Coriander seedlings are easy to grow and make excellent summer time vegetables. If you have not tried growing them before, the best time to try planting seeds is in spring, after the last frost. Just dig a hole twice the root width where your pot will be placed, add some dirt, pack in the soil, sprinkle with compost and you have just set your seed. The young plants will grow until the coldest part of the year, just avoid freezing your young plants as this can stunt their growth.
It is best to plant coriander seedlings in potting mix which has well draining soil. Coriander does not like soggy or waterlogged soil. So, it is advisable to plant these seedlings in loose soil around the perimeter of your choice. This will provide good drainage for the young plants. You should leave enough space around the plant for air circulation. Good sunlight all year round is also important for the plants.
Planting coriander seedlings in pots will also provide you with a ready-made food supply for the first two or three months. But if you are planting these seedlings in a raised bed then you need to remove the whole lot of soil so that the root systems have room to grow. You can keep some damp newspaper or tissue under the plants during dry weather.
The main problem that arises with growing coriander seedlings in pots is that the young plants get damaged if the soil is not dried properly. The best way to make sure that the soil is properly dried is to use stakes around the perimeter of the pot. This will help the young plants to get air and water. You should remove about a foot of soil at regular intervals, when the young plants start to show leafy growth. Remove this extra soil and replace it with fresh moist soil.
When you are sowing, transplanting or planting the young plants into the garden you should take care that they are placed into a good location. If you are planning to plant them directly into the garden then it is important that the location has an adequate drainage system. The root systems will also have to be very well prepared. Before you start the sowing or transplanting process you must dig down about three inches in depth. This will ensure that there is no compacted soil or clay underneath the seedling that can cause difficulty in the later stages of the growing season.
After the sowing process the young seedlings will need to be kept warm and well watered for the first month. They should be provided with good soil and be given organic fertilisers as well. Coriander is an herb that likes lots of sun and as such it makes a great herb garden companion. When buying seeds, it is best to buy larger quantities since the smaller seeds tend to go to seed rather quickly.
It can take up to a year for new herb crops to appear in your garden. The harvesting period for Coriander seeds and plants depends entirely on the climatic conditions as well as the type of herb you are growing. For example, if you plant the seeds in a shaded part of the garden then it is more likely that the herb will bear fruit sooner. Planting the seeds in full sun is also beneficial, as this will also accelerate the growth process.
The harvesting period for cilantro seeds will be shorter than that of other herb plants. This is because cilantro is a perennial herb and the leaves do not grow for the entire year. The best time to pick the leaves off the plants is during midsummer. This is also the best time to cut the stems if you plan to use the leaves as a cooking ingredient or garnish.