How to grow cilantro
Family Apiaceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun to part shade. Ready in 45-70 days.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
6-8 in
Days to harvest
45-70 days
Hardiness
Zone 3a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant cilantro
- Direct sow: ~-2 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for cilantro
Plant with: Spinach, Bean, Tomato.
Avoid near: Fennel.
Common pests & problems
Aphids. Bolts fast in heat: sow in shoulder seasons.
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options: Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When to feed: Feed the bed, not the plant. Carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for: Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Succession sow every 3 weeks. Let a plant bolt at the end. The seed is coriander.
When to plant cilantro in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for cilantro
Soil & pH
6.0-6.8
Deep, stone-free, sandy loam. One rock or fresh manure lump = one forked carrot.
Fork the bed 12 in deep. Only well-finished compost, never fresh manure or high N (causes hairy roots).
Watering
1 in / week; keep the top 1 in moist for the first 14 days
Fine sprinkle until germination, then deep drip. A burlap or board cover for the first 10 days keeps seed from drying out.
Carrots and parsnips crack when a dry spell is followed by a big soak. Keep the top 2 inches of soil just slightly damp for the whole season, not bone-dry then flooded.
Knowing when to harvest
- Cut outer stems at 6 in tall.
- Bolts in heat: harvest heavily as flower stalks emerge.
- Once bolted, let some plants set seed for coriander and self-sowing.
Storing & keeping
Stems in water on counter, or wrapped damp in the crisper for 1 week. Freeze in cubes with olive oil.
What to expect
Per plant: 3-6 oz over 3-4 weeks before bolt
Troubleshooting cilantro
Fast bolting
Likely cause: Long days + heat
What to do: Succession sow every 3 weeks; plant slow-bolt varieties; provide afternoon shade.
Plants bolt to seed within three weeks of sprouting
Likely cause: Long days and soil above roughly 75°F trigger flowering
What to do: Sow every 2-3 weeks, give afternoon shade, and choose slow-bolting cultivars. Let one planting flower for coriander seed and for the beneficial insects it draws.
Lower leaves develop tan spots with dark margins
Likely cause: Bacterial leaf spot, spread by overhead watering and infected seed
What to do: Water at the base, thin for airflow, and remove affected plants. Buy seed from suppliers that test for the pathogen.
Varieties worth growing
Calypso
Slowest bolt in trials.
Santo
Standard cilantro, good flavor.
Growing cilantro in containers
8 in deep pot; succession sow every 3 weeks.
Nutrition
Beta-carotene, vitamin K, luteolin (parsley). A nutrient bargain per square foot.
Common questions
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
A genetic variant (OR6A2) makes aldehydes in cilantro register as soap. Not a fixable growing problem.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.