Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Cilantro is a cool-season herb that bolts (flowers and sets seed) rapidly in temperatures above 24°C — the entire point of the plant is to fight this tendency. Grow in well-drained, fertile soil at pH 6.2–6.8. Sow seeds directly 6mm deep in rows 30cm apart and thin to 8–10cm spacing; cilantro resents root disturbance and transplants poorly. Start sowing outdoors 4–6 weeks before last frost in spring, then again in late summer for an autumn crop. In warm climates, grow only from October to March. Water moderately — 2.5cm per week — and allow the top 3cm to dry slightly between waterings to reduce bolt risk; overly lush, wet conditions paradoxically speed bolting. Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser once at sowing — excessive nitrogen pushes leafy growth and then fast bolting. The key strategy is succession sowing every 3 weeks to maintain continuous harvest. Allow some plants to bolt and self-seed; they will naturalise and provide volunteer plants throughout the season.