Grow your own coriander

Coriandrum sativum

growing-coriander-pixabay

Coriander is one of those herbs that you either love or hate, and personally I can’t get enough of it! It’s a temperamental little plant and over the years I’ve discovered a few tricks for growing it.

Originating in southern Europe and the Middle East, coriander gets its name from the Greek word for bug, ‘koris’, referring to the unpleasant smell of its unripe seeds. It has grown to be a popular herb around the world and is usually associated with Asian and Central and Southern American cooking.

Growing your own herbs and vegetables at home is a great way of lowering your carbon footprint by both reducing your food miles and your food waste by harvesting only what you need when you need it.

Here are some tips to get you started:

growing-coriander-seeds

Planting your seeds

  • Seeds are best sown in Autumn or Spring.
  • Each spherical seed casing contains two seeds and some people think it is best to gently break up the seed casing before planting to aid germination.
  • Provide fertile soil that drains well.
  • Plant around ½ cm deep, in rows 30cm apart, and thin to 15cm.
  • Will grow well in containers.
  • In hot regions grow in the shade. In cooler regions in the sun.
  • Seeds may take a while to germinate so be patient.

Choose a variety that matches your purpose

Not all coriander is the same. You’ll notice when you go to the nursery or online seed store that there is a regular and slow bolting variety. Slow bolting coriander is better tasting and has more abundant leaves with smaller seeds, whilst regular coriander has large seeds for use as a spice.

coriander-seedling

Avoid transplant shock 

Coriander is very sensitive to having its roots disturbed and grows best if you plant the seeds where you would like them to grow. If you do choose to purchase seedlings break them up into large segments to minimise root disturbance.

Select young healthy plants

If you are going to start with seedlings select plants that are only a few centimeters tall. Ensure you choose healthy plants that don’t show signs of pests or disease.

Give your plants space to grow

Once seeds are established or seedlings have settled in, gently thin seedlings out as coriander doesn’t like to be overcrowded.

Prevent bolting by keeping your plants moist

Coriander has a habit of bolting to seed if it dries out. It’s best to water it in the morning so it can dry off over the day because your plants won’t be happy being water-logged either.

Succession Planting

Plant every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous supply of coriander.

Image: mixed microgreens (Anna Gregory)

Grow it as a micro-green

For something different try growing coriander as a micro-green. Coriander is thought to be one of the top four micro-greens nutritionally.

Harvesting

The entire plant can be used and can be harvested in one go, or the leaves can initially be used as a cut-and-come-again herb. The best flavour will be while the stems are still soft and before the flowers have started to form. Harvest seeds as they begin to turn brown by cutting off the entire seed head and hanging them upside in a paper bag in a dry airy position. Once dry store them in an air-tight container. If well stored, seeds will last up to 3 years.

Try growing Mexican Coriander

Also called  Sawtooth coriander or culantro, this plant has spiny edged leaves that can be used as flavouring and will hold their flavour when dried. It can be difficult to germinate but once grown is very hardy. Mexican coriander is easier to grow in warm climates than regular coriander and can be sown in spring and summer.

Where do I buy seeds?

Go to your local nursery or buy seeds from online stores (see my resources section for a list of online stores). Try to buy seeds that have been grown in Australia. You could also join a local savers group or simply collect your own seeds to re-plant each season.

I’m going to plant some coriander in pots and in a tray for micro-greens this weekend!

Have you had success with growing coriander at your place? Do you have any further tips to share?

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5 thoughts on “Grow your own coriander

  1. Great advice. I can also end up with a glut of coriander. So my answer is to blend with garlic olive oil. Pop into silicone muffin trays and freeze then bag up for those times when fresh isn’t around.

  2. I prepare the garden bed with compost mixed in the soil, then just throw twenty or thirty seeds in a 1 meter square patch. Never fails, and I’m still using the seeds I harvest, which can last for 2 years. Make sure you water in the mornings, daily, very lightly for about 2 minutes. When they grow to about 20 cm. high, keep cutting the leaves from the top for cooking.

    1. I try and plant 10% flowers to attract beneficial insects to the garden and if it’s a challenging season and I will section off a new area under netting then plant seeds in this area (not seedlings that could have insect eggs). I really try not to spray even with so called “eco-friendly” products because they still kill beneficial insects which tends to just make the problem worse long term. Sometimes I also buy in predatory insects from places like BugsforBugs. Anna

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