Moisture range
25–50%
Days to maturity
21–28
Light
Full sun
Growing Degree Units
400 · base 40°F
When to plant cilantro in your zone
Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates calibrated to your climate.
Growing notes
UMD Extension ↗Cilantro is a cool season crop that tends to bolt in hot weather and will self-seed if left to mature. Make successive sowings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Harvest signs
UMD Extension ↗harvest plants when 6 inches high or pick leaves sparingly when plants are 4-6 inches tall
▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, light
▶Pests & diseases— bacterial leaf spot
Common diseases · 1
Bacterial leaf spot: leaf spot symptoms ↗
Companions & antagonists
Plant near:SpinachDillTomato
Keep apart from:Fennel
Tip: Bolts quickly in heat - succession sow every 3 weeks.
Common questions
How much water does cilantro need?
Cilantro is water-sensitive — shallow roots and a steady thirst. Keep soil moisture in roughly the 25–50% range and don't let it dry out fully, or growth stalls and leafy crops turn bitter.
Can I grow cilantro in a raised bed or container?
Yes — cilantro does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.
Does cilantro come back every year?
No — cilantro is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.