Growing Cilantro

Cilantro is an herb that most people use in foods that are spicy, usually Mexican foods or the foods made in the south west. It has a very strong flavor that give the food you make a very distinctive taste. The seed of this plant are also used to season your food and is called coriander. Growing this wonderful herb can be a tricky process but if you do it correctly you will be able to have a wonderful harvest of this tasty herb.

Growing Cilantro

The cilantro plant can be harvested every 3 or 4 weeks because cilantro grows very quickly. The perfect temperature for growing would be about 75 degrees. You must plant the seeds in a place that will get both sun and shade, and plant them just a few inches apart will give them a little extra shade. You will want to plant the seeds about a quarter of an inch deep.

Planting of cilantro should be done in the spring and the fall seasons, the summer will be to hot for the seeds and tend to make the plants seed too quickly. Another important consideration for cilantro would be well drained and moist soil. Also you may want to add a little compost to your garden to give some protection to your plants roots.

When your cilantro starts to flower, trim the heads, you will want to prolong the growth of the leaves. If you let the plant mature it will re-sow the seeds and you will be able to have another crop of wonderful cilantro in about 3 or 4 weeks. After careful and watchful monitoring, you will be able to harvest a great harvest.

To Harvest Cilantro

When harvesting cilantro, you can actually cut the leaves at anytime while they are growing, but if you wait until they are about 6 inches long you will have the very best leaves. Cutting the leaves on the outside will allow the ones close to the stock to mature as well.

You should be able to harvest the leaves a few times before they go to seed. When they start seeding you should collect them and you can use them to make the second seasoning called coriander, by just drying them out.

One last thing, use your cilantro leaves right away, as they tend to lose their flavor if they are stored, they should be used to spice your foods while they are fresh. Planting and harvesting cilantro may be tricky but can't you just taste the great recipes you will make with them.

Growing your own herbs to use in your kitchen, bath or as a home remedy is easy and inexpensive. To learn more, visit our site.