How Does Cilantro Grow?

 

Cilantro/coriander is an annual aromatic herb that grows quickly in cooler weather.  The whole plant is edible.

 

Seasonal Growth

 

Winter: Cilantro is a cool weather crop and will grow in winters without hard freezes, preferably in the South or Southwest areas.

Spring: Plant seeds after the last frost date, in a sunny spot in the garden.

Summer: Direct and strong sunlight will damage the plant, so make sure to give plant shade during this season.

Fall: Cilantro can be planted and harvested during this season, in areas without extreme weather. 

 

Health Benefits

 

Cilantro is a detoxifier and helps the body remove heavy metals stored in the body. 

 

It helps remove mercury from the blood, which aids in the relief of mercury poisoning and toxicity. 

 

Cilantro can be juiced, and used in many healing/ restoring drinks. 

 

It can help kill the salmonella virus and bacterial build up, preventing salmonella poisoning. 

 

Cilantro is helpful to digestion, and is known to support stomach, spleen, thyroid, bladder, lung health. 

History

 

Cilantro is originally from southern Europe, North Africa, and west of the Asian continent. Records of coriander/ cilantro date as far back as 2,000 B.C, and are mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 17:31. It was widely used for both its flavor and its medicinal properties.

Propagation

 

Cilantro is started from seed.  The leaves of the plant are called cilantro and the seeds are coriander. 

 

Propagation

 

Harvest

 

Cilantro is harvested  during the cooler months of spring and fall as soon as the plant is 4 to 12 inches tall, which can take 40 to 60 days after planting.

Any part of the plant can be harvested.

 

Once mature, the outer leaves can be harvested allowing new leaves to sprout from the center.

 

Storage

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Cilantro is best used within days of harvest or purchase.

 

Plants can be stored upright in a glass container, resting the stems in water, to help extend the shelf life. 

 

To store the herb for an extended period of time, chop the leaves and stems into small pieces and store in a plastic bag, and freeze.

 

Fun Facts

 

Plant the seed in potting soil with good drainage. 

 

Keep the soil moist in  a nice shady area in temperatures that range between 50 and 75 degrees F. 

 

The seed takes approximately 2  to 3 weeks to germinate. 

 

As the plant matures, it will require some direct sunlight, but extreme summer sun may kill the plant, so find a happy medium in partial shade. 

 

Once the plant has matured, more plants can be propagated by separating the root stems. 

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The top 5 producers of cilantro include, Morocco, Canada, India, Pakistan, Romania, and Russia. 

 

The most commercially viable varieties are slow bolting and most resistant  to pest, and disease. These  include:  Costa Rica, Jantar,  Santos, Leisure, and Long Standing. 

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Cilantro is used fresh in many salads and dishes as a garnish or an accent flavor.

 

It is often referred to as Chinese or Mexican parsley because it is present in so many Mexican, Asian, and Middle Eastern dishes. 

 

Ground coriander seeds are used as a spice in curries, meat, seafood dishes, marinades and desserts. 

 

There are many medicinal and herbal supplements that use cilantro as a main ingredient.