How to grow cilantro at home in winter?

The summer cottage season is almost over, the gardeners are gathering the last fruits, berries, root crops, and the housewives are turning the blanks. Winter is coming and we need supplies, but even more we need vitamins - without them, our immune system cannot be at the level that will provide reliable protection. Then we start to get sick often, lose activity, and the days are wasted. To get the necessary substances, you need to eat a lot of fresh herbs and vegetables, and that's exactly the first one today and we'll talk. You won't surprise anyone with dill and parsley, but we will tell you about how to grow cilantro on the windowsill. Such a vegetable garden will give a spicy herb that has a storehouse of benefits.

Both beautiful and useful

Cilantro on the window - is it worth it?

To begin with, we note that cilantro is coriander. But a small nuance is that in the first case, the green mass is meant, and in the second, the seeds. So, scientists say, but most people can use both names, denoting exactly greens. Spicy grass can be grown in our country quite simply - it tolerates the harsh climate, frequent changes of weather, and also grows magnificently at home.

Why don't you sow coriander, too? Oh yes, many scold the spicy plant for its aroma - like bedbugs, they say, this cilantro smells. But the smell of smell, by the way, for many is a cognac sillage, but it does not diminish the benefits that a home garden with this herb can give.

Greens in winter are a source of vitamins and minerals

How to grow cilantro on a windowsill, we will tell you in detail below. But first, a little about the benefits. Coriander and cilantro have been known for thousands of years, they are mentioned in writings and holy books, however, in our country, like many things and products, the plant was appreciated much later. But scientists have discovered a lot of useful properties due to the rich composition. Cilantro can help the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract, and it also expels various harmful substances and helps our skin. It is also a powerful defense against infections, replacements, bacteria and viruses. So planting cilantro at home is a matter of honor and taking care of your family, especially in the autumn-winter period, when vitamin deficiency is rampant.

For information! Cilantro contains vitamins - A, group B, C, E, K, macro- and microelements - magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, phosphorus, manganese, iron, potassium. It is also a source of acids and essential oils.

Is it possible to grow cilantro everywhere on the windowsill?

You know, people often think that only experienced summer residents can grow something at home, including seedlings, herbs - those who have a warm balcony and even better their own home. But this is a delusion, since any apartment can become a good place for your small garden - tomatoes, herbs, herbs, cucumbers, lemons and more, even a resident of the capital can grow all this.

The grass loves the light

Yes, the location of the windows plays an important role, but even the most southern and successful window sills do not always provide good light. The climate may not please with months of sunny days, then just lamps for growing come to the rescue. They can be both special - phyto-lighting, and simple incandescent lamps, but the latter option is less effective. Good soil, light, competent watering, and you can already cut your cilantro and put it in salads, soups, replenishing the deficiency of elements in the body. It can also make blanks - dry and freeze the grass.

For information! You knew that dried cilantro does not have such a tart and unpleasant aroma for many as fresh. The thing is that during the drying process, some of the substances volatilize. You can't eat fresh greens, eat dried ones, they still have a lot of benefits.

Cilantro on the windowsill - all stages of growing from seeds

We buy seed material

In fact, this is a rather simple stage, because cilantro is not a rare spicy plant, for which there is a queue in shops for summer residents. You can buy seeds everywhere, spending very little money. But it is important to remember one nuance at this stage - the production time. Cilantro is not one of those cultures that gain more strength over the years. There are some plants that are recommended to be planted from seeds that have been stored for three years. Always try to buy coriander as freshly packaged as possible.

Only fresh coriander is needed for sowing

Choosing a place

The second important step in growing cilantro from seed. The plant comes from warm countries, scientists believe that the native land of the herb is the Mediterranean. Love for warmth can also be seen during the cultivation of greenery in the garden - in sunny areas the plants grow very actively, have a rich leaf color. Hence, we conclude that it is best to find a southern or eastern window in your house, where there will be the most light during the day. If there are none, then lamps will be needed.

A bright window for seedlings is one of the important conditions.

