Growing Cilantro Seeds in Containers: A Complete Guide

Do you prefer to eat fresh cilantro in your cooking but always buy it from the store? You can easily cultivate cilantro leaves at home if you want.

Cilantro, also known as cilantro, isn't just a feast for the eyes – its aroma and taste are equally delightful. Cilantro can now be produced very easily. Proper cultivation allows cilantro to grow very quickly. Once upon a time, cilantro was only produced in the winter months, but now it is possible to produce it throughout the year as perennial varieties are available.

You can easily cultivate it in a small space or container. This may be an extraordinary addition to your garden. From seed selection to harvesting, I will discuss everything step by step. So, without delay, get ready.

Benefits of Growing Cilantro in Containers

When you want to cultivate cilantro, then it is good to know some benefits of growing cilantro in containers. Here are some benefits of growing cilantro in containers.

Space-Saving Solution: Do you have limited outdoor space? No problem! Growing cilantro in containers is perfect for those who have small spaces, live in the city, and love to garden.

Year-Round Availability: If you do container gardening, you can enjoy fresh cilantro year-round, regardless of the season. You will never have to worry about buying cilantro from the store again.

Easy Maintenance: Containers require very little maintenance compared to traditional field cultivation. Simply water, fertilize occasionally, and watch your cilantro flourish.

Controlled Environment: You can easily control your growing environmental conditions by using containers for cultivation. Also, you can ensure optimal sunlight, soil moisture, and drainage for your cilantro plants.

Pest and Disease Management: By growing cilantro in containers, you can easily prevent various pests and diseases. In fact, you will have full control, resulting in healthy cilantro.

Choosing Containers for Cilantro

Choosing a good container for growing cilantro is very important. A container 16 to 18 inches wide and 8 to 10 inches deep is recommended. In this case, I'm using a Geo Bag, which has several advantages that I'll discuss below.

The Geo bag I am using is 16 inches long, 12 inches wide and 8 inches high. Cilantro  roots can spread very well in containers or geo bags of this size, resulting in healthy cilantro  plants.

Geo bags have other advantages such as their drainage is very good and allows a lot of aeration in the soil which is essential for cilantro plants. Geo bags are also reusable and very durable. Another advantage of Geo Bag is that it has two handles which can be easily removed to a safe place in any bad weather.

If you want, you can use any other container, in that case, you have to take care that the water drainage is good. Make sure that water is drained by making holes in the bottom of the container. Keep in mind that cilantro plants cannot tolerate waterlogging at all.

Selecting Cilantro Seeds

I selected seeds for container cilantro with a few things in mind. I share them with you below:

Containers are small spaces for growing, and it is important to select a variety of cilantro suitable for cultivation in small areas. Dwarf varieties of cilantro are very good in this regard; basically, these varieties have small plants, abundant leaves, and great yields are obtained by cultivating in a small area. The most popular varieties for container growing include "Santo," "Slow Bolt," and "Calypso." I have collected seeds of the Santo variety here; you can plant any other variety if you want.

Healthy, strong, fresh seeds mean healthy plants. So I always use fresh and high-quality seeds. I keep two things in mind while buying seeds: first, new seed; second, a good quality company. If you look at the date on the packet, you can tell whether the seeds are new or old. It is better to avoid old seeds; they have a low germination rate, and even if some germinate, the plants are weak. So you can understand that if we buy seeds keeping these things in mind, we can collect good seeds.

          Image: "Cilantro Seeds Packet" (Alt tag: Packet of Cilantro Seeds)

Soil Preparation

Now, I'll prepare the soil for planting cilantro seeds in pots, and I'll keep it simple and organic. Below, I will guide you through the step-by-step soil preparation to grow our cilantro:

Cilantro can be grown in almost all soils, but sandy loam or clay loam soils are good for growing cilantro . I will use 4 organics to make the soil here:

1. Garden Soil: 50%
2. Vermicompost or organic manure: 25%
3. Neem Khali: 15%
4. Cocopeat: 10%

I have prepared the soil by mixing everything in the above ratio. It should be remembered that cilantro plants cannot tolerate waterlogging at all. Here's a little tip: Before sowing the seeds, dry the soil in the hot sun for a day to get good results. I'm using geo bags here, so I don't have any drainage issues. For those of you who use anything else, make sure to drill holes in the bottom of the container to drain the water.

I've kept soil preparation simple and organic, so we won't have to worry about testing our soil's pH levels. Cilantro plants can generally tolerate much higher pH levels, so we don't have to worry about soil pH testing.

Image: "Soil Preparation" (Alt tag: Preparing Soil for Cilantro Planting)

Seed Germination

Cilantro seeds can germinate in roughly two ways. I have tried both methods and achieved good results with each. Below, I will describe both methods.

