Kitchen Herbs
Slow-Bolt Cilantro
The delicious spicy pungency of fresh cilantro leaf is essential in salsa and most Mexican dishes or in piquant Southeast Asian cooking. Our Slow-Bolt Cilantro holds in leaf better than other strains, but plan on making several sowings for a constant fresh supply, as plants flower and make seed quickly and the lacy green leaves don’t dry well. If your plants do flower, scatter their spicy blossom florets in salads.
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall harvest
Can handle light frosts
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Cilantro doesn’t transplant well; we advise direct garden sowing. Thin seedlings 3 to 4 inches apart before plants get crowded.
GROWING NOTES
Cilantro plants flower, then set seed quickly as plants mature. Lushest, leafy growth takes place in cooler weather; plant early and throughout cool spring weather and sow again in fall, particularly in mild winter areas. To have a constant supply of fresh leaves, sow every 2 to 3 weeks through early summer.
Keep cilantro at its leafy stage longer by keeping plants well watered and being careful to thin seedlings early. Let some of the lacy flowers form to attract beneficial insects and pollinating bees. The fragrant round seeds are called coriander, an aromatic spice used in baking.
