How to Grow a Cilantro Plant

The pungent leaves of the cilantro plant are used to flavor many delicious dishes.

Cilantro is an annual herb with pungent, feathery leaves that are often used as a garnish or in Mexican or Asian dishes. The seeds, known as coriander, are also used to season a number of tasty dishes. Cilantro is a hardy plant that, once established, requires very little care. Plant cilantro seeds directly into the soil in spring.

Things You'll Need

• Tiller or spade
• Compost or manure
• Ciliantro seeds
• Garden hose
• High nitrogen granular fertilizer
• Organic much
• Hoe

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil ahead of time. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot, and use a tiller or spade to cultivate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Add 2 to 4 inches of compost or manure and work it into the soil.

2. Plant cilantro in rows at least 15 inches apart. Space the cilantro seeds 2 inches apart, and cover the seeds with 1/2 inch of soil.

3. Water the cilantro seeds immediately, using a fine spray to avoid washing away the seeds. Keep the soil damp at all times until the plants are established. After that time, water only occasionally during hot, dry weather, as cilantro doesn't do well in wet soil.

4. Fertilize cilantro once in spring and once in mid-summer, using a high-nitrogen granular fertilizer such as 34-0-0 or 21-0-0. Apply about 1/4 cup of fertilizer for every 25 square feet of planting area, according to Utah State University Extension.

5. Spread 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark or dry grass around the cilantro plants to control weeds. Remove weeds often by cultivating the top of the soil with the corner of a hoe.

References

• Utah State University: Cilantro/Coriander in the Garden
• University of Missouri: Growing Herbs at Home