Stupid question: Would it grow better in a container?

We grow it in pots. It does seem to do best in filtered light or even shade, at least here in Southern CA. Definitely not full sun for us. I’d say it’s probably our most finicky herb to grow but also a must-have at our house.

Both Dill and Cilantro are reluctant growers for me. People call them cool season plants but I think they aren’t warm enough in my spot. They never seem to get going. I can buy a huge bunch in the market for very little, so I’ve basically given up on them both.

Is your gardener planting or sowing? If planting that may be the problem.

Cilantro always bolts so you need to keep sowing it. But there is at least one variety that is slower to bolt. Can't remember the name of it.

I always let some go to seed, both to have coriander and to have seed for next year.

Central Wisconsin. Cilantro is impossible for me. It sprouts and then it bolts. I don't get any stems that even resemble the bunches at the grocery store. Heat isn't a problem for the most part; I'm wondering if the long day length here in the Northern tier is the reason? And, yes, I have tried the slow bolt version.

laceyvail 6A, WV, Vietnamese cilantro is much slower to bolt.

Cilantro is very cheap to buy here at the grocery store - generally 33¢ for a good sized bunch.

I trim the ends from the bunch when I get it home, stick it in a glass of water, and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep there for at least two weeks, but I do change the water every few days.

I've also grown cilantro, but it is a winter crop here, unless you grow it with a lot of shade - the same with dill.

If your cilantro bolts quickly, it is probably getting too much sun. I always grow mine in pots so that I can move it to the best position in the yard.

Lol! I’m glad to hear it’s not just my cilantro that bolts so quickly. I just sow new seed occasionally throughout the summer.

Lars, that’s so cheap — multiply by 10 here.

"Cilantro is very cheap to buy here at the grocery store - generally 33¢ for a good sized bunch."

Lars, there's a Middle Eastern market near us that sells herbs for that same price. Staters might be around 70 cents and Vons is likely higher. It's been awhile since I had to buy cilantro.

Sometimes I do like Lars does. More often, I forget and end up tossing the bunch in the freezer after a week or so. Use scissors to cut off what I need from the frozen bunch.

Usually have to pay something like 88 cents for a bunch. Not expensive but I don't use it enough to always have fresh in the refrigerator. So it isn't the cost, it's the hassle of getting fresh when I need it.

I too have a hard time growing cilantro...

one silver lining… the green seeds taste amazing! thanks Samin Nosrat who wrote in NYT about it

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/magazine/gardening-made-me-happier-it-will-work-for-you-too.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWma3DKDm8fiOEcDIGS-kHAIqVqfdc-2TWdS5pEObMiAfl_i-9WJ1RsRhPto4fBh5UBJ2AqrpiwG20xxdfcWq197TjtKGmlLeM1jJuOgyW7ChniS_uUlH48Ol4l5Ms0KA23jiMDw_3GEeVq2IZ4iuMmUZ4qWTYHbXOVtvnpXBsva4_XOR_e-RB2D78CIUzbm9-W7rIKcwxAWxmRHD4kvzFKuJ4LM8gXPa3_MxcqZML85LwQAWFpJ42ubIYjE8mWz_459O6Q9mHfjZa-1P40F65LvbPbs2bcNVwnTbmePlmZTSWPpYWX1hTIFJ3U1ocbANRe&smid=url-share

Goodness, apologies if this doesn't work... it opened my eyes to using the green coriander/ cilantro seeds. I resubscribed to NYT to share this, and the link above is based on NYT saying I could share it ??

I was able to read it. Ty! I’ll try some green seeds soon! :)

eta: just went to the garden and found a goldfinch eating the green seeds. They are definitely tasty good. lol!

Glad you like them! And the link worked :)

I should have described what the NYT article is about - Samin Nosrat , author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat writes about using green cilantro seeds.

Birds are having a feeding frenzy here too, yellow warblers, redpolls, nuthatches, and the frisky stellar jays, robins, etc.

Mine bolt almost within a week of transplanting from a container. Leaving it in the container doesn't fare much better. Planting seeds doesn't fare much better.

Smiles,

Sooz

I planted it many years ago and it grew like crazy here. Then found out DH hates it! I let it go to seed and it took over the garden. it took years to get rid of it.

Try culantro, tolerates the heat better

Slow bolt varieties exist. Like par-cel--a celery/parsley hybrid we like. Still needs part shade or they bolt. Fine here early spring but bolt no mather the heat/sun/shade.

I have a mint we both like and we have no issues that it runs rampant. Lovely ground cover and a nice addition to meals.

I did just plant a new crop for the Fall. Never know what might do best in drought/soggy soils...heat/cold.

Cilantro is 99cents a big bunch here year-round. I tend to just add that to my necessary grocery list like shallots, lemon/limes, red onions, some potatoes....celery...