How to Harvest Cilantro

For An Abundance All Season Long

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This easy guide on how to harvest cilantro will cover all aspects from how much to take from each plant during every harvest up until the plant goes dormant late in the season. Learn exactly how to harvest cilantro without killing the plant.

A Note About Cilantro

Cilantro, also known as Coriandrum sativum, is an herb commonly used in Latin American and Southeast Asian cuisines. This annual plant can be grown in USDA planting zones 3-11 with the right soil conditions and sun requirements. It prefers moist soil and should be planted in a sunny area that receives six plus hours of direct sunlight daily.

Thick Brush Stroke

There are many different varieties of cilantro including:

Long Standing

Santo

Calypso

Liesure

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How To Know When Cilantro Is Ready To Be Picked

Look out for plants that have reached 6-8 inches in height

Check the color and feel of the leaves

Monitor the flowering process

Check for an earthy aroma

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How To Harvest Cilantro Without Killing The Plant

Unlike parsley, cilantro is more delicate and can be damaged by over harvesting. Begin harvesting cilantro after at least four weeks, when the plant is 6-8 inches tall.

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How To Harvest Cilantro Without Killing The Plant

Up to 1/3 of the plant’s foliage can be harvested at one time but I generally recommend harvesting no more than 25% of the cilantro greens at one time.

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3 Basic principles for harvesting Cilantro

Harvest cilantro in the morning, after the morning dew has dried.

Harvest cilantro in the morning, after the morning dew has dried.

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3 Basic principles for harvesting Cilantro

Cut cilantro at the base of the plant to encourage new growth.

Cut cilantro at the base of the plant to encourage new growth.

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3 Basic principles for harvesting Cilantro

 Cut around 25% of the cilantro leaves at a time, leaving enough greens intact to encourage the plant’s continued growth.

Pro Tip

Pro Tip

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Plant your cilantro in well draining soil with plenty of mulch around to maintain a cool soil temperature.

Knowing when to harvest cilantro is important to ensure that it is at its peak flavor and quality. Here are some tips on how to know when cilantro is ready to be harvested to make sure that you don’t kill the plant.

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