Coriander scores with convincing talents as a spice plant, medicinal herb, and pasture for bees and butterflies. Thanks to its undemanding nature, the Mediterranean plant is ideal for growing in beds and pots. Here all questions about professional planting are answered in a practical way.
How do I plant coriander correctly?
To plant coriander successfully, choose a sunny to partially shaded and wind-protected location with nutrient-rich, loose and moist soil. Sow the seeds directly into the bed or pot and keep them constantly moist until they germinate.
What location preferences should you consider?
In order to grow coriander successfully, a sunny to semi-shady location is important. Since the plant reaches heights of up to 90 centimeters, the location should also be protected from the wind. In a nutritious, humus-rich soil, the vertigo weed happily stretches out its roots. Ideally, the soil is loose, permeable and fresh and moist.
How does sowing proceed as desired?
Since coriander seeds prove to be tolerant of cool spring temperatures, there is nothing wrong with growing them via direct sowing. In mild locations, the time window opens in April, otherwise sow directly into the bed in May. Proper planting is done in these steps:
- weed, rake and smooth the soil thoroughly at the chosen location
- work in a 5-8 cm high layer of leaf mold or compost
- Spread the seeds widely or plant the individual seeds 15-20 cm apart
- sieve and moisten the light germinators by a maximum of 0.5-0.6 cm with substrate
- a garden fleece (€34.00 at Amazon) serves as protection against delayed ground frosts
Depending on the prevailing temperature conditions, the seeds germinate within 14-21 days. Alternatively, grow the young plants on the windowsill in herb or transplant soil. Germination occurs quickly in a partially shaded place at 20-25 degrees Celsius.
When and how is coriander harvested?
You harvest leaf coriander shortly before the flowering period, which usually begins in June/July. If you pick the leaves from top to bottom, flowering and thus the end of growth will be delayed. If you grow coriander yourself by sowing, the harvest time for the seeds begins after an average of 24 weeks. If the seed heads turn a light brown color, cut off the entire umbels. When hung in a dry place, the grains ripen in peace.
How is coriander propagated?
As an annual plant, the only option for propagation is sowing. Therefore, forward-looking hobby gardeners ensure that the seeds of the next generation are harvested. Some of the fully ripened seeds are stored in a dark, dry container for this purpose. Vietnamese coriander, which is not related to real coriander, can be propagated as a knotweed plant using cuttings.
Tips & Tricks
You can easily grow coriander yourself in a box or bucket on the balcony. Since the spice plant reacts harshly to being transplanted, place the seeds immediately in the planter. Kept constantly moist in herb soil, the seedlings don't take long to appear. You select the weakest specimens later, so that a planting distance of 15 centimeters is created.