How to grow coriander, culantro

[KJessi]

I've seen people grow coriander successfully on YouTube, read articles, tried to follow what they do eg lightly crushing the seeds, wrapping up in a damp cotton towel, or simply sowing as normal in a pot and outside. Outside in different spots to see if it helps.

But nothing works for me. If it germinates, it's a spindly thing that might give off a couple leaves before bolting into flower.

I've ordered different varieties this time, including a culantro. Any herb that tastes similar, and that I can grow, would be great.

Any advice would be great.

[Andraste]

Coriander can bolt quickly in hot weather - maybe try an earlier sowing? It's too early for sowing outside now but I'd be tempted by a Feb/March sowing on a windowsill indoors if you have space.

Edit to add: I've never done anything fancy with my seed - just indoors to start off, in a small pot of compost with a bag over the top which I take off when they sprout. Depending on how much you use/want, you could do a second or even third sowing indoors/outdoors later. I try to keep mine out of mid-day sun when they've moved outside.

[bazzaboy]

coriander...... Any advice would be great.

If it helps I’ve been told if it’s leaves rather than seeds you want not to treat coriander as a traditional herb so much as a cool-season annual salad crop like baby lettuce – i.e. cool conditions, dappled shade, steady moisture, regular re-sowings etc. Also if you pick SOME choice leaves from several plants the plants will think (understandably!) they are under attack and rush to reproduce (bolt/seed)… So to harvest leaves it’s better to sow quite thickly, grow plants as juveniles (12-15cms tall rather than larger specimen plants) and crop one whole plant each time rather than select leaves from several plants. You can either yank the whole plant out roots-an-all and leave space for its neighbour to grow, or cut near ground level and leave the root to try again. Longer day-length and warmer temperatures encourage rushing to seed so it tends to do best (for leaves) in Spring and Autumn. Hope that helps!
I was amused to learn the name ‘coriander’ comes from Greek ‘koris’ meaning ‘bedbug’ and to some folk it will taste like soap. So coriander is a bit of a mixed blessing!