Someone will ask, is it possible to do without them? It is possible, but your greenery will be frail with elongated stems and a rare green mass. You can buy lamps in many stores or order them online. At the same time, manufacturers take care of gardeners and make different mounting options, which is very convenient. Additional light sources can help you:

• fluorescent lamps - very often they are used by experienced summer residents. These sources provide good illumination, uniform and not very hot. That is, tender seedlings will not get burned;
• aquarium. There are gardeners who put them, but this is far from the best option, but only an extreme measure;
• daylight. They may also work well, but it is better to combine them with incandescent lamps, since a daylight lamp gives more blue tint during operation;
• incandescent lamps. Also not the best option, expensive and should be combined with a luminescent source;
• phytolamps - have the most optimal color combination for growing plants.

For seedlings to grow and develop well, they need light with red-orange rays and violet-blue. They give both good vegetation and accelerate growth. This means that you will receive your greens faster, and their quality will be better. It is also worth noting that cilantro tolerates cold well, despite its habitat in hot countries. Therefore, do not worry if your home is not as warm as needed for many cultivated plants and growing their seedlings.

Did you know! Spicy, odorous herbs are averse to many insects, as are spices. Therefore, if your houseplants often suffer from attacks by parasites or they bother you themselves, then cilantro on the window can become a deterrent.

Choosing a capacity

We continue to understand the issue of growing cilantro from seeds, and now it is time to take care of the container or container, or pot, to whom, as it is convenient. What would we recommend.If you just want to experiment, then you should not force the windowsills with bulky trays, just buy or find one pot and throw a guest of seeds into the ground. You will receive your bunch of cilantro and know if it's worth it or not. Still, the grass is the most unusual of all we know, not everyone can even smell it.

Greens can be grown in different pots, as you prefer.

The main rule of this stage is good drainage. That is, whichever pot you choose, holes must be made in advance for draining water and a layer of expanded clay, broken brick or crushed stone must be prepared. You can also place pieces of styrofoam at the bottom. If you decide to grow greens all year round, then buy long trays that will be as comfortable as possible on your window, and you can easily carry out all the care procedures.

Also remember that your lamps and containers must be optimally matched to each other. That is, if you decide to use a simple incandescent lamp, then plant cilantro in a pot. If you have long fluorescent light sources, then the containers must be appropriate for the process to be as efficient as possible. Elbows sold in the store are different - there is a ready-made double bottom, which just allows the water to drain well and does not form stagnation.

On a note! Excess moisture at the roots is the cause of the death of many plants, as well as an excellent environment for the development of pathogenic flora.

Choosing the soil

And this stage is not difficult even for a beginner. Growing cilantro from seeds cannot be successful without giving the plants the good nutrition they will receive from the soil.

• If you live in areas where the soil is fertile, then a simple garden land will do.
• If not, then buy the simplest universal soil, it is in any store, and not only for summer residents.
• You can also use the 1/1 option, that is, when you take your own soil and mix it with the same amount purchased. It is the most popular soil for planting home flowers.
• There is also a recipe for soil - humus, sod land, sand in a ratio of 1/1 / 0.5.

Each pot should have a drain and drain holes

But here, too, there are some subtleties, if you do not follow them, then you may not grow your first vegetable garden on the window. Any land can become a source of diseases for cultivated plants, as well as infest with parasites. You can also bring pests to your indoor flowers. But this problem can be easily solved - the soil, moreover, even purchased, since not all manufacturers are conscientious, must be spilled a couple of days before planting with boiling water with potassium permanganate. Then dry and then sow. You can add a spoonful of wood ash. If you use all the land from the garden, then make sure that there are no earthworms in it.

Advice! In order for the green mass to grow well, apply nitrogen fertilizer to the soil, which must be purchased in advance.

Sowing coriander

Well, let's move on to the main stages - this is the cultivation and care of cilantro. So, on the bottom of the trays you lay out any drainage, on top you put fertile soil that has already been etched from parasites and diseases. It should be loose, breathable, dry or slightly damp. Sow in rows every 3-4 cm. You can, of course, scatter the seeds arbitrarily, but then not all seedlings will be able to grow and develop well, and the return will not be maximum. If you want to make a pick, then cilantro does not like this, since it has a straight root, with even a little damage of which it can wither. And transplanting for seedlings is the most unpleasant moment.

