Plant cilantro after frost, or as early as you would sow lettuce if the soil has begun to warm. Sow the seed where it will stay, and cover it only barely.
Sow after frost, barely covered, where it will stay
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After spring frost, or at lettuce time in early spring if the soil has begun to warm; sow again as nights cool in late summer | Sowing into frozen ground, or into the hottest stretch of midsummer if you still want a leaf crop |
| Depth | Barely cover the seed, about a quarter inch | Burying the seed a full inch down |
| Spacing | Thin seedlings to about 6 to 8 inches apart for a leaf crop | A tight knot with no air around the stems |
| Start | Direct sow where the plant will grow | Moving a seedling with a bent taproot |
Wait until the soil has begun to warm, then sow cilantro in a bed that already drains. [1] Cover the seed only barely, about a quarter inch. [2] The taproot does not like a move, so sow it where it will stay. [3] Sun and watering after planting are on How to Grow Cilantro.
When do I plant cilantro?
After spring frost, or at lettuce time in early spring if the soil has begun to warm. Sow it where it will stay. Sow again as nights cool in late summer.
How to plant cilantro
Sow after frost, barely covered, keep the seedbed moist until it sprouts, then thin to about 6 to 8 inches.
- Choose a bed of loam that drains. Mix grit into heavy clay so water does not sit on the roots.
- Sow after frost, or at lettuce time if nights are already mild. Barely cover the seed, about a quarter inch. Keep the seedbed moist until it sprouts.
- Thin when seedlings are a couple of inches tall so plants stand about 6 to 8 inches apart. [4]
- For a longer leaf harvest, sow a fresh row every two to three weeks while the weather stays cool. Skip the hottest midsummer stretch if leaf is the crop.
- Water once to settle. Water through the first weeks so the roots take hold, then follow How to Grow Cilantro.
How far apart do I plant cilantro?
Thin to about 6 to 8 inches apart, after frost, in the bed where the plant will stay.
What fails at planting
Moving a seedling with a long taproot is the main reason a transplant sulks. Do not bury the seed too deep, and do not sow a leaf crop into the hottest stretch of summer, when the plant rushes to flower before you have much to cut.
If you bent the taproot, sow a fresh row after frost, barely covered, and leave it where it is.
FAQ
Should I start cilantro indoors and transplant?
Usually no. The taproot hates a move. Sow outdoors where the plant will grow. If you start a pot indoors, move it while the seedling is still small and do not bend the root.
Can I grow cilantro from cuttings?
No. Sow seed. A cutting is not a reliable way to start this herb.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum/ - [2] Illinois Extension -
https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/cilantro - [3] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/the-cilantro-coriander-connection/ - [4] Oregon State University Extension -
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/how-grow-cilantro-leaves-or-coriander-seeds
This note is part of Coriandrum Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors