How to Grow Coriander from Seed

Coriander grown from seeds provides fluffy, leafy plants.

The parsley family provides gardeners with the aromatic coriander, also called cilantro, an annual herb. Often Indian recipes refer to the seeds or leaves as coriander, while Mexican recipes call the leaves cilantro. You can eat the leaves raw or cooked, and the seeds ground or whole in cooked recipes. Chinese parsley is another synonym. The mature herb can grow to 2 feet tall.

Things You'll Need

• Pots
• Gravel
• Potting soil, compost
• Liquid fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant coriander seeds in full or partial sunlight -- plants need at least four hours of bright light per day -- or on a south-facing window if grown indoors. An outdoor site should have good soil aeration and drainage. Add coarse gravel to the base of a container at least 6 inches deep to aid drainage.

2. Wait for outdoor sowing until the soil warms up. Sow seeds in holes around ½ inch deep, each seed 2 inches apart. Cover with a high-quality soil or mix of soil and compost. Space rows 1 ½ feet apart. Seeds germinate in several days to two weeks. When seedlings are about 2 to 4 inches high, thin to four inches apart.

3. Apply liquid fertilizer to the soil every two to three weeks to promote growth.

4. Harvest the herb after the plant is 4 inches tall. Pick mature leaves to encourage further plant growth.

Tips & Warnings

• Be cautious in transplanting the herb as it is sensitive, which can cause root shock.

References

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Plant Cilantro in Summer and Get Coriander Seeds
• Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension: Cilantro