Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Pruning Small Plants
• Method 2 of 3: Harvesting large quantities of cilantro
• Method 3 of 3: Growing cilantro

Cilantro (coriander greens) are easy to grow and harvest. Feel free to prune a small potted plant at home or in your garden whenever you need fresh cilantro. Since the coriander plant also produces seeds, pruning regularly will delay this process and maintain a supply of fresh greens. Gently pinch or cut off the stems from the plant to avoid damaging it. Freeze or dry cilantro to preserve it for future culinary experiments.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Pruning Small Plants

1. 1 Start pruning the cilantro when the plant is 15 cm tall. Cilantro needs to be pruned frequently to stimulate new growth. Older, larger leaves are also often more bitter, making the spice less tasty if it has grown too much. When the plant is 15 cm tall, start pruning the stems as needed.
   • Add fresh cilantro to salads, soups, salsa, guacamole, and more.
   • It usually takes 60-75 days for a plant to reach this height.
2. 2 Pinch off or cut a sprig of cilantro from the plant. With your thumb and forefinger, grasp the stem near the outermost leaves. Trace the stem down with your fingers to the new shoots underneath. Pinch off 1 cm from the new shoots, removing the stem and leaves above them. Scissors can also be used for this purpose.
   • Do not pull off the branches, otherwise you may harm the plant itself.
3. 3 Store fresh cilantro in the refrigerator for a week. Wrap freshly picked cilantro sprigs or leaves in a clean plastic bag. Store the herb bag in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment. Cilantro will stay fresh and flavorful for a week.

Method 2 of 3: Harvesting large quantities of cilantro

1. 1 Harvest cilantro frequently during the spring and fall. The cooler months of spring and fall are the best times to harvest cilantro from the garden. Cilantro will not grow vigorously in warmer weather as the heat stimulates seed formation. Start harvesting cilantro early and often to encourage the plant to grow.
   • Once the cilantro begins to bloom and produce coriander seeds, it can no longer be harvested.The seeds can be dried and used as coriander in recipes.
   • Usually only the outer leaves need to be removed, leaving the leaves at the stem to grow further.
   • Cilantro produces fresh greens suitable for harvesting approximately every week throughout the flowering period.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   “After cilantro blooms, its leaves lose their flavor. However, the seeds can still be used as a spice for Asian, Indian and Mexican recipes. ”

   
   

   

   Maggie moran

   Home and garden specialist Maggie Moran is a professional gardener from Pennsylvania.

   Maggie moran
   Home and garden specialist

2. 2 Cut off the branches that are at ground level. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off the largest stems and leaves from the plant just above the ground. Fully grown cilantro stems are typically 15–30 cm tall. Do not cut off stems less than 15 cm.
3. 3 Collect no more than 1/3 of its foliage from each plant. To keep the plant strong, cut no more than 1/3 of its weight when harvesting. If the plant loses more, it will weaken it and possibly slow down its growth. Visually inspect each plant and count the number of large stems growing before deciding how much to take.
4. 4 Freeze cilantro leaves and sprigs. To store large quantities of cilantro leaves and twigs, rinse and dry thoroughly. Spread out the cilantro and fold in a thin layer in a resealable freezer bag or airtight container suitable for freezer storage. Freeze the cilantro and use it throughout the year.
   • To use frozen cilantro, simply break off as much as you need and put the rest back in the freezer.
   • If you're making a dish with cilantro, you can use it straight from the freezer.
   • To use cilantro as a side dish, defrost it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
5. 5 Dry the cilantro. Another way to stock up on cilantro is to dry it out. Tie sturdy twigs of cilantro into a bunch with a string and hang in a warm, dry place. Leave the bunch on for a few days until the cilantro is completely dry.
   • Once the stems are dry, you can collect the leaves and crush them into a small spice jar.
   • You can also dry the cilantro leaves by placing them on a baking sheet and heating in the oven at the lowest temperature for 30 minutes.

Method 3 of 3: Growing cilantro

1. 1 Plant cilantro in spring or early fall. Cilantro grows well in spring and fall weather, so these two seasons are best for planting. Try not to plant cilantro in the summer - the heat will cause the plants to bloom prematurely. In this case, flowering will complete the cilantro harvest cycle, and you will only get the bitter leaves.
2. 2 Place the cilantro in a sunny spot with partial shade. It doesn't matter if you grow cilantro indoors or outdoors, your plants need at least some direct sunlight to grow. But the plant also needs a little shade in order not to overheat. Due to the large amount of sunlight and heat on the plant, seeds will begin to form, completing the harvesting opportunity.
3. 3 Use soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. If you are planting small amounts of cilantro, buy potting soil with a neutral pH between 6.0 and 8.0. If you are planting cilantro in your garden, test the soil first with a pH test kit. If you need to neutralize the soil, mix the compost into it before planting the cilantro.
4. 4 Plant seeds, not seedlings. It is best to grow cilantro directly from seed, as the seedlings are very tender and do not tolerate transplanting well. Sow the seeds about 1 cm deep into good quality soil. Seeds can be planted outdoors in rows, or indoors in a medium sized container.
   • Germination will take approximately 2–3 weeks.
5. 5 Keep the soil moist. Avoid over-watering the cilantro as this can kill the plant.Give the plant about 2.5 cm of water per week, or just enough to keep the soil moist at all times. Watch the soil and water the plant if the soil looks dry.