The most optimal landing option is the rows

Therefore, immediately plant the seeds as needed and to a depth of about a centimeter. Sprinkle with cilantro lightly, pour from a spray bottle so as not to wash out crops. Now you need to cover the trays with foil to create a greenhouse effect. We transfer containers with crops to the window, wait for shoots.When the sprouts have appeared, we remove the film and then take care of the crops.

Advice! You can shed plantings with stimulants for better growth, there are a lot of them on sale, but always look for those that are marked "Bio". These drugs are not harmful to your health.

In principle, everything is simple - cilantro needs good light, which we have already talked about, especially if you plant greens in the fall, not in the spring. Watering is the main condition for greenery, but only as the soil dries out. After wetting the next day, always loosen the soil to allow oxygen. It is better to defend water in advance for a day so that it is softer. As they grow, turn the seedlings over to the light so that they do not bend or stretch. This will be enough.

Important! The lamps should light up the seedlings regularly, and not from time to time, when you remember. So, the seedlings will develop poorly, and the processes inside the seedlings will not proceed correctly.

These are the main rules and subtleties during the cultivation and care of cilantro, as well as at the stage of preparation for sowing. The greenery on the window will delight you very soon, if you do everything right, and will bring benefits and positive emotions - after all, you grew it yourself.

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Growing greenery on a windowsill is not only an interesting activity, but also a great opportunity to add fresh vitamins to your food. In addition, there is nothing difficult in breeding such a rather unpretentious plant like cilantro. It is enough to choose a suitable variety, observe certain care requirements, and bright, tasty greens will delight you in the cold season. Consider in the article how to grow cilantro on the windowsill, which varieties are suitable for this.

Cilantro on the windowsill: 5 best varieties

Cilantro varieties are divided into two types - leafy and seed. Leafy species are grown for the sake of greenery, they do not bloom as quickly as seed ones, so you should stop on them. For home cultivation, certain varieties are selected: early, early ripening, since in apartment conditions the development will be longer.

Plants should be compact in shape and undemanding to care for. When buying seeds, be sure to pay attention to their expiration date, because if you lose germination, all efforts will be in vain. The 5 best varieties of cilantro for growing at home are presented in the table:

N / a	Name	Characteristics
1.	"King of the market"	Early ripening, large yield of greenery, leaves are juicy, fragrant, not demanding on heat
2.	"Buchkovaya"	Early maturing, erect stem, compact, strong aroma
3.	"Avangard"	Erect, compact, strong flavor, disease resistance, high green yield
4.	"Early"	Fast-growing, easy to care for, cold-resistant, fragrant and delicate leaves
5.	"Alekseevsky"	Early ripening, fruitful, high stem, cold-hardy

How to start growing cilantro?

To grow fresh greens with your own hands, in addition to buying good seeds, you will need some items and tools:

• Growing containers or suitable containers of sufficient depth - plastic, ceramic pots, wooden boxes, cans;

For growing cilantro, various containers are used, for example, peat pots.

• Soil or porous materials for arranging a hydroponic system;
• Fertilizers, top dressing;
• Thermometer;
• Watering can with a spray bottle for irrigation;
• Backlight lamp;
• Polyethylene film.Read also the article: → "How to grow onions and other greens in an apartment."

Carefully study the methods and conditions of growing, the rules of care:

1. Ensure good drainage in advance. It can be expanded clay, pieces of brick or shards - they fill the bottom of the containers before planting.
2. Find the right place for your indoor vegetable garden. It should be on the sunny side, with windows facing south or west. In poor lighting conditions, you will need to install a backlight.
3. If necessary, make additional racks to accommodate plants and insulate the window and sill.

Tip # 1. It is very convenient to use special hydroponic installations or desktop mini-gardens for growing greenery at home.

