Cilantro plant, with the scientific name Coriandrum sativum and also known as coriander, Chinese parsley, or Dania, is a plant native to the regions of southern Europe and northern Africa. Learn all about how to grow cilantro from seed in this article.
It is an annual herb between 16” – 24” (40 – 60 cm) high, typical of temperate climates. Being of little demanding culture, its use is very extended and is very valued by its culinary, aromatic, and even medicinal properties.
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Health Properties and Uses of Cilantro
The fruits of the cilantro are widely used in the gastronomy of many countries, and the leaves are used in the elaboration of chutney, green sauce, and guacamole, besides many other recipes.
Cilantro also stands out for its proven medicinal properties. Among the properties of cilantro for health and its uses, it stands out that it is a plant with digestive, stimulating, bactericidal, and antispasmodic properties. Also, its bactericidal effect makes it useful to combat problems of bad breath if you chew its leaves, and the juice of the soft parts of the plant can be used as a natural body deodorant.
Cilantro tea helps reduce cholesterol levels, and cilantro juice can be applied to wounds because of its bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.
How to Grow Cilantro from Seed – Step by Step
You can sow it directly outdoors, but since it is a plant that cannot stand frost or very intense heat, it is recommended to sow it in a pot indoors if you are not sure if your climate is suitable.
To choose the time of sowing of the cilantro, outside it is recommended to sow in spring for moderate climates, and in autumn in very warm climates. Indoors, you’ll plant at any time of the year if you set the pot within the right place.
1- Prepare a pot with a generic substrate and about 10” (25 cm) deep. The important thing is that the mixture has good drainage, and you can add some fertilizer if you want to make sure your cilantro seeds grow well. Moisten the soil with water so that it does not become waterlogged, and drop the seeds by spreading them gently, and then cover them with a thin layer of a substrate.
2- Place the pot in a bright area, where it receives a good contribution of natural light. If you live in a very hot climate, keep it away from windows during the hottest hours, but let it receive the sun the rest of the time. Keep the soil humid too, but always without exceeding and spraying the water gently so as not to move the seeds or the seedlings. In about ten days your seeds will have germinated.
3- Keep watering properly and giving the plant enough sunlight. The growing process of cilantro is not complicated and does not need extra care, so you should have your plants soon, which you can harvest to consume yourself in their very different forms.
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How to Grow Cilantro from Seed: Care
Cilantro is an annual plant, so its growth is fast and once it is harvested, there is nothing left but to prepare the next planting. For this reason, it does not require great care or details to be taken into account. Nevertheless, here is a reminder of the most important points to remember about growing cilantro at home
Cilantro Light Requeriments
Cilantro requires a lot of natural light. If you live in a temperate zone, you can expose it to direct sunlight all day long without any problem. In warmer or tropical climates, however, you should not expose it to the hottest and hardest hours.
Watering Cilantro
This plant is grateful to have wet soil, but waterlogging will make it sick or suffer attacks. Always water by spraying water on the soil, and do not let the substrate become waterlogged. If the pot has a plate underneath, remove excess water from the pot after watering. Learn more about how to grow cilantro in water.
How to Grow Cilantro from Seed: Fertilizer
You can fertilize your cilantro with manure, but avoid nitrogen or manure-rich fertilizers.
How to Grow Cilantro from Seed: Repotting
It is possible to plant your cilantro in a pot indoors and transplant it later to the garden, but this is a practice that some people advise against. Being a small, annual plant, avoid transplanting it unless it is necessary.
How to Cut Cilantro Plant
When cutting the cilantro stem, be sure to use sharp, clean scissors. Leave some leaves on the stem intact so the plant can continue to generate food on its own.
