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How to Grow Cilantros | Complete Growing Guide

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Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)

Coriander growing in a garden bed — “Blankenburg, Kloster Michaelstein, Klostergarten, Koriander” by Dguendel is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

5 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Ready in
70–70 days
Site
soil pH 5.5–7.5
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

In the UK, coriander (cilantro)s are ready to harvest 70–70 days after planting.

Coriander (cilantro)s (Coriandrum sativum) — annual.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

At a Glance

A coriander plant that has bolted and is flowering — “Coriandrum sativum kz06” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Coriandrum sativum kz06” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Coriandrum sativum Coriander (Cilantro) Powdery mildew Aphids DISEASES PESTS

Quick Facts

A fresh bunch of harvested coriander leaves — “Liat Portal for Foodie Disorder - Cilantro from San Francisco Farmers Market” by HaJunkiyada is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Liat Portal for Foodie Disorder - Cilantro from San Francisco Farmers Market” by HaJunkiyada is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 5.5 - 7.5
Optimal growing temp 15-25C
Minimum survivable temp 0C
Time to harvest 70-70 days
Drainage free-draining
Lifecycle annual
Edible parts leaves, seeds

Soil & Growing Conditions

A dense patch of leafy coriander seen from above — “Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

5.5 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Close-up of small white coriander flowers — “Coriander Flower (Coriandrum sativum) in Sarog Village of Shimla District” by Sapna Sony is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Coriander Flower (Coriandrum sativum) in Sarog Village of Shimla District” by Sapna Sony is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing and germination 0 Sow outdoors spring through autumn, or indoors from February on a warm sunny windowsill; seeds surface-sown or in a shallow drill, spaced about 5cm apart, germinating in 1-3 weeks (RHS).
Leaf growth 1 Thin to 5cm apart for leaf crops; water routinely only in dry spells (ground-grown) or keep containers just moist; sow successionally every few weeks for continuous leaves (RHS).
Cut-and-come-again leaf harvest, or bolt-risk period 3 Harvest leaves once plants reach 10-15cm tall, a few per plant with 2 weeks recovery between pickings; remove flower stems immediately and shade from midday sun in hot weather to delay bolting (RHS).
Flowering, seed set and seed harvest 6 For seed crops, sown in spring/early summer and thinned to 20cm, plants flower and set seed; harvest green for milder flavour or brown/ripe, cutting whole stems into a paper bag, drying about a week (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

A fresh bunch of harvested coriander leaves — “Liat Portal for Foodie Disorder - Cilantro from San Francisco Farmers Market” by HaJunkiyada is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Liat Portal for Foodie Disorder - Cilantro from San Francisco Farmers Market” by HaJunkiyada is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: leaves ready in as little as ten weeks from sowing. UMD: harvest plants when 6 inches high, or pick leaves sparingly at 4-6 inches tall; for seed (coriander spice), wait until flower heads turn brown and gather seeds as they ripen in mid-summer.

Storage

Fresh leaves used immediately or refrigerated; seeds dried and stored for spice use

Diseases

A dense patch of leafy coriander seen from above — “Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Pests

A dense patch of leafy coriander seen from above — “Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Kothmir (Gujarati- કોથમીર) (4170763487)” by Dinesh Valke from Thane, India is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Aphididae (various spp.)

References

  1. country=INTL

  2. country=INTL

  3. country=UK

  4. country=UK

  5. country=USA

5 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do coriander (cilantro)s take to grow?

Typically 70–70 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do coriander (cilantro)s need?

A pH of about 5.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect coriander (cilantro)s?

Our data links 1 disease and 1 pest to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

Science-based growing guides · Thresholds that hold in any climate

This guide states the conditions the plant itself responds to — soil temperature, frost tolerance, day length — rather than dates, because the same calendar month means opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Anything genuinely restricted to one part of the world is named as such rather than presented as universal. Written and maintained by our editorial team against international horticultural research and extension sources.

Vegetable Growing Guides

Last verified 2026-08-30

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