How to grow Cilantro
Updated October 2026
Cilantro is a fast, cool season annual herb grown for its bright, citrusy leaves, a staple of Latin American and Southeast Asian cooking. The same plant gives coriander seed once it flowers in warm weather, and the roots are used in Thai curries. Its one challenge is bolting: long, warm days send it quickly to flower, so sow small batches often in the cool months.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Cilantro in Florida
Not to be confused with: Culantro (Eryngium foetidum), also called recao or sawtooth coriander, is a different, heat tolerant plant with a similar but stronger flavor.
Where to plant
Cilantro grows best in cool weather, in full sun to light shade and rich, moist but well drained soil. It bolts easily in heat and long days, so afternoon shade helps late in the season. NC State notes it can become weedy outside cultivation if left to drop seed.
In Florida, UF/IFAS says it is best grown in fall and winter, and the same applies across the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California. In the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, sow in early spring and again from mid August, as midsummer heat stops germination and makes young plants bolt. Across the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, sow from spring into early summer and again in late summer for fall.
Choosing a variety
Slow bolting varieties such as Santo give a longer leaf harvest. For seed, any variety will do. Where summers are too hot for cilantro, grow culantro, which tolerates heat and humidity.
How to plant
- Sow seed directly, about a quarter to half an inch (6 to 12 mm) deep, or set out young transplants.
- Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear.
- Thin to about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) apart.
- Sow a few seeds every two to three weeks for a steady supply, as each sowing bolts within weeks in warm weather.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist, as dry soil and stress speed up bolting. Mulch helps keep the roots cool.
Cilantro needs little feeding in a bed dug with compost.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pick regularly from the outside of the plant to delay flowering.
- Once plants bolt, the leaves turn finer and less flavorful. Let some plants flower: the small white to pink umbels draw pollinators, and the seed gives you coriander.
- Pull spent plants before they drop seed if you do not want volunteers.
Harvesting
Cut leaves once plants are about 6 inches (15 cm) tall and keep cutting until the plant dies back. Use them fresh.
For coriander seed, wait about three months after planting until the seed heads turn brown, then cut them, let them dry, rub out the seed and store it in a dry, tightly sealed container. The roots can be dug and used in curries and pastes.
Growing in pots
Cilantro grows well in a pot at least 6 inches (15 cm) wide and fairly deep for its taproot. Sow directly in the pot and keep it evenly moist, with some afternoon shade in warm weather.
Companion planting
Cilantro suits a cool season bed of leafy crops.
Good companions
- Spinach Shares the same cool season and moist soil.
- Dill A related herb with the same season; both flower for beneficial insects.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to cilantro.
- Fennel A relative that competes with and is thought to inhibit many plants, so grow it on its own.
Pests and diseases
Cilantro has few pest problems; bolting is the usual complaint.
Cilantro is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on leaves, mostly on older plants.
- Bacterial leaf spot Small water soaked spots that turn brown on leaves in wet weather; water at the base.
Common questions
Why does my cilantro bolt so fast?
Cilantro flowers as days lengthen and temperatures rise, and stress from dry soil speeds it up. Sow in cool weather, keep it moist, give afternoon shade late in the season and sow small batches every few weeks.
Are cilantro and coriander the same plant?
Yes. In the US, cilantro is the leaves and coriander is the seed of the same plant, Coriandrum sativum.
When should I plant cilantro in Florida?
In fall and winter. UF/IFAS notes it goes to seed quickly once days turn long and warm.
What can I grow instead of cilantro in summer?
Culantro, also called recao or sawtooth coriander, tolerates heat and humidity and has a similar, stronger flavor.
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
UF/IFAS notes recent studies point to compounds called fatty aldehydes, which some people perceive as soapy.
How do I harvest coriander seed?
Let some plants flower and set seed. About three months after planting, cut the brown seed heads, dry them, rub out the seeds and store them in a sealed container.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Cilantro; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Coriandrum sativum.
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