While the seed harvest can be tight if you sow coriander directly, growing it indoors gives you a significant head start in growth. Here we explain in practical terms how you can easily grow the Mediterranean spice plant yourself at home.
How can you grow coriander yourself?
To grow coriander yourself, sow fresh seeds from March in seed pots with peat sand, herb or seed soil and cover the seeds thinly. After germination at 18-22 degrees Celsius, the young plants are transplanted into the bed in frost-free conditions.
The best time and recommended cultivation pots
So that the cultivation in the house works like clockwork, the timing needs to be chosen carefully. In order to be able to transplant vital and compact young plants into the bed, sowing indoors must not start before March. Otherwise the seedlings will rot due to the dark lighting conditions.
Since previously grown coriander plants do not like to relocate, we recommend sowing them in peat press pots. These can later be planted together with the root ball in the bed and pot. This significantly reduces the stress on the plants and keeps them happy.
How to sow seeds on the windowsill
The fresher the seeds, the faster germination will occur. The extent to which soaking the seeds has a beneficial effect is controversially discussed among hobby gardeners. Here's how to approach the project step by step:
- fill the cultivation pots with peat sand, herb or seed soil
- press the substrate a little and moisten it
- sow 1-2 seeds per pot and sift them thinly as light germinators
Ideally, an indoor greenhouse (€24.00 on Amazon) is available to set up the seed containers in. Alternatively, put a plastic bag over each pot. In a partially shaded place at temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 1 week. The plastic hood has now completed its task and falls away.
Planting out seedlings – how to do it right
When the ground is no longer threatened with frost outdoors, plant the young plants in the bed. To do this, choose a sunny to partially shaded location. The soil should be nutrient-rich, humus-rich and, above all, well-drained. Now you benefit from the peat press pots because they are planted together with the coriander plant. When watering, make sure not to water your pupils from above.
Tips & Tricks
With a precisely balanced temperature you can counteract the dreaded shooting when growing coriander. As long as the temperature does not significantly exceed the 20 degree mark on the thermometer, the seedlings develop a compact habit.
