If you plan on growing cilantro in your garden and you’re wondering when to harvest the seeds, we will let you know in this post.
Cilantro is a cool-weathered herb and they are wonderful plants to grow in your garden. Their seeds are known as coriander seeds and both cilantro leaves and seeds are used in different cuisines all over the world. Harvesting cilantro seeds the right way is important and they require maturity before the seeds can be harvested.
In this post, we will be discussing when and how to harvest cilantro seeds and leaves, and many more. So, continue reading for some information on this.
Cilantro Plant
Cilantro is one fast and easy to grow herbs that do well in the cool weather of spring and fall. The entire plant including the seeds is used in different recipes.
The seeds are referred to as coriander seeds and they are usually crushed and grounded. Then the blended powder is used as a spice.
Planting Cilantro For Seed Harvest
Growing cilantro from seeds directly by sowing the seed in a garden bed is pretty easy. If you wish to grow cilantro with the aim of harvesting their seeds, then you should plant seeds 8 inches apart in rows. Each of these rows should be about 15 inches apart from each other.
Because cilantro grows with a deep taproot, make sure you select a good planting location for planting cilantro. Also, you need to supply the ideal temperature range to plant cilantro plants so they can grow optimally. The ideal temperature for growing cilantro optimally ranges from 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. You can however allow the temperature to exceed 80 degrees only if you wish to harvest seeds. This way, the cilantro plant will bolt and flower thereby producing seeds.
But if your goal is to harvest the leaves alone, never allow the temperature to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, you can enjoy a continuous harvest of cilantro leaves. But eventually, the cilantro plant will enter bolting and flower and this must have been after you’ve enjoyed enough cilantro leaves.
Once cilantro flowers, it will yield seed pods that contain two seeds.
When To Harvest Cilantro Seeds
Cilantro grows rapidly hence their leaves can be harvested in just about a month. However, if you wish to harvest their seeds, it takes longer.
After 90 days of planting, cilantro seed pods are ready to be harvested. Cilantro seeds are ready for harvest when their appearance looks light brown and the plant will look dried. This happens when the cilantro plant has flowered 2 or 3 weeks after.
Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit – Non GMO – 5 Herb Seed Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Sage, Thyme
Take note not to harvest seeds that are not matured yet. This is to avoid bitter-tasting seeds that are not ideal for cooking.
So, when the weather starts to go hot, the cilantro plant will eventually bolt and flower. By this period, you should know it’s time for cilantro to produce seeds. This is when to harvest or pick your cilantro seeds. Cilantro seeds can be harvested 2 to 3 weeks after flowering has occurred.
How To Harvest Cilantro
Cilantro seeds are known as coriander seeds. So, to harvest coriander seeds, do the following:
- Let your cilantro plant enter the bolting stage especially during the hot season so they can grow and produce seeds.
- When you notice the leaves and seeds becoming brown, cut off the stem with the seed heads.
- The harvested stem should be hung upside-down in a paper bag in a cool dry place. When the seeds become ripe, they will drop off their seed head into the bag.
- Store cilantro seed or coriander seed in an air-tight container.
If you want to get a quick result of coriander seeds, we advise you to avoid cutting cilantro leaves. If you form the habit of cutting cilantro leaves as they grow, you will be delaying them from entering into the flowering stage and producing seeds for you to harvest.
Uses Of Coriander Seeds
The seeds of cilantro are mostly grounded before use or else they will feel tough to chew. However, you can also use the whole seeds or simply roast the seeds in an oven.
Cilantro seeds give a lovely aroma and taste to different dishes. It is rich in antioxidants and you enjoy other health benefits from it. Below are some uses of coriander seeds:
- The blended cilantro seeds are used as a spice in cooking like curry as well as in baked beans.
- Some use coriander seeds to bake into bread.
- The seeds can as well be used in soups, stews, and ratatouille.
- Cilantro seeds also feature in Indian cooking ingredients such as masala mixtures.
- The seed oil is as well used in different herbal solutions and dietary supplements.
- Coriander is also used in flavor gin, tobacco, liqueurs, and perfumery.
Health Benefits Of Cilantro Seeds
You get to enjoy great health benefits using coriander seeds in your dishes. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy by incorporating coriander seeds into your diet:
- Coriander seeds are very rich in vitamin K, C, B.
- The seeds are rich in other great minerals and it offers antioxidant benefits. Hence, it will help get rid of toxins and it’s beneficial to skin and hair health.
- Oil extracted from coriander seeds may as well help in promoting digestion and gut health.
FAQ’s
How do you harvest cilantro seeds?
It’s easy to harvest cilantro seeds by hand. Just pull the leaves from the stem and hold the stem firmly. The key is to keep the stem attached to the leaf so that you can remove it from the plant later. Then just shake the plant to get all the seeds out.
You can remove them from the stem by hand, but it’s much easier to use a knife. The trick is to pull off the leaves while holding the stem firmly.
How long does it take for cilantro seeds to sprout?
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) seeds should sprout in 5 to 7 days under normal conditions. Watering helps them grow faster.
What is the trick to growing cilantro?
Cilantro is relatively easy to grow in Zone 10.
Cilantro is a good example of a plant that can be grown from seed. It grows best in areas where it is warm and humid and has lots of rainfall. If you are having a hard time getting seeds to germinate, you could try planting the seeds indoors (in a warm, bright place) for a few weeks, then transplant them outside when the weather is warm and humid.
The trick is to start with small seeds (about 1/4 inch diameter) and plant them in a pot of potting soil. Cover the pot with plastic wrap so the soil doesn’t dry out. Keep the soil moist, and keep the soil warm by using a heat mat or light bulb. In about 3 weeks the seedlings should be ready to transplant. Plant the seedlings out in the garden once the weather gets warm and humid. They can be planted any time after the last frost date. Cilantro likes to grow into a weed, so you may need to keep pulling it up and destroying it.
It has a very strong and invasive root system. It can take over large areas of your garden if it is not contained.
Why is my cilantro plant falling over?
Either you are overwatering it or you have some sort of disease. If you are overwatering it, you should water it less often. If you are watering it too much, stop for a few days.
Also, it might be because your soil is not good enough. You should add some peat moss or sand to your soil to improve the drainage. That way your cilantro will be able to absorb more water and will not get too dry. You can also try adding some compost, if you have any available.
When To Harvest Cilantro Seeds: Final Say
Harvesting cilantro seeds will require you to wait until the plant enters bolting and flowers to produce seeds. Coriander seeds can be harvested after 2 to 3 weeks of flowering. We recommend you avoid cutting back the leaves if harvesting cilantro seed is your goal.
There are also many great benefits to cilantro such as adding flavor and sweet aroma to your various dishes. It also offers amazing health benefits to your diet.
Eunice is an enthusiastic gardener with a passion for growing beautiful flowers. She loves nothing more than spending time in her garden, tending to her plants and enjoying the outdoors. Eunice has been gardening for over 15 years and has developed a unique style of landscaping that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. She is especially fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors. Eunice takes great pride in her garden and often shares the fruits of her labor with friends and family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading gardening magazines and attending local horticulture events. Eunice is passionate about her hobby and is always eager to share her knowledge and experience with others.
