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How to Grow Coriander (Cilantro) UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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Coriander (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

Plant
Early March to late September
Ready in
70–70 days
Site
soil pH 5.5–7.5
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

In the UK, coriander (cilantro) go in the ground early March to late September, and are ready to harvest 70–70 days after planting.

Coriander (cilantro) (Coriandrum sativum) — annual.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early March in Southern England to early March in Scotland.

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

Regional Planting Calendar

Coriander growing in a garden bed — “Blankenburg, Kloster Michaelstein, Klostergarten, Koriander” by Dguendel is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Blankenburg, Kloster Michaelstein, Klostergarten, Koriander” by Dguendel is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early March to late September
Midlands early March to late September
Northern England early March to late September
Scotland early March to late September
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow outdoors spring through autumn, or indoors from February; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and successional sowing through the season is recommended regardless of region.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: sow outdoors spring through autumn, or indoors from February; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and successional sowing through the season is recommended regardless of region.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow outdoors spring through autumn, or indoors from February; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and successional sowing through the season is recommended regardless of region.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: sow outdoors spring through autumn, or indoors from February; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and successional sowing through the season is recommended regardless of region.

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

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

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

When should I sow coriander (cilantro) in the UK?

In Southern England, from early March. In Scotland, wait until early March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow coriander (cilantro)?

Sow early March to late September.

How long do coriander (cilantro) take to grow?

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

What soil pH do coriander (cilantro) 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)?

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

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-30

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