How to Grow Cilantro

To grow cilantro, sow seeds about a quarter inch deep in cool weather, in rich, damp, well-drained soil with sun and some afternoon shade, and thin the seedlings to about 6 inches apart. Cilantro grows fast but bolts, or flowers, once it gets hot, so sow a new patch every two to three weeks. You can start picking leaves in about 4 to 6 weeks. It grows well in pots and indoors too.

Cilantro is a cool-season herb. It likes spring and fall, hates midsummer heat and has a short life cycle, which is why gardeners often say it is hard to grow. It is easy once you know the trick: plant it often, in the right season, and let it self-sow or go to seed for coriander. This guide covers every way to grow it, from a garden row to a kitchen windowsill.

How to grow cilantro at a glance

When should you plant cilantro?

Plant in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, and again in fall. Cilantro grows best at about 50 to 70°F and starts to flower once temperatures climb above roughly 75°F. In most regions that means two plantings a year, with a break in midsummer.

• Cold winters: sow in spring a few weeks before the last frost, since cilantro handles light frost. Sow again in late summer for fall.
• Hot summers and mild winters: grow it in fall, winter and early spring. Many gardeners in hot regions treat cilantro as a cool-season crop.
• Year round: succession sowing, with a new patch every two to three weeks, gives a steady supply. Use shade or slow-bolt varieties in warm months.

Use your climate, not a state name, as a guide, and check your local extension office for dates.

Where should you plant cilantro?

In a spot with sun in the morning, light shade in the afternoon in warm weather and loose, fertile soil. Cilantro tolerates full sun to light shade. Mix compost into the soil first. See how to compost. Good drainage matters, since wet soil rots the roots.

• Soil: rich, loose and slightly acidic to neutral.
• Moisture: even, since dry soil makes it bolt early.
• Companions: it grows well near parsley, lettuce and other cool-season crops. Warm-season basil likes more heat, so give it a separate spot or pot. Keep mint in its own pot, since it spreads. Taller plants can shade cilantro in summer.
• Raised beds and gardens: fine, as long as you sow in place.

How do you grow cilantro from seed?

Sow the seeds where they will grow, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, and keep the soil damp. Cilantro has a long taproot, which dislikes being moved, so sow in place instead of transplanting. A "seed" of cilantro is really a coriander fruit, a round husk that holds two seeds. Crushing it slightly before sowing can speed sprouting.

1. Prepare the bed. Rake the soil smooth and mix in compost.
2. Sow the seeds thinly in rows 12 inches apart, or scatter them over a patch.
3. Cover lightly and water gently.
4. Keep the soil damp. Sprouts appear in about 1 to 2 weeks, slower in cold soil.
5. Thin the seedlings to about 6 inches apart. Eat the thinnings.
6. Sow again every two to three weeks while the weather is cool.

You can buy transplants, but they often bolt sooner because the roots are disturbed.

How long does cilantro take to grow?

About 4 to 6 weeks to a first small harvest and 6 to 8 weeks for full plants. Seeds sprout in about 1 to 2 weeks. After that, leaves are ready to pick when plants are about 6 inches tall. Plants flower after about two to three months, sooner in heat, and coriander seed ripens a month or two after that.

• From seed in the garden: about 6 to 8 weeks to a full harvest.
• Germination time: about one to two weeks.
• Indoors: about the same, a little slower under weak light.
• Hydroponic: can be faster with strong light and nutrients.
• Microgreens: can be cut within a few weeks.

How do you grow cilantro in pots and containers?

Use a pot at least 8 to 12 inches deep, with drainage holes, filled with potting mix, and sow seeds in it. Because of the taproot, a deeper pot is better than a shallow one. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, keep the pot in sun and move it to part shade in hot weather.

• Space: several plants fit in a pot 10 to 12 inches wide.
• Feeding: a light feeding every few weeks, since pots lose nutrients.
• Balconies and windowsills: work well, and let you chase the shade in summer.
• Succession: sow a second pot two or three weeks after the first.

Can you grow cilantro indoors?

Yes. Cilantro grows indoors in a deep pot in a very sunny window or under a grow light, in a cool room. It struggles in warm, dry homes and low light, so give it as much light as you can. A grow light on for about 12 to 14 hours a day keeps leaves lush and slows flowering.

• From seed indoors: sow in a pot and keep it near a window or light. Do not start in a tray and move it.
• Hydroponic: cilantro grows in water-based systems with a nutrient mix and good light. A countertop kit works, and growth is steady. Plain water without nutrients is only for rooting.
• Microgreens: sow seed thickly in a shallow tray, keep it damp and cut in about two to three weeks.
• Year round: use pots indoors in winter and the garden in spring and fall.

Can you grow cilantro from cuttings, store-bought cilantro or scraps?

Sometimes. A fresh sprig from the store can root in water if the stems are healthy, but most plants stay weak and live only a short time. Seed is the reliable way to grow cilantro.

1. Choose a fresh sprig about 4 to 5 inches long, with no yellowing.
2. Strip the lower leaves, since leaves under water rot.
3. Stand it in a glass with a couple of inches of room-temperature water, in bright light but not direct sun.
4. Change the water every day or two.
5. Wait for roots, often in one to two weeks. Pot them up in light potting mix when they are about an inch long.

Cilantro from a store with the roots attached can sometimes be planted directly in a pot, but plants often bolt. Leaves and bare stems will not grow into new plants. Water alone does not feed a plant for long, so move rooted cuttings to soil or a nutrient solution.

How do you stop cilantro from bolting?

Plant it in cool weather, keep it shaded and evenly watered, choose slow-bolt varieties and cut it often. Bolting is the plant's way of making seed. Heat, dry soil, long days and root disturbance trigger it. Leaves turn feathery and bitter, and a tall flower stalk appears.

• Slow-bolt varieties: look for names such as Calypso, Slow Bolt or Long Standing on the seed packet.
• Shade: plant on the east side of taller plants, or use a shade cloth.
• Mulch: a thin layer keeps roots cool and damp.
• If it bolts: let it go. The flowers feed pollinators, and the seeds are coriander. Sow a new patch.

How do you harvest cilantro so it keeps growing?

Cut the outer stems when plants are about 6 inches tall, leave the center and take no more than a third at a time. Cilantro regrows from the center, so regular cutting keeps leaves coming and delays flowering. Cut at the base of the stem, not just the leaves.

• Cut often and for bushier plants: frequent harvests keep leaves tender, and pinching growing tips makes plants branch and stay full.
• Pinch flowers: remove flower buds as soon as you see them.
• Storage: use fresh, or keep stems with cut ends in a jar of water in the fridge. Cilantro also freezes well when chopped.
• Coriander: if you let plants flower, the round green seeds turn brown. Cut the stalks, dry them in a paper bag and use the seeds as the spice coriander. Some plants reseed themselves for next season.

How much water and light does cilantro need?

About an inch of water a week and a few hours of sun. Water at the base and keep the soil evenly damp. Cilantro grows best in full sun in cool weather and in partial shade when it warms up. Feed lightly with compost or a balanced fertilizer.

What problems does cilantro have?

Bolting is the main one. Others are aphids, leaf spots and damping off in wet conditions. Keep plants spaced, water in the morning and rinse aphids off with water. Wet soil causes root rot, so drain well. Few pests bother cilantro, and many insects love the flowers.

Is cilantro hard to grow?

Not really. It is easy to sprout and fast to harvest, but short-lived. If you plant often and give it cool conditions, it is one of the easiest herbs. If you plant once in summer and expect it to last, you will be frustrated.

How much does it cost to grow cilantro?

Very little. A seed packet often costs about $2 to $4, and a few transplants cost a few dollars each. A pot, potting mix and compost add a few more dollars, and a grow light or hydroponic kit costs more, often from $30 to $100. These are rough 2026 estimates that vary by brand and size.

Quick answers to common questions

How long does cilantro take to grow?

Sprouts in 1 to 2 weeks, a first harvest in about 4 to 6 weeks and full plants in 6 to 8 weeks. Seed ripens a couple of months after that.

Can you grow cilantro indoors?

Yes. Use a deep pot, a sunny window or a grow light and a cool room. Microgreens grow in a tray in a few weeks.

Why does cilantro bolt, and how do you stop it?

Heat, dry soil and long days make it flower. Plant in cool weather, shade it, water evenly, pick slow-bolt types, sow often and cut regularly.

Does cilantro grow back after cutting?

Yes, if you cut outer stems and leave the center. Take no more than a third at a time.

Can you grow cilantro from store-bought cilantro?

Sometimes, from fresh sprigs with live roots, rooted in water, but plants stay weak. Seed is more reliable.

Keep reading: how to grow lettuce, how to plant lavender, how to compost and more lawn and garden guides.

Is it worth learning how to grow cilantro?

Yes. Fresh cilantro costs little to grow and tastes better than store-bought. The key to how to grow cilantro is simple: cool weather, seed sown in place, even water, afternoon shade and a new sowing every few weeks. Plant a pot this week and keep it going all season.