When to plant cilantro
Plant cilantro between 2 weeks before and 1 week after the last spring frost in spring, or 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F. That works out to zone 5b (late April to mid May), zone 7a (early April to late April) and zone 9a (mid February to early March).
Cilantro planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | cilantro ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 1 – May 22 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 | Jun 25 |
| 4b | Apr 29 – May 20 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 | Jun 23 |
| 5a | Apr 27 – May 18 | Aug 6 – Sep 3 | Jun 21 |
| 5b | Apr 21 – May 12 | Aug 13 – Sep 10 | Jun 15 |
| 6a | Apr 16 – May 7 | Aug 20 – Sep 17 | Jun 11 |
| 6b | Apr 10 – May 1 | Aug 24 – Sep 21 | Jun 5 |
| 7a | Apr 1 – Apr 22 | Aug 30 – Sep 27 | May 26 |
| 7b | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Sep 6 – Oct 4 | May 18 |
| 8a | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Sep 12 – Oct 10 | May 8 |
| 8b | Mar 2 – Mar 23 | Sep 20 – Oct 18 | Apr 26 |
| 9a | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Oct 1 – Oct 29 | Apr 12 |
| 9b | Jan 21 – Feb 11 | Oct 15 – Nov 12 | Mar 17 |
How to plant cilantro
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 50°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1/4–1/2 in |
| Spacing | 6–8 in |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Time to harvest | 45–70 days |
Cilantro bolts quickly in heat, so it is a spring and fall herb.
Sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.
It tolerates light frost.
When to harvest cilantro
Cut leaves when plants are 6 inches tall; let some go to seed for coriander.
Planting cilantro in warm climates
In zones 8–10 cilantro grows best from fall through winter.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.