Sowing coriander ( Coriandrum sativum )
Coriander is an herb from the Apiaceae family that is used in cooking for both its leaves and seeds.
📘 Basic information
- Crop group: Herbs
- Crop family: Apiaceae family
- Crop height: up to approx. 90 cm
- Growth cycle: ± 75 days (sow multiple times for continuous harvest)
- Frost resistant: yes, tolerates light frost
- Root system: 30–40 cm deep
🌱 Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth: 0.6 cm
- Sowing distance: 30 cm between rows, 15 cm between plants
- Germination temperature: around 21 °C
- Germination period: 10–14 days
- Planting distance: coriander is best sown directly; do not prick out if necessary.
- Planting out: preferably not; sowing directly on site produces the strongest plants.
🌿 Popular breeds
- Leaf coriander (also as organic )
📅 Growing times
- Sow indoors/glass: sow March–May; transplant May–July; harvest July–October
- In situ (outdoors): sow May–July; harvest mid-July–October
It's better to sow small amounts multiple times than a large amount at once. This way, you'll have beautiful foliage for longer without the plants bolting too quickly.
🌞💧 Pitch & water
- Location: 🌤 partial shade to sun (not too hot and dry, otherwise coriander will quickly bolt)
- Watering: 💧💧 regularly, keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Preferred soil: well-drained, humus-rich soil, pH 4.9–8.2 (fairly tolerant)
- Fertilization: incorporating some compost before cultivation is sufficient
🤝 Good & Bad Neighbors
- Good neighbors: anise
- Bad neighbors: fennel
🪴 Cultivation method step-by-step
Important: Do not sow large areas of coriander if you are not going to use it all, as it can spread and become overgrown.
- Make sowing furrows at a depth of 0.6 cm with 30 cm between the rows.
- Don't sow too densely; thin the plants out to about 15 cm between them if necessary.
- Keep the soil moist during germination; do not allow to dry out.
- Protect young plants from snails and strong winds.
- Sow every few weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Use the fresh leaves in salads and oriental dishes; the seeds are delicious with lamb, bread, pies, and Christmas pastries.
❗ Dangers & Concerns
- Snails: they like to feed on young plants – protect them with snail edges or barriers.
- Aphids: can appear on flower stems and leaves; rinse off or attract natural enemies.
- Bolting: coriander will quickly flower in hot and dry conditions, but the leaves will then become bitter.
🧺 Harvesting & storing
- Harvest the leaves by cutting away the outer stems and leaving the heart.
- Use the leaves fresh for the best flavor; you can store them briefly in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp cloth.
- Allow some plants to sprout if you want to harvest seeds; dry the seeds and store them airtight.
- Once the plant goes into full bloom, the leaves quickly become more bitter.
