Plants
Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum · Apiaceae
Hardly any herb divides opinion like cilantro: indispensable in Asian and Mexican cooking for some, it tastes of soap to others — which is in fact partly genetic. The fresh greens are easy to grow in a pot once you know their quirk: coriander is annual, bolts quickly in heat and prefers to stand cool and evenly moist.
- Light
- Bright to sunny, but without trapped heat — at midsummer a semi-shaded spot is better.
- Watering
- Evenly moist without waterlogging; never let it dry out completely or it will bolt.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Coriandrum sativum
Coriander is really two spices in one plant: the fresh leaf greens (cilantro) with their polarising citrus-spice note, and the ripe seeds (coriander seed), which taste warm and nutty and go into bread spice, currys and gingerbread. Let the herb flower and you automatically harvest the second spice at the end.
The soap perception is not imagination: some people perceive the aldehydes in coriander leaf as soapy due to a variant of an odour receptor gene. Interestingly, the note often fades with chopping and cooking — the herb is worth a second try.
The biggest hurdle in pot culture is bolting: in heat, drought stress or overcrowding, coriander pushes up a flower stalk within days and the leaf aroma fades. A bright but cool spot without harsh midday sun, even moisture and bold harvesting delay flowering considerably.
For a continuous harvest, succession sowing works best: a few seeds in a fresh pot every three to four weeks keeps the windowsill supplied without gaps. Coriander germinates reliably if you lightly crush the round fruits beforehand and cover the seed darkly. Bolt-resistant varieties such as Calypso or Marino extend the harvest window further.
Harvest as with parsley from the outside in, leaving the heart standing. Cilantro is, by the way, safe for pets — in small amounts it is even occasionally mixed into feed. If you like, let a few umbels ripen at the end of the season and harvest your own coriander seed.
Is Cilantro toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Cilantro is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people — in small amounts the herb even appears in some pet foods. As with all herbs, very large nibbled quantities can upset sensitive stomachs.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place it bright but cool — harsh midday sun and heat drive coriander into flower.
- 02Keep it evenly moist; drought stress is the most common trigger for bolting.
- 03Sow or plant in deep pots — like all umbellifers, coriander has a taproot.
- 04Harvest from the outside in and leave the heart standing.
- 05Sow successively every three to four weeks for a continuous supply of tender greens.
- 06Feed only lightly — overfed herbs lose aroma.
Frequently asked
- Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
- It is partly in the genes: people with a certain variant of an odour receptor gene perceive the aldehydes in coriander leaf as soapy. Chopped and cooked, the herb often loses much of that note — if you have only tried cilantro raw, give it a second chance cooked.
- Why does my cilantro bolt so quickly?
- Coriander is annual and responds to heat, drought stress and long summer days with rapid bolting — that is its nature. A cool, bright to semi-shaded spot, even watering, regular harvesting and bolt-resistant varieties such as Calypso buy you several more weeks of leaf harvest. After that, only resowing helps.
- Is cilantro toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, cilantro is considered safe for cats and dogs and is even added to some pet foods in small amounts. A pot on the windowsill poses no risk in pet households.
- Can I harvest leaves and seeds from the same coriander plant?
- Yes — just not both at peak quality at the same time. First the young plant delivers its leafy greens; if you then let it flower, the round fruits ripen by late summer. Once they turn brown and smell nutty, cut the umbels, let them finish drying and store the seed airtight.