Growing Coriander, also Cilantro, Chinese parsley

Coriandrum sativum : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S S S S     S S S S S
T T T T T     T T T T T
P P P P P     P P P P P

(Best months for growing Coriander in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: Thin to 45 cm
  • Harvest in 30-45 days.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dill, Chervil, Anise, Cabbages, Carrots
  • Avoid growing close to: Fennel

Your comments and tips

24 Jan 20, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I never had any luck with this plant until I ignored recommendations to grow in sun. Once I grew in partial shade, it flourished and stopped bolting. It only likes full sun in cool weather. Also snails love it so I raise my pots off the ground.
17 Jan 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here, I suggest you use seedlings. Good friable sandy loam soil, not sand not clay. A light fertilising and my suggestion don't grow it in pots. If in pots PAY attention to it ever day.
16 Jun 20, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
I say do NOT start with seedlings. That is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with coriander. Transplanting shock often causes them to bolt to seed. Sow seed directly where it is to grow. Partial shade often helps in hotter climates. ( It says that here - www.gardenate.com/plant/Coriander?zone=2)
12 Jan 20, adam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had great success in 2019 with coriander in Adelaide. now mid of January I have 2 coriander plants ( already bolting) and they started giving me seeds. The STRANGE thing is both of them gave very weird looking seeds, the seeds look more like parsley seeds!! I am 100% sure they started as coriander so no chance I mixed the seeds up when planting. The other thing I should mention they grow very close to Parsely plants, so is it possible to be cross-pollinated? or is it a different variety of coriander? my plan is to harvest the seeds and plant them again and see what will grow! but I wish if someone can tell me what is going on.
13 Jan 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
I record what I plant - date, crop, variety, fertiliser I used etc. You could take the seeds to a nursery or try looking up on the net what different seeds look like. I purchased the thick stalked celery seedlings from Bunnings for 6 years and every time they grew into open heart, thin stalks, hollow inside, I believe they were Italian parsley. Have never grown them since. Maybe start with some new seeds.
02 Jan 20, Soniya Dahal (Australia - tropical climate)
How can I grow coriander in a pot in humid climate of Darwin??
04 Jan 20, anon (Australia - tropical climate)
Read the notes about when to plant and check them each day or two in a pot especially when the plant is mature. www.gardenate.com/plant/Coriander?zone=4
09 May 19, Vicki (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi hi are there any tips for growing coriander and parsley in our hot to cooler climate now? Thanks
21 May 19, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Plant in full sun in late autumn (now). If you plant when it is warm to hot you will get little plants that bolt to flower.
15 Dec 18, David Pritchard (Australia - temperate climate)
Instructions for growing coriander depend on whether you want to grow it for seed or to use the green foliage as a herb. Like most gardeners I just grow it for the green foliage - after all you can buy the seed in Continental / Middle Eastern grocery stores by the kg at a very reasonable price. And the greens picked fresh straight from the garden are delicious - better than from veggie shop. Space plants at 10 to 15 cm if you just want the greens - That's because you will be harvesting when the plants are around 20cm high. You can treat it as a cut-and-come-again crop to some extent. I find that in Sydney I can plant coriander seeds from late March right thru the winter till about October. I plant a small patch about once every 6 weeks during that time. It is at its most tender during cool to mild weather, and actually very easy to grow. Once your spring weather warms to max in the high 20s or more your coriander will quickly bolt to seed and be not worth eating. Unfortunately there are some Australian gardening books and seed packets that still advise the opposite - ie to plant thru summer which has resulted in very many garden failures, even with "slow bolt coriander" seeds. Btw seed direct, coriander doesn't transplant well.
Showing 11 - 20 of 136 comments

Melina we have been growing coriander for years. Like Jaci above, we just sprinkle the seeds in the garden,lightly cover them and keep the soil moist. Our crop has never failed. It does go to seed fairly quickly but all you have to do is collect the seeds and replant them. Give it a try, I'll be surprised if you are not successful.

- John

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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