To grow Cilantro in Arizona you’ll need to plant the seeds in September and continue to plant seeds once or twice per month until April. Fresh cilantro or coriander is best fresh, and you can’t get fresher than your own herb garden. It’s easy to plant, grow, and harvest cilantro anywhere in Arizona. We will show you how to start and grow you own cilantro in your herb garden in this post.
How To Grow Cilantro Indoors
In colder climates in Arizona growing your cilantro indoors is a necessity. Growing indoors is also good for having the herb at arms reach while you prepare your favorite meals.
1. Buy Cilantro Seeds
The first step in growing your own cilantro is to get seeds to plant. You can stop by our plant nursery and purchase cilantro seeds or starter cilantro plants.
2. Soak The Seeds
Seeds naturally grow given the right conditions, but we can help them along. Your cilantro will germinate more quickly if you gently crush the seed husks and then soak them for about 48 hours.
3. Select A Growing Spot
You’ll need to set your cilantro near a window where it gets sunlight for only a portion of the day. You can choose to move it manually, but it’s best if this happens naturally as it will require less work. Cilantro needs to have shade and protection from full sun for most of the day.
4. Plant Cilantro Seeds
Lay out your grid in the pot so that there is about 3.5 inches between your plants. The seeds need to be planted about a quarter inch deep in the soil. Avoid packing the soil down after planting as they’ll germinate better in loose soil.
5. Water Regularly
Cilantro grows best when it’s grown in soil which is kept moist. You shouldn’t over water but ensure that it’s moist before you leave for work in the morning. If it’s especially hot you may check it when you return in the evening. Mulch can be added if the soil is drying out too quickly during the day.
6. Harvest Weekly
Cilantro is used in a wide variety of dishes. From Indian and Mexican to Chinese and Vietnamese it’s a staple ingredient in some of the world’s most savory dishes. Take advantage of your cilantro plant by harvesting and using it weekly. This is an annual plant, so don’t expect to live forever. To harvest cut off the top third of the plant. The leaves are the best part for cooking and carry all of the flavor.
How To Grow Cilantro Outdoors
Growing cilantro in your outdoor garden isn’t as hard as people make it out to be. You may have started the plant in a pot indoors, but if it’s grown too large you’ll likely need to transplant it. To grow cilantro outdoors you’ll follow steps 1 and 2 from growing indoors.
1. Selecting A Spot Outdoors
Much like growing indoors you’ll need to have a spot that gets morning sun, but is shielded from full afternoon sun. Cilantro grows better when it’s cooler and without Arizona’s full intense sunlight.
2. Grow Between October & April
Cilantro grows best when temperatures stay at or below about 75°F. For this reason you should anticipate the best time to grow cilantro outdoors is the wintertime in the Phoenix valley. Cool and sunny is cilantro’s favorite weather.
3. Prune & Harvest Often
When cilantro is allowed to grow too much without being used it “bolts”. Bolting means that it is growing seeds. You can avoid this happening too quickly by pruning and using your cilantro. With that said all of the plants will eventually go to seed so you’ll need to be planting new cilantro seeds about every month or month and a half.
4. Seeding For Next Year
At the end of the growing season, which is usually about April in Arizona, you should let your cilantro go to seed. The seeds can be left to drop and grow the next year, or you can harvest them for culinary purposes.
Cilantro Seeds & Herb Gardening Supplies
If you want the very best cilantro seeds, plants, and gardening supplies; A&P Nursery can help! We sell easy gardening starter kits, seeds, plants, soil, fertilizer, gardening tools, and much more! Stop by one of our four locations in Mesa, Queen Creek, or Gilbert Arizona.
