Cilantro (Santo)
- botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
- annual
- height 12-24″
- spacing 2-4″ apart, in rows 12-18″
- full sun tolerant, morning sun/afternoon shade
- average soil, fertile and well drained
- flower color white
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers, as an edging, fragrant
- use in soups, salads, salsas, and in Thai, Indian, Caribbean, and Mexican cuisine
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
Cilantro is an invaluable culinary addition to the garden. A staple in Thai, Indian, Caribbean and Mexican cuisine. Cilantro is one of the most distinctively flavored herbs. The best salsa always includes fresh Cilantro. However, for many it is an acquired taste; it is quite pungent. But most people find the leaves of this plant refreshing. Once hooked, you can’t get enough! Cilantro is a short lived annual, plan on replacing it in July or August. Click here for great Cilantro recipes!
Cilantro is also known as Coriander or Chinese Parlsey. Cilantro is the name given to the leaves of the plant which are popular in Mexican cuisine. It is especially popular in salsa. Coriander is what the seeds of the plant are called and also have culinary value, they are used most often in Indian recipes.
Have you had trouble growing Cilantro? Many gardeners get frustrated growing this plant because of its tendency to go to flower early. We recommend planting some seed with your plants so that you’ll have some young sprouts coming along later to prolong the harvest. Even so it is necessary to keep an eye on this plant and keep it from going to seed as long as possible. As soon as you see flower stocks appear, pinch them out. Eventually you will need to allow Cilantro to go to seed, however, because although it is an annual it will come back by reseeding. If you allow the fallen seeds to sprout next season, you’ll have a larger crop. You may still want to buy a plant or two to plant early because the seed won’t germinate until the soil warms up (usually in May).
Santo Cilantro seeds are also available. Purchase them here.
Sowing Instructions:
Outdoors – recommended planting method- direct seed spring through late summer. Sow seeds 1/4″-1/2″ deep, 1-2 seeds every inch, in rows that are 12-18″ apart. 7-10 days to germination. Successive sowings can be done every 2-3 weeks for continual harvest of leaves. In extreme heat the plants will bolt.
Harvest – Leaves may be harvested once the plants have become established and before flowering begins. Pinch flowers to encourage more foliage. Mature seeds are produced about 3 months after planting. Allow the plant to flower and as the tops go to seed, collect when they have a dried outer shell. 50-55 days to leaf; 90-105 days to seed.