Ways to grow cilantro at home in a pot

Method 1: growing from seeds

As a rule, when growing cilantro, a seedless method is used. For this, the seeds are planted in containers, on the bottom of which a layer of drainage material is laid and pre-prepared and moistened soil is poured, the seeding depth is 0.5-1.5 cm. 2-4 cm are left from the soil to the edges of the container, so that later you can add soil if necessary.

• In containers, when planting, grooves are made at a distance of 5-7 cm, the distance in a row is 1-1.5 cm.
• In pots, seeds can be planted in a spiral, with a similar distance. Later, the plants can always be thinned out in the phase of the first leaves, leaving the healthiest and strongest specimens.
• From above, the seeds are lightly sprinkled with sifted peat to avoid crust formation, watered abundantly, then the sown area is covered with a film. The containers are placed in a dark place until the seedlings appear. Please note: do not allow the substrate to dry out excessively; if necessary, moisten it from time to time.

It is necessary to plant cilantro seeds in containers suitable in depth, taking into account the size of the root system, so that the plant has the possibility of normal development

Method 2: growing ready-made plants

• Currently, some retail chains sell ready-made cilantro greens with roots, grown in hydroponics. It can also be planted in containers, and then used as food for the growing leaves and twigs.

Pros and cons of ways:

• The first method of growing, although it is more time-consuming, is more reliable, of course, in the presence of high-quality seeds, suitable conditions and adherence to agricultural technology.
• The second method is possible in the presence of planting material, however, adult plants can be sick for a long time and take root badly, since cilantro does not tolerate transplants.

Tip # 2. Sow seeds at intervals of several times, which is usually 12-16 days. This will allow you to constantly receive greens to the table.

Features of care for cilantro seedlings

Requirements for the composition of the soil

• The easiest way is to use ready-made neutral or slightly alkaline soil mixtures for vegetable crops, which are offered by specialized stores. They have in their composition all the necessary fertilizers and are sustained according to an environment acceptable for cilantro (the plant does not tolerate acidic soils).
• If there is no possibility of buying a ready-made soil mixture, then it should be borne in mind that cilantro is very demanding on the composition and fertility of the soil. She loves light, sandy loam, loose soils with a neutral reaction. On infertile soils, the yield of greenery is low, the plant shoots faster.
• The soil should not be covered with a crust, it should be shallow and loosened from time to time, taking care not to damage the plants.
• For home cultivation, you can use vermicompost mixed with prepared and pre-soaked coconut fiber (ratio 1: 2). Plants will be provided with nutrients with good soil aeration. Read also the article: → "Growing basil on a windowsill."

Features of seedling lighting

• The peculiarities include the fact that with a long daylight hours, the plant quickly gains peduncles, and with a significant reduction in lighting, its growth slows down with a loss of green mass and its quality. Therefore, the total number of light hours should be at least 6-8, but not more than 10-12 per day.
• In winter and on cloudy days, additional lighting will be required.
• Turn the container with the plant 180 degrees once a day so that the greens receive the light evenly and do not stretch from one side.

Watering and feeding sprouts in pots

• Should be moderate but consistent. The plant equally does not tolerate both dry soil and waterlogged soil. In the absence of a sufficient amount of moisture, the greens will be sparse, stunted, and will quickly turn to arrowing.

The soil should not dry out, watering is necessary moderate, but constant

• In the stage of intensive growth, watering is slightly increased. In hot weather, if the air in the room is too dry, you can lightly sprinkle greens with warm water. On cooler winter days, the amount of watering can be reduced because the evaporation is less intense.
• Water is taken only settled or filtered, always warm.
• Top dressing is carried out after the formation of the rosette and the active growth of the green mass. You can use an additive to the water of ready-made complex or biofertilizers, according to the attached instructions, combining top dressing with watering.

Air temperature and humidity

• Although cilantro tolerates a short-term drop in temperature well enough, cold is not acceptable for its development. The plant begins to ache and poorly gains green mass.
• High humidity, dampness causes damage by pathogenic viruses and fungi.
• Greens will also react badly to too high a temperature and dry air. Normal room temperature and humidity and no drafts are most suitable.

