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Cilantro growing

Cool-season produce

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Also known as Coriander leaves · Coriander

Leaf cilantro and dried coriander seed are harvests of one species. Bolts rapidly in warm spells; keep it in a cool, sunny winter bed.

EdibleCool-season crop
Growing spaceVegetable bed
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b
Crop familyApiaceae (carrot)
Life cycleAnnual crop
Phoenix planting windowOctober–November, with another sowing in late winter.
How to plantDirect sow seed; its taproot dislikes disturbance.
Plant spacing4–6 in
FrostLight frost usually tolerated; cover tender growth during a hard freeze.
Time to harvestClip leaves as soon as plants are established; seed maturity varies
SuccessionSow every 2–3 weeks.
Special categoriesEDIBLE
Typical harvestCut leaves repeatedly in fall and winter, then collect seed if desired.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardinessCover in a hard freeze

Light frost is usually fine. Cover tender growth during a hard freeze.

Heat toleranceNeeds afternoon shade

Bolts fast in warm weather. It likes days of 60 to 75°F, so expect flowering by March or early April in Phoenix. Sow every few weeks for a steady supply.

Sources: extension.arizona.edu, extension.arizona.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Cilantro grow at your Arizona property?

Leaf cilantro and dried coriander seed are harvests of one species. Bolts rapidly in warm spells; keep it in a cool, sunny winter bed.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Irrigation

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Cilantro thrive

  1. 1

    Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.

  2. 2

    Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.

  3. 3

    Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.

  4. 4

    Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the horticultural reference ↗

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.

Keep exploring

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