Coriander, so fragrant!

Coriander is an annual perfectly suited to our climates. It is a very fragrant spice herb.

Key Coriander facts

Name – Coriandrum sativum
Family – Apiaceae (parsley family)
Type – annual

Height – 10 to 24 inches (25 to 60 cm)
Exposure – full sun
Soil – rich and light

Harvest – May to October

Caring for it from planting or sowing to harvest is easy. Coriander will quickly come flavor most of your meals, sauces and mixed salads.

• Health: health benefits of coriander

Sowing and planting coriander

Generally speaking, sowing coriander outdoors is considered possible as soon as April in the South and May in the North.

However, it is perfectly possible to start sowing in a hot house or indoors as early as February or March.

Planting coriander

If you purchase your coriander in pots, plan to re-pot it quickly in a larger pot or transplant it directly in the ground after buying.

This guarantees that the plant can develop in the best possible environment.

Take note, though, that coriander doesn’t appreciate being moved around and so it will always develop best if sown directly in the plot.

Sowing coriander

Coriander can be sown directly in the soil all spring and summer long. It’s recommended to sow coriander yourself, rather than purchasing grown seedlings and transplanting them.

• Bury seeds under about ½ to 1 inch (1 to 2 cm) soil mix.
• Space your rows by 8 inches (20 cm).
• Water regularly with a fine drizzle until seeds sprout, which can take up to 2 weeks.

As soon as the plants have formed 4 or 5 leaves, thin to about 8 inches (20 cm) to give the seedlings space to grow.

• They will have matured within about 2 months after sowing.

Problems met with coriander

The most recurring problem with coriander is bolting.

• Coriander, when bolting or going to seed, produces long stems with few leaves.
• Flowers quickly appear and turn into seeds.
• A bolting coriander plant usually drains all its energy and dies.

The best solution against this is to sow directly in the ground instead of purchasing coriander seedlings.

Indeed, since coriander hates being moved around, the stress it feels at this moment usually triggers the bolting. This is coriander’s reaction to transplant shock.

Harvesting coriander

Leaves can be cut as needs arise until the first frost spells.

It is best to collect leaves one at a time, instead of tearing out a whole bunch or cutting several stems at once with scissors.

Favor eating older leaves first.

In fall, in order to keep your coriander for the longest possible period, cut it short, chop it up immediately, and freeze it in a jar for storage.

It’s also possible to keep the seeds after having let them dry off, they can flavor meals either directly or ground in a pepper mill.

All there is to know about coriander

Native to Asia, it is one of the most commonly cultivated herbs in the world. Used in amazing quantities in Mexico, for instance, it is very fragrant and flavorful.

It is also called the “Arabian parsley” or “Chinese parsley”.

Coriander parsley is mostly used to flavor mixed salads, omelets or dishes with gravy.
It also is used to season seafood and barbecues.

It is easy to grow and resist most diseases well.

Lastly, coriander offers us many health benefits and has a high therapeutic value.