The little herb with big flavor, cilantro (Coriandrun sativum) is a key ingredient in many Latin and Asian dishes. With cilantro, you get two herbs in one because the seeds are known as coriander, also a popular herb.
Cultivating Cilantro
An annual, cilantro is a fast grower. Start seeds directly in the garden 12 to 15 inches apart in spring after the last frost. Cilantro likes rich, moist, well-drained soil and a deep hole (14 to 18 inches). It prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Cilantro will top out at about two feet, but you can start harvesting leaves when it reaches five inches or so. Never take more than half the plant in a single cutting, though. Give cilantro good light, but in very warm climates protect it from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the afternoon. This can sometimes be accomplished by planting it near taller herbs that can offer some shade, like rosemary. This will help keep the plant from bolting too.
Unlike many other herbs, cilantro loses its flavor when dried. To get the most benefit from your growing efforts, try starting small batches every three weeks throughout spring and early summer. Discourage bolting by pinching back buds before flowers start to appear.
Cilantro Pests and Diseases
Cilantro has a strong fragrance as well as a strong taste, so bugs tend to stay away. If you do experience any problems, it will probably be from aphids or whitefly. Although pretty hardy, cilantro can have problems with powdery mildew and leaf spot. To keep your plant healthy, make sure that there's plenty of air circulation, and harvest smart by thinning the plant instead of just cutting off the tops.
Cilantro is a favorite of butterflies and some birds. It will sometimes also draw bees.
Harvesting Cilantro
Although you can cultivate cilantro quickly and start harvesting plants when they're relatively small, its short life cycle, about 45 days to seed development, can make cilantro frustrating to grow. There are a couple of solutions you can try in order to get your cilantro fix out of season. You can grow cilantro indoors in a soilless setup using a grow light or in a window with a southern exposure. You can also try to harvest leaves by chopping them fresh and freezing them in ice cube trays. After the cubes freeze, pop them into freezer bags and you can have cilantro flavor, almost fresh from your garden, all winter long.
If you like to make your own pico de gallo, there's nothing nicer than throwing in a little cilantro fresh from the garden. Want to try a great recipe? Visit: Make Pico de Gallo for Cinco de Mayo .
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