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Herbs, Flowers & Specialty CropsCilantro Planting Calendar: Succession for Leaf and Seed
Cilantro is a cool-weather crop that grows leaves for a few weeks and then rushes to flower. Good timing means sowing small batches in cool stretches and deciding early which rows are for leaf and which are for seed.
Key points
- Cilantro germinates in cool soil and bolts in heat, so sow in spring and again from late summer on.
- Small sowings every two to three weeks beat one large planting.
- Direct seed because the taproot dislikes disturbance.
- Dedicate a separate row to flowering if you want coriander seed.
What temperature does cilantro need?
Oregon State University Extension reports that cilantro seed germinates in soil roughly between 55 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and that mature plants tolerate light freezes. That puts the best planting windows in early spring and again in late summer into fall, when soil cools back into that range.
A soil thermometer pushed a couple of inches deep, read in the morning, is worth the few dollars it costs. Air temperature swings more than soil temperature, and soil is what the seed feels.
Why does cilantro bolt so fast?
Heat and long days push the plant to flower. The same Oregon State source notes that plants sown in midsummer commonly flower within about four to six weeks, while plants grown in cool, short days can make leaves for much longer before they bolt.
That is why a single big sowing disappoints so many growers. The plants grow together, bolt together and leave a gap. Your goal is to spread sowings out so something is always at the leafy stage.
Moisture matters too. Dry spells stress the plant and can hasten flowering, so mulch lightly and water evenly during warm stretches.
How do you plan succession sowings for leaf?
Sow a short row every two to three weeks while the weather is cool. In spring, stop when daytime highs regularly climb into the range where your plants start bolting within days of emerging. In late summer, resume once temperatures begin to fall and days shorten.
For example, if your last spring frost usually falls around the middle of April, you might start the first row as soon as the soil can be worked, then repeat until warm weather arrives. Treat that as a pattern to copy, then adjust to your own frost date.
Slow-bolt varieties exist and can add a week or two, but they do not change the underlying pattern. Plan sowings around the weather first and variety second.
- Direct seed, because the long taproot resents transplanting.
- Cover seed lightly, about half an inch, and thin so plants are not crowded.
- Choose a cooler or partly shaded bed for the later spring sowings.
How do you grow cilantro for coriander seed?
Cilantro and coriander are the same plant. If you want seed, let one planting go to flower on purpose. Pick a block that you will not cut for leaf, and let the umbels form and the seed turn from green to brown on the plant.
Cut seed heads before they shatter and drop their seed, and finish drying them indoors in a paper bag or on a screen out of damp air. Saved seed can be sown again in the next cool window, though plants may vary from the parent.
Coriander seed has a different flavor from the leaves, and you can use the green, unripe seed too if you pick it early. Taste a few at different stages to decide when you like it best.
What mistakes cut cilantro harvests short?
Sowing in hot weather, letting plants dry out between waterings, and cutting too close to the growing point all push plants toward bolting or stalling. Water evenly, harvest outer leaves first, and replant instead of nursing a bolting row.
If you spray anything on cilantro, the label governs use, and herbs are often not listed for a given product. Ask your extension office for current options and pre-harvest interval rules before you apply.
What does a simple spring and fall plan look like?
Mark your average last frost and first fall frost. Plan spring sowings from soil workability until heat arrives, a seed block that you leave alone, and a fall series that starts as nights cool and ends before hard freeze damage becomes severe for your area.
Write the dates you actually sowed and when plants bolted. Those notes become your own cilantro calendar, tuned to your microclimate.
Can you grow cilantro through winter?
In milder regions, fall-sown cilantro can keep growing through the cool months because mature plants tolerate light freezes, as the Oregon State source notes. In colder regions, a row cover or low tunnel can protect plants during hard freezes, and a cold frame extends harvest further. Ask your extension office what protection suits your winters.
Hard, sustained freezes will still damage plants, so treat winter cilantro as a bonus crop rather than a sure thing, and keep a small sowing going under cover as insurance.
Timing at a glance
| Item | Window | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Cilantro seed germination, as reported by Oregon State University Extension | Soil roughly 55 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit | Soil temperature, not a calendar date; check local soil with a thermometer and your own frost dates. |
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.