Plant your cilantro seeds indoors near a sunny kitchen window. (More light = better growth.) Sow seeds every inch, with rows (if you have ’em) 14 inches apart. Expect about two weeks for the seeds to germinate (aka sprout). Once they’re growing, thin your plants to 8 inches apart. You’ll need to keep these watered well, but don’t over water. Just keep an eye on the soil, or feel the weight of your container. (Watered soil is a lot heavier than dry soil.)
As your cilantro grows, pick leaves from the bottom of the plant (to use, and to encourage growth). It’s okay to pick some of the top, tender leaves too. They’ll have the best flavor -- just don’t pick them all or your plant won’t grow as well.
Enjoy your cilantro early; when summer days get long and hot, your cilantro will probably start to flower. When this happens, the flavor tends to go away. But you can lengthen your plant’s season by providing shade and protecting it from extreme temps.
Many people pull their plant up when it flowers, but consider keeping it around. You’ll see some nice little flowers, which will eventually dry up and “bolt” (produce seeds). Collect the seeds for use as coriander in cooking, or dry and save them to plant next year’s cilantro!
Now keep it going! Find out how to grow basil and how to grow parsley.
Nestperts: Mike Weeks and Joey Cagle are gardening gurus at Fifth Season Gardening Co. [www.fifthseasongardening.com], which operates six stores in North Carolina and Virginia focused on organic and hydroponic gardening and the ethos of doing it yourself.
Oct 20, 2010