Method 1: Take the cilantro seeds out of the packet and let them sit for 10 minutes to adjust to the environment. Next, you'll need a cotton cloth and a sturdy surface. Place the cilantro seeds on the cotton cloth and fold the cloth gently, then press down gently on the folded cloth to split the cilantro seeds into two parts. Dividing the seeds in this way reduces the amount needed and significantly increases the germination rate.

Then soak the cilantro seeds in a container with water for 12 hours. After 12 hours, drain the water and wrap them lightly in a cotton cloth. Place them in a safe place, preferably in a plastic box. Then, wait for 3 days. After three days, open the plastic box and cotton cloth to check if germination has occurred. If the seeds haven't germinated, keep them for another 1 to 2 days. If everything is okay, all the seeds should have germinated.

Method 2: Like the first method, keep your cilantro seeds out of the packet for 10 minutes. Then, place the seeds on a cotton cloth and gently press to divide them into two parts. Afterward, soak them in water for 12 hours. Now, Drain the water and sprinkle the cilantro seeds into the soil of your container and lightly cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

After sowing seed do watering it then keep your container where sun have light. 4 to 6 hour medium sun light good for germination. Depending on the environment, the seeds germinate within 7 to 14 days in this method.

Planting Cilantro Seeds in Containers

I am now going to plant cilantro seeds using the seed germination method 1. This step is quite easy, as I have already discussed soil preparation, container selection, and seed germination. In my case, I have successfully germinated a good number of seeds using the first method. Now, I will proceed to my container (a GEO bag in my case) and fill it with soil. Then, I will directly sow the germinated seeds into the container. Just remember to plant the germinated seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep.

Image: "Planting Cilantro Seeds" (Alt tag: Planting Cilantro Seeds in Containers)

Caring for Container-Grown Cilantro

in case of cilantro plant Does not require much maintenance, A few things can be maintained to give a very good yield. i give some  tips from my practical experience bellow, it good enough for cilantro plant

Soil Moisture Management: cilantro plants always like consistently moist soil. keep watering regularly especially during dry season, This does not mean that you keep it overwater. cilantro plant does not like waterlogged. you aim is always keep soil moist not soggy.

Fertilization: If you want to have a consistently healthy cilantro plant, then you need to regularly fertilize it. You can use either liquid organic fertilizer or compost fertilizer. Liquid organic fertilizer is easy to use for container cilantro plants. I have already written a blog post on how to make homemade organic fertilizer, which you can read here. In my case, I use my own homemade organic liquid fertilizer for my cilantro plants. You can apply this fertilizer once a month. Details on how to use this fertilizer are discussed in my blog post titled "How to Make Homemade Organic Liquid Fertilizer.

Temperature Considerations:

Cilantro is primarily a cool-season herb. This plant prefers temperatures between 50-85°F (10-29°C). During hot summer months, you should keep it in afternoon shade or move the container to a cooler location.

Pest Management:

Cilantro plants are often attacked by common pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. In such cases, you can use neem oil and detergent powder. Mix 1 liter of water with 3 to 5 ml of neem oil and 1 teaspoon of detergent powder, then spray your cilantro plant with this solution. It can be used every 7 to 14 days. However, if there is a severe infestation, it should be applied every 3 to 5 days. Keep in mind that pesticide use should be stopped 7 days before harvesting.

Harvesting Cilantro from Containers

After one month, when the cilantro plant reaches a height of around 6-8 inches, they are ready for the first harvest. Use scissors to cut mature leaves from the plant, being careful to avoid cutting where new leaves are growing.

Do you remember when we selected the cilantro variety, we chose the Santo variety? This variety of cilantro is suitable for multiple cuttings. That's why I chose this cilantro variety. You can easily harvest cilantro leaves throughout a 4-month period. After harvesting the leaves, the plant will grow new leaves again.

If you want cilantro seeds, simply stop harvesting leaves and wait for the plant to flower and produce seeds. Once the cilantro plant bolts and matures, you can collect the cilantro seeds. You can use these seeds for planting again

Conclusion:

If you cultivate any plant with your own hands, it will give you deep satisfaction. When you see your cilantro plant growing healthy, fresh, aromatic, and of the best quality, your mind will be filled with happiness. I have been practical about planting cilantro and I am providing a step-by-step guide on what to do. It is very easy; just maintain proper soil moisture, fertilize regularly, and monitor the temperature. One more thing to note: if you see pests attacking, don't worry, just use natural solutions like neem oil and detergent powder. Okay, gardeners, just follow this step-by-step guide to get awesome fresh cilantro leaves for your favorite dishes.