Companion Plants
Good companions include anise, potatoes, and spinach. Avoid planting near fennel.
Special Characteristics
Attracts beneficial pollinators like hoverflies and parasitic wasps, highly aromatic, bolts quickly in hot weather, leaves and seeds are both edible.