Planting and harvesting dates

• You can grow cilantro for greens at home all year round.
• The germination time of seeds depends on the variety, as well as on the growing conditions, and can range from 12 to 20 days.
• The first greens are obtained in about a month.

You can grow cilantro for greens all year round, a month after sowing, the first crop is cut.

Features of caring for cilantro at home are presented in the table:

Care type	Peculiarities	Recommendations
Watering	Moderate, but sufficient, does not tolerate waterlogging	Drying of the soil is not allowed, in the initial period of development, more water will be required
Top dressing	Liquid complex fertilizers are used	Apply according to the instructions, adding to the water when watering
Temperature	from + 14 ° С to + 22 ° С	The plant tolerates cold well, but develops better at room temperature.

Answers to current questions

Question number 1.Sowed seeds in low containers, now there is little space for the plants. Can they be transplanted into other containers in the 2-leaf phase?

Annual spices do not tolerate transplanting well. But, of course, you can try to gently transplant them to a new place, after watering the ground abundantly and trying not to damage the roots and stems.

Question number 2.When and how to properly cut emerging greens?

Do not cut off the very first branches and leaves - the plant needs them for photosynthesis. The greens should be collected when the outlet is formed, but at the same time do not cut it to the very root, but leave a few centimeters under the lower leaves. It will grow back after a while. Read also the article: → "Growing parsley at home."

Question number 3.What material is suitable for drainage?

In order for the moisture in the container with herbs to not stagnate, and the roots do not rot, much attention is paid to drainage. To do this, use expanded clay, shards of shards or bricks, fine gravel. They should first be rinsed and poured over with boiling water for disinfection. It is interesting to use synthetic winterizer as a drainage, it perfectly collects excess moisture.

Question number 4.Why are peduncles removed from a plant?

So that it does not send all its forces to flowering, since the growth of green mass and its quality are sharply reduced, the leaves have an unpleasant odor, the plant ages quickly.

Question number 5.Is it possible to plant cilantro with parsley or dill in the same container?

Any joint planting is best avoided, since cilantro does not tolerate the presence of neighbors.

Review of growing cilantro at home

Cilantro is one of our family's favorite herbs. Therefore, in winter and spring, we grow it indoors. With pleasure I add delicate and fragrant cilantro leaves to salads, soups, main courses.To get a bountiful harvest of greens, I plant several of my favorite varieties - this is "King of the Market", "Yantar", "Avangard".

I grow greens from seeds, which I pre-soak for 2-4 hours in warm water (+ 40 ° C), and then pickle for 15 minutes in a pink (1%) manganese solution. After that, I rinse them thoroughly and keep them in a growth stimulant solution, prepare it according to the instructions. Swollen seeds germinate better, and those that are damaged float, and I remove them.

Before sowing, seeds are pickled in 1% manganese solution for 15 minutes

• For planting, I prepare a container and pour into it a special soil for growing vegetables, purchased in a company store.
• I moisten it well with water and make grooves at a distance of 5 cm, where I put the prepared seeds. Sprinkle with soil on top and gently water it again.
• I tighten the container with polyethylene, in which I make small holes around the perimeter so that there is air access. Then I put the container in a dark place.

Since the seeds of cilantro are quite taut, the period for the appearance of the first shoots is considerable - from 10 to 16 days. Therefore, the film must be lifted from time to time and made sure that the earth is in a loose and damp state, but not in any way waterlogged, because the seeds can rot and disappear. I try to sow cilantro at different times, with an offset of 2 weeks, so that fresh greens are constant.

When shoots appear, I leave the strongest in the row. I water it on time, try to keep the soil loose. I pick the first greens to the table in about a month, when a lush rosette forms. In the future, I follow the timely removal of flower buds when they appear.

How to avoid common mistakes

Mistake # 1.It is wrong to assume that for growing plants at home, you can take the first available soil from any lawn. In an unsuitable and impoverished land, cilantro will grow poorly and hurt, it will bloom quickly and will not give greenery. In addition, pests and weeds can be found in uncultivated land.

