Cilantro is a well-known and versatile culinary herb. It can be grown in the garden or in containers. Keep it close to the kitchen so that it can be cut quickly and added to salads, soups, salsas and much more.

Directly plant Cilantro herb seeds in the garden as soon as frost danger has passed. The soil can still be somewhat cool for planting. In hot climates, Cilantro plants can be started in the fall. Cilantro seeds can be started successively 2 - 3 weeks apart for a continual supply all fall and winter.

Cilanto plants do best with full morning sun and shade in the afternoons. The soil should be light and well-draining.

• Work the garden soil to a depth of 6 inches
• Add compost to help with drainage
• Cilantro seeds have a hard outer coat, so a 24 hour soak is helpful to soften the coat
• Sow the herb seeds and cover 1/4 inch with soil
• Keep the seeds moist for germination
• Rows should be about 12 inches apart
• Thin Cilantro seedlings that are 2 inches tall to 3 - 4 inches apart

• Harvest leaves any time
• The new leaves at the top of plant will have the freshest taste
• Cilantro herbs are meant to be eaten fresh
• Hot temperatures will cause the Cilantro plants to bolt