Coriander should not be missing in any Mediterranean garden. So here's an explanation of how to plant and best care for coriander.
Coriander, like Vietnamese coriander, is very popular as a spice plant in our herb beds, especially as it is quite easy to grow and care for. Coriander is not only one of the aromatic herbs, but also a medicinal herb, since its seeds are described as antispasmodic in stomach and intestinal diseases. It is therefore worth planting twice this herb in the garden. Simply proceed as follows.
Plant cilantro
» Plant coriander outdoors:
You can grow the annual coriander in partial shade (for leaf harvesting) or in full sun (for seed harvesting). However, sowing in an outdoor bed that has been well supplied with compost should not take place before mid/end of April. It usually produces the first seedlings within about 2 weeks. As a rule, even 2 seedlings grow from one seed.
Hint:
In severe frost temperatures, you can of course prefer coriander on the window sill and only plant outdoors from mid-May.
As soon as the plantlets are relatively stable in growth, you have to transplant the coriander individually at a distance of about 10 to 15 centimeters. You should then water the young plants regularly, i.e. keep them slightly moist all the time.
» Plant coriander in a pot:
You can also easily grow coriander in pots on the balcony or terrace. It is advisable to add some sand to the nutrient-rich potting soil. Furthermore, the potties used should have a drainage system that drains water well.
Correct care of coriander
» casting:
You should always keep mature coriander dry, i.e. only water moderately when necessary. The coriander does not tolerate waterlogging at all.
» Pull weeds:
During the season you should regularly remove the weeds around the coriander and loosen the soil a little. Fertilization is usually no longer necessary.
» seedscollect:
The coriander, which grows up to about 70 centimeters tall, begins to bloom in mid-June, with its white umbels looking very pretty. And as early as August and well into September, it forms its seeds, which you can not only collect for new sowing, but also harvest as a spice grain.
Hint:
You should harvest the seeds when they are still light brown and let them ripen in the sun. This leads to fewer crop losses because the seed falls out quickly. Then store the seed in a dry place.
You can also harvest the herb (the leaves) of the coriander - similar to parsley - and use them optimally, especially in Asian dishes.