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Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
Care level: Easy
Coriander is a fast-growing annual herb that gives two crops from one plant: the fresh, lobed lower leaves, known as cilantro in the Americas, and the round, aromatic seeds used as a spice. As it matures it sends up a stem of fine, feathery leaves topped with flat heads of small white or pale purple flowers. It grows best in the cool weather of spring and autumn and runs to seed quickly in summer heat.
Full sun for seed; partial shade for the longest supply of leaves.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist. Dry soil triggers flowering.
Humidity
Not a factor for this herb.
Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil or a good potting compost.
Temperature
A hardy annual that grows best in the cool of spring and autumn and bolts in summer heat.
Size
30-60cm tall and 30-60cm wide.
Growth speed
Fast
?Pet safety not confirmed
As a precaution, keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Beginner tip
Sow a short row or a pot every three to four weeks instead of one big batch. Each plant gives leaves for only a few weeks before it flowers, so regular small sowings are the only way to have fresh leaves all season.
Care by Season
Spring
Sow outdoors or in pots and repeat every three to four weeks. Pick leaves as soon as the plants are big enough.
Summer
Plants bolt quickly in heat. Sow in light shade, keep watered, and let some plants flower for seed.
Autumn
Collect the brown, ripe seed. Autumn sowings give a good late crop of leaves.
Winter
Nothing to do outdoors. A pot on a bright windowsill gives a small supply of leaves.
Growing & Maintenance
Planting
Sow thinly where the plants are to grow, in fertile, well-drained soil, or in modules for planting out with as little root disturbance as possible. Repeat every three to four weeks.
Pruning
None is needed. Regular picking keeps the plants leafy a little longer.
Propagation
By seed. The plant self-seeds freely if flower heads are left to ripen.
Pests & Diseases
Common problems
Flowering before giving many leaves
Most likely cause: Heat, dry soil or long summer days.
What to do: Sow in spring and autumn, water regularly and grow leaf crops in light shade.
Thin, feathery leaves instead of broad ones
Most likely cause: The plant is about to flower.
What to do: Pick what you can and sow again.
Shop-bought pot collapsing
Most likely cause: Far too many seedlings crowded in one pot.
What to do: Split the clump into a few larger pots, or sow your own thinly.
Yellowing leaves
Most likely cause: Dry or exhausted compost.
What to do: Water regularly and start a new pot.
Seedlings appearing all around
Most likely cause: Self-seeding.
What to do: Cut the seed heads before they shed, or leave the seedlings as a free crop.
Pests & Diseases
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of small insects on the stems and flower heads.
Treatment: Rinse them off with water; the flowers themselves attract the hoverflies that feed on them.
Powdery mildew
Signs: A white, powdery coating on the leaves, usually on older plants in dry weather.
Treatment: Keep the soil moist and replace old plants with a fresh sowing.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings eaten off overnight.
Treatment: Protect young plants and pick the slugs off after dark.
FAQ
Why does my coriander flower so fast?
Coriander bolts in response to heat, drought and long days. Grow it in spring and autumn rather than midsummer, keep the soil moist, give leaf crops a little shade, and choose a variety bred to be slow to flower.
Should I grow coriander in sun or shade?
It depends on what you want. Full sun is best for seed. For leaves, partial shade is more productive, because the plants stay leafy for longer.
How do I harvest coriander?
Pick the outer leaves as needed once the plant is about 10-15cm tall, or cut whole stems near the base. For seed, let the plant flower, wait until the seed heads turn brown, then cut them and dry them in a paper bag.
Can I grow coriander in a pot?
Yes. Sow thinly in a deep pot of good compost, keep it watered and stand it in a bright spot out of the hottest sun. Supermarket pots are sown far too thickly and exhaust themselves in a couple of weeks.
Does coriander come back each year?
The plant is an annual and dies after setting seed, but it self-seeds readily, so seedlings often appear nearby the following year.
Are the flowers and roots usable?
Yes. The flowers are edible and attract hoverflies and other beneficial insects, and the roots are used in some Asian cooking. The green, unripe seeds have a flavour between leaf and spice.
