Important notes
heat / long days: Coriander bolts fast in heat (>27 °C) and long days: leaves turn feathery and bitter and the plant flowers and sets seed. Keep it cool and harvest regularly for leafy growth. ↗
Light
Bright but not in harsh summer heat. About 12 hours of light a day is ideal; long, hot days trigger bolting.
Watering
Keep evenly moist, avoid waterlogging. The taproot prefers a deep pot.
Temperature
Optimal 15–24 °C. Above 27 °C the plant bolts. Tolerates light frost.
Humidity
40–60 % relative humidity; good airflow prevents fungal issues.
Target values by method & stage
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6.2–6.8 | — | — | 15–20 | 60–70 | 12 | 10 |
| Seedling | 6.2–6.8 | — | — | 15–22 | 55–65 | 12 | 14 |
| Vegetative | 6.2–6.8 | — | — | 15–24 | 40–60 | 12 | 30 |
| Flowering | 6.2–6.8 | — | — | 18–27 | 40–60 | 14 | 21 |
| Fruiting | 6.2–6.8 | — | — | 18–27 | — | 14 | 30 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 5.8–6.4 | 0.8–1.2 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 55–65 | 12 | 14 |
| Vegetative | 6–6.5 | 1.2–1.8 | 18–22 | 15–24 | 40–60 | 12 | 28 |
Common problems
Rapid bolting in heat, aphids, damping-off in seedlings, and Pythium root rot in hydro.
Space & Size
- Final height
- 50 cm
- Final width
- 25 cm
- Spacing
- 18 cm
- Root depth
- 30 cm
- Min. container (Soil)
- ≥ 5 L
- Min. container (DWC)
- ≥ 4 L
Pests & diseases
| Pest / Disease | Symptom | Organic treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | sticky, curled shoot tips | rinse off, encourage beneficials, neem |
| Whitefly | white flies under leaves, honeydew | yellow sticky traps, neem |
| Damping-off | seedlings collapse at the base | avoid overwatering, good airflow, clean medium |
| Pythium root rot | brown, mushy roots in hydro | keep solution cool + highly aerated, high dissolved oxygen |
Edible parts
- Leaves · edible from Vegetative — fresh leaves, best young before bolting
- Seeds · edible from Fruiting — dried = coriander spice
- Root · edible from Vegetative — used in Thai cooking
Yield techniques
Cut the outer leaves regularly (cut-and-come-again), never more than a third at once. Sow in succession every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.
Propagation & pollination
- Method
- seed
- Germination time
- 10 days
- Germination temp
- 15-21 °C
- Sowing depth
- 1 cm
- Pollination
- cross
- Hand pollination needed
- no
direct sow — the taproot dislikes transplanting
Companion planting
🟢 Good neighbours: Lettuce, Tomato, Basil, Marjoram, Rosemary
🔴 Bad neighbours: Oregano, Parsley, Garden cress, Chives
Good: beans, peas, spinach, cabbage, dill, cucumber. Bad: fennel, garlic, parsnip.
Flavor
fresh, citrusy, slightly peppery (some people taste it as 'soapy' due to genetics)
Storage
Leaves in the fridge, stems in a glass of water; seeds dry and dark.
History
Coriander originates from the eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia and is one of the oldest spice plants — seeds were found in Egyptian tombs. Today it is used in kitchens worldwide, from Mexico to Thailand.
Nutrition
Leaves are rich in vitamin K, vitamin C and provitamin A plus antioxidants. Low in calories.
Sources
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