How to avoid? Use special soil mixes that are offered in company stores or compose them yourself, following the appropriate recommendations.

For sowing, grooves are made, after moistening the soil, then prepared seeds are laid out in them.

Mistake # 2.Placing different spicy herbs in one container, as a result, they begin to oppress each other.

It is better to grow cilantro separately from other greens, it does not relate well to the neighborhood with other plants.

Mistake number 3.The flower stalks do not break off the plant in time, as a result, the greenery begins to wither and smells unpleasant.

It is necessary to pinch flower buds in time, as soon as they appear, not allowing the plant to waste energy on flowering.

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All kitchen workers know a wonderful spicy seasoning called coriander. Coriander comes from the cilantro plant. How to grow and care for her is the topic of our article. After studying it, you can easily understand how to grow cilantro right at home, no longer spending money on buying coriander in the store.

A little about cilantro

Like the famous spicy carrot, cilantro (coriander) has become famous thanks to Korean gardeners and chefs. In Korea, they say that weed can prolong life. And this fact has been known for more than five thousand years! It is worth listening. Moreover, growing it is not a difficult process at all, and you can grow it, both outdoors in the garden in the country, and at home.

Possessing a rather pleasant aroma, the heroine of our article is an annual plant belonging to the Umbrella. Not only seeds are fragrant, but also greens, therefore they are also used, both dried and fresh. Outwardly, cilantro is also pretty, therefore it may well serve as a simple decoration for your windowsill.

Video about the benefits of cilantro

The technology for working with cilantro divides the cultivation into two stages. Before the seeds ripen, the grass is grown for the sake of greens (actually, cilantro). And when the seeds are ripe, they focus on getting coriander.

Growing cilantro in the country

First of all, we select a place in the country that is well lit and free from drafts. Can also be seated in partial shade. To prevent the plant from getting wet before it ripens, you should not plant it in hollows, but best of all - on a flat or elevated area.

To keep the soil as suitable and nutritious as possible, it is carefully loosened and fertilized in the same process. One square meter of such a site will require a nutrient mixture consisting of a half bucket of humus, which should be mixed with fresh wood ash (in a small amount). Those who prefer mineral fertilizers should attend to fertilizing the soil with them even at the stage of soil loosening. One square meter will require 20-30 grams of fertilizer.

You can sow cilantro seeds at home any day.

Growing cilantro outdoors is possible only during warm seasons, especially if it happens outside the home. Planting does not require special agrotechnical knowledge, especially considering that the plant often spreads even without the help of people. You can sow cilantro seeds at home any day. The coriander seeds should be planted in already moist soil. If it is not important for you personally to sow the grass in rows, you can do it randomly. Finally, sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

When the first sprouts appear, cilantro breaks through so that only the strongest coriander sprouts can continue to grow. The recommended distance is approximately 7 centimeters.

Growing spice at home

Many lovers of delicious food ask how to grow cilantro at home. And here's how it happens at home:

• In the first half of the first month of spring, choose a large container;
• Plant coriander seeds in it, about 7 cm apart and about 2 cm deep into the soil;
• To achieve a greenhouse effect, place the container in a plastic bag, or simply cover with plastic. In addition, while the coriander is growing, it should receive maximum light, so fluorescent lighting is installed nearby.
• As soon as cotyledon leaves are found on the sprouts, we remove the film. Within 3 weeks you get edible greens.

As soon as cotyledon leaves are found on the sprouts, remove the film

Of course, coriander can also be planted in small containers, pots. Two seeds are used for one such pot. It is very easy to plant, since the seeds are large enough.

In addition, instead of a pseudo greenhouse, you can use a real one. Sowing in this case can be started by the end of winter, and the first shoots may appear in 2 weeks. Flowering sprouts will appear in forty days, and if planting begins in May or summer, this period can be halved. Growing cilantro at home is therefore somewhat slower than inside a greenhouse.

There are also a couple of additional conditions for greenhouse cultivation:

• Sowing seeds should take place in increments of 8-12 cm;
• Leave space within a third of a meter between rows.

In this case, sowing can be started by the end of winter, and the first shoots may appear after 2 weeks.

