Coriander (Cilantro)

Coriandrum sativum

Coriander is a fast-growing annual culinary herb in the carrot family. The young leaves (cilantro) season fresh dishes, the ripe seeds are the spice coriander. It likes cool, bright, evenly moist conditions — and bolts quickly in heat.

Aggiornato:

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.

Luce

Bright but not in harsh summer heat. About 12 hours of light a day is ideal; long, hot days trigger bolting.

Irrigazione

Keep evenly moist, avoid waterlogging. The taproot prefers a deep pot.

Temperatura

Optimal 15–24 °C. Above 27 °C the plant bolts. Tolerates light frost.

Umidità

40–60 % relative humidity; good airflow prevents fungal issues.

Valori target per metodo e fase

Terra
Fase pH EC (mS/cm) Acqua °C Aria °C Umidità % Luce h Durata (giorni)
Germinazione 6.2–6.8 15–20 60–70 12 10
Piantina 6.2–6.8 15–22 55–65 12 14
Vegetativa 6.2–6.8 15–24 40–60 12 30
Fioritura 6.2–6.8 18–27 40–60 14 21
Fruttificazione 6.2–6.8 18–27 14 30
DWC
Fase pH EC (mS/cm) Acqua °C Aria °C Umidità % Luce h Durata (giorni)
Piantina 5.8–6.4 0.8–1.2 18–22 18–22 55–65 12 14
Vegetativa 6–6.5 1.2–1.8 18–22 15–24 40–60 12 28

Problemi comuni

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 (Terra)
≥ 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 Vegetativa — fresh leaves, best young before bolting
  • Seeds · edible from Fruttificazione — dried = coriander spice
  • Root · edible from Vegetativa — used in Thai cooking

Tecniche di resa

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

Florabase

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