Chinese Parsley - Cilantro

Chinese Parsley- Cilantro

Growing Tips: Cilantro

Quick Reference:

Plant seed 1/4 inch deep spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. Germination: 10 to 14 days. Plant spacing in the garden, 8 to 10 inches. Shallow planting provides warmer soil but soil MUST be kept moist at all times until plants emerge.

When and where to plant:

An easy to grow annual that likes cool weather and grows well in Alaska. Chinese Parsley prefers to be planted where it will remain all summer, it does not transplant well. Plant seed directly in the garden after the last frost of spring. Choose a sunny location with any average, well drained soil, cultivate, enrich with plant food, smooth the soil surface and plant by sprinkling the seed down the row in a shallow trench. Cover the seed with 1/4 inch of fine soil, firming soil over seed, seed requires darkness to germinate, water well for good seed to soil contact, and keep soil moist until seedlings emerge. When started indoors, plant 2-3 seeds, 4 to 5 weeks ahead in individual plastic pots so the root mass will slide out easily without causing root damage when being transplanted.

Care:

Keep soil moist, weed free and fertilize once a month.

Harvest:

Pick the bottom leaves as needed, fresh leaves have the best flavor. For coriander cut the entire plant as the seed darkens and hang upside down over a cloth to catch the seed as it dries.