difficulty growing coriander

[mandybabe]

Would someone please please help me i'm having great difficulty growing coriander. I've got it on my decking in pots it started off lovely then it started going yellow at the bottom. Now its got little white flowers on the ends I did cut it back a little but don't think that was the right thing to do whoops. Could someone tell me how to trim it so it keeps growing.

[Lady of Shallots]

You have to keep cutting the tops off as when it gets too tall (above 10cm) it starts flowering like this, or 'bolting'. I think there's there's not a lot you can do when this happens, the leaves seem to go all skinny like fennel.

Apparently shock to the plant such as lack of water or extremes of temperature can also cause bolting, this is a survival technique the plant uses. Try to minimise such stresses to the plant. Don't leave them standing in water either, they don't like their roots too wet.

This happened to me too the first time I tried to grow it, now I grow a few plants at a time from seed and keep trimming them to stop them getting too big. You'll just have to find lots of recipes that include coriander yum!

You might find this article useful!
How to grow Coriander (cilantro) - all you need to know about growing Coriander

[mandybabe]

Thanks for the reply it was very helpful I will have another go and hope I get it right this time. once again thanks

[judimac]

Never had much luck with it myself, bolts soon as look at me! Apparently it likes a shady spot, and self sown seeds do better than anything you sow yourself! Having said that I'm doing quite well with a variety called Chechnya this year. Almost looks like the stuff in bunches from the supermarket! Got it from ebay, I could ley you know the details if you'd like.

[tezmac]

I have tried growing this but always find it bolts, love the stuff but find it frustrating

[Rumpleteazer]

If it does bolt, you can always use the seeds as a spice. Great for curries, couscous and more.........

[harrisandreson]

hi every one i would say that Coriander is best grown from seed directly into the soil. This is because it is quite a sensitive plant; transplanting young plants can shock them and cause them to bolt (run to seed). Prepare the soil thoroughly by digging it over, removing any weeds and incorporating organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost. Rake the soil so it’s level and sow seeds 4cm apart in drills 1cm deep.

[judimac]

I have self sown seedlings coming up in the brassica bed! Apparently the seeds you get from the Indian supermarkets give a good crop if directly sown.

[ginger]

I agree with RumpleT - the seeds smell/taste amazing compared to the usual shop-bought stuff.

If it bolts, just claim it's intentional and you're growing it for the seeds

[fleecymango]

Hi,
Stupid question but is it still ok to use the larger leaves that have bolted yet for cooking? Or will they taste bad because the plant has already bolted?

I planted quite a few plants as I was told it was hard to grow - I now realise he meant it bolts like anything! - so I have quite a few plants but I dont want to throw them away. Would be great if I can still use the leaves I do have!

Cheers
Katie

[craftsmaster]

Even a novice herbalist should have no problem growing coriander from seeds. (I did it my first time around, and there was no novice who was more naïve and at a loss than I!)

Sow these seeds in the early spring. Dig a hole about ¼ inch in depth. Plant them in rows that are just about a foot apart. Once the seedlings appear, thin them down some, making sure they're at least 6 inches from each other.

[ember]

I wish mine would get to the bolting stage. The slugs always get there first. They absolutely adore corriander.

[Maralyn45]

I agree with ember..Slugs also make my crops worst...

[Dalton Press]

I was talking to our garder today re coriander, keep cutting it down then it won't bolt wash it and freeze it in water in an ice tray for handy portions.

[reetzblak]

Clearly the impact of the plant, such as lack of water or extreme temperatures can also cause bolting, which is a survival technique for plant use. To minimize the pressure to the factory. Do not leave water standing in them either, they do not like their roots too wet.

[merky588]

I always grow coriander like lettuce, sowing every couple of weeks so I get a constant crop. It is hard if not impossible to prevent it bolting in the UK.

[Nicola_D]

A bought a growing one from the supermarket and planted it into my hanging basket with other herbs, it was fine for a few weeks, but then bolted after the first few days of hot weather. My spinach bolted too

I love fresh corriander so it's annoying that it bolts so easily in this country

[vegetable-gardener]

It's a bit early to plant out.
I grew really nice coriander last year just in one of our raised beds. It did bolt in the end but you could still use it. I won't be sowing any until April.

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by Lady of Shallots

You have to keep cutting the tops off as when it gets too tall (above 10cm) it starts flowering like this, or 'bolting'. I think there's there's not a lot you can do when this happens, the leaves seem to go all skinny like fennel.

Apparently shock to the plant such as lack of water or extremes of temperature can also cause bolting, this is a survival technique the plant uses. Try to minimise such stresses to the plant. Don't leave them standing in water either, they don't like their roots too wet.

This happened to me too the first time I tried to grow it, now I grow a few plants at a time from seed and keep trimming them to stop them getting too big. You'll just have to find lots of recipes that include coriander yum!

You might find this article useful!
How to grow Coriander (cilantro) - all you need to know about growing Coriander

Thanks for the article, it was really useful!

[darthtata85]

Thanks so much for article that was posted also, ive had very little experience growing corriander, but i had some i started in plastic water cups and moved into a pot it looked like it had died but all of a sudden seems to be having a renaissance! will keep you posted.