Growing culture care rules

Water your green pets promptly and regularly. It is enough to do this only twice a week, the main thing is to observe the rhythm, pouring out on each square. meter of 5 liters of water. Watering is especially important for the sprouts during the growing season. Watering is halved in volume as soon as the fruits ripen.

But what if you don't have the opportunity to water cilantro as regularly? For example, she may not be at home, but at a summer cottage. In this case, you need to mulch the soil so that the moisture lingers in it longer.

Once again we emphasize the importance of full illumination of the sown area.

Spicy fragrant greens are obtained only with good access to sunlight.

Although more or less it can be replaced by daylight - from lugs, which is especially important if the coriander grows at home.

Harvesting

So, you already understood how to grow cilantro on your site or within your home walls, and used our recommendations. It's time to harvest!

• To harvest in the form of spicy grass, you need to catch the moment when the plant is already well ripe, but flowering has not yet begun. This point is easy to recognize by paying attention to the growth of coriander on a daily basis. If growth has stopped, then it's time. Experienced gardeners have found that by this time the plant reaches about 20-22 centimeters in height.
• It is best to cut the grass in the early morning hours.
• The knife should be well sharpened so as not to damage the plant in the process.

It is best to cut the grass in the early morning hours.

• After cutting, rinse the herbs with running water and dry well by hanging them in bunches on a rope in a dry and dimly lit room. Darkness is needed precisely in order to preserve all the useful properties.
• Store cilantro dry, in an airtight glass container, and cut into pieces just before cooking.

Video on how to save greens and cilantro seeds for the winter

The technology of growing cilantro for seeds at home and in the country is one of the central places, therefore we will focus your attention on a couple of important details. First, the collection of seeds occurs when more than half of the umbrellas have turned brown. Secondly, the collected material is carefully filtered from foreign seeds and debris of twigs, dried well, and then stored in a dry sealed glass container.

Now you know exactly how easy it is to cultivate cilantro, also called coriander, at home or in the garden, and you familiarized yourself with all the intricacies of this process. Several weeks, and you no longer have to spend money to make your food tastier and healthier!

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Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum or coriander, Chinese parsley, kuzbara, shlondra, kalyandra) is an annual, unpretentious, fast-growing spicy herb from the umbrella family (celery). Its seeds and young greens are eaten as a spicy seasoning, and also used in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

The homeland of cilantro is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Even 5000 years ago, this herb was mentioned in their manuscripts by the ancient Egyptians, somewhat later by the Jews in the Old Testament. Since then, cilantro has spread almost all over the world and in some places even began to grow like a weed. Today cilantro is one of the most common spices in the world. Young greens are used in dishes mainly fresh. Cilantro seeds are used as a flavored powder.

Although the official name of cilantro is Coriandrum sativum, in Russia it is customary to call the dried seeds of this plant coriander, and cilantro is its green part.

In addition to gastronomic advantages, cilantro has pronounced healing properties. Eating it in food normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, helps cleanse the body of toxins, destroy parasites, strengthen the cardiovascular and nervous systems of the body, treat wounds and skin diseases.Cilantro is contraindicated only for thrombophlebitis, post-infarction and post-stroke syndromes, during pregnancy and lactation.

Knowing the useful properties of this wonderful plant, we immediately ask ourselves the question: how to grow cilantro? The plant is quite simple to sow and care for. It can be grown all year round: in the summer in the garden, and in the winter in a pot on the windowsill.

Cilantro: planting and care

Cilantro is a cold-tolerant plant. It is able to withstand frosts down to -5˚ C. Therefore, sowing can begin in early spring, when the soil thaws. Sowing in a greenhouse will allow you to get an even earlier harvest. You can also carry out podzimny sowing, so that with the first spring days you have fresh vitamin greens on the table.

The coriander planting site should be sunny all day long. This plant does not like shade. When shaded, cilantro bushes grow weak, slightly leafy, quickly gain flower stalks. At the same time, the fruits become smaller and their ripening is delayed.

Sowing is carried out with dry seeds, laying out