Growing Cilantro From Seed

 

The best way to obtain a plentiful supply of fresh, organic cilantro is by growing your own. Whether you'd like to use it for cooking or for culinary purposes, you need a shallow, wide container to start the cilantro plant. You can buy special cilantro-growing bowls or use recycled plastic containers such as milk jugs. Once the seeds germinate, you can simply cut off the top of the planter. Once the plant grows, it's ready for transplanting into a 3-inch pot.

 

While the cilantro plant provides a harvest for approximately eight weeks before it goes to seed, it's crucial to plant the seeds as early as possible. Make sure to select a well-drained garden bed and add compost to the soil before sowing the cilantro seeds. Compost will increase moisture and nutrients in the soil. To plant the seeds, place one-fourth of an inch deep in the soil. If you choose to plant the seeds directly in the garden, space them four to six inches apart.

 

After spreading the seeds, cover them with soil and sprinkle them evenly. When cilantro seedlings are two inches tall, thin them to three or four inches apart. The thinned leaves shade the root and prevent the plants from bolting during hot weather. Afterwards, water thoroughly. You may also want to crush the seeds a bit before planting them. If you are planting cilantro seeds in a sunny, warm location, you can also crush them slightly. You should still make sure to keep the soil damp and water the seeds regularly.

 

Keep in mind that cilantro sprouts can die for a variety of reasons. The leaves may become discolored, dry, or even killed by a surprise killing frost. Most cilantro sprout deaths are caused by excess water or a fungal disease called damping off. This mold will kill young seedlings. This fungal infection, called Fusarium, thrives in wet, dark environments with little air flow. The only cure is to grow the plant in the right conditions.

 

To grow cilantro from seed, you should choose a heritage variety. Heritage coriander seeds plants produce brown, round seeds. Once the seeds germinate, you can harvest them at soil level. After the plants have been a few weeks, you can harvest the cilantro. This herb can be harvested either fresh or dried. Drying is not recommended because it will lose most of its flavor. If you want to store cilantro for later use, you should store it in the freezer or freeze it.

 

Watering your cilantro plants is important. You can use a spray bottle for irrigation, or you can make do with a plastic water bottle with small holes punched in the lid. To avoid the risk of disease, make sure the soil is thoroughly moist before watering it. If you choose to grow cilantro from seed, make sure to use an excellent potting soil and adequate drainage. This way, you can ensure the best possible growth of your cilantro plants.

Check out this related post to get more enlightened on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander.