Plant the Herb in Fall and Winter in Southern California: Flavor Mexican and Asian Dishes with Leaves and Seeds
If you want to grow big, leafy bunches of cilantro and you live in Orange County, don’t listen to conventional planting instructions.
Garden author Rosalind Creasy said most of the information on cilantro is written for gardeners living in the Northeast and Midwest.
“You will often read that the best time to plant cilantro is in the spring, but that’s not true for California,” said Creasy, author of “The Edible Herb Garden” (Periplus, 1999, $15) and “The Edible Asian Garden” (Periplus, 2000, $15). “It does best here when planted October through February.”
Fall and winter planting is ideal for cilantro because it is day-length sensitive, meaning that when the days get longer, it will go to seed.
“Plant in the fall and you’ll have big, healthy plants throughout winter and into spring,” said Creasy, who lives in Los Altos. “Plant in March or April and you won’t get much cilantro before it goes to seed.”
Growing Cilantro in Southern California
Geri Cibellis of Villa Park is a big fan of cilantro. She sows seed in October and enjoys the herb during fall, winter, and spring.
“Cilantro has such a delightful flavor,” said Cibellis, the past president of the Orange County Organic Gardening Club. “I not only use it in salsa, but it’s a great flavor enhancer for many dishes. It’s even good on boiled potatoes with a little butter or olive oil.”
Cilantro: The Herb of Many Dishes
Common in many Mexican and Asian dishes, cilantro is originally from Asia. The seeds of this annual herb are called coriander, but its fresh leaves are usually called cilantro or Chinese parsley.
- Flavor: Cilantro leaves have a distinctive, sharp flavor, while the seeds are more mild.
- Culinary Uses: The seeds are considered a major spice in India and the Middle East, used in sausage and various bean dishes and stews. They are also key ingredients in curry powders and chutneys.
- Thai Cuisine: In Thai cooking, the entire cilantro plant is used, including the roots.
Tips for Growing Cilantro
A member of the same family as parsley and dill, cilantro has delicate, fern-like foliage and flat clusters of pinkish-white flowers that attract beneficial insects. For the best success growing cilantro, keep the following tips in mind:
- Full Sun: Plant cilantro in full sun, either in the ground or containers.
- Start from Seed: Cilantro doesn’t like to be transplanted, so it’s best to plant from seed. Look for slow-bolt or long-season varieties to get a longer harvest.
- Soil: Provide rich, organic soil. Amend with homemade or bagged compost before planting.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Water regularly to maintain moisture until the plants emerge.
- Spacing: Separate tiny plants before transplanting them to prevent crowding, which can cause the plants to die.
Harvesting and Maintaining Cilantro
- Harvest Like Lettuce: Pick cilantro from the outside, leaving the center leaves to continue growing.
- Save Seed: After cilantro flowers and goes to seed, you can use the dried seed as coriander or save it for future planting. Cibellis stores dried flower heads in a paper bag, shakes them to release the seeds, and then stores them in a cool, dry place.
- Fertilizing: Cilantro typically doesn’t need additional fertilizer unless its leaves yellow. If necessary, use a chemical fertilizer, as organic forms of nitrogen don’t work well in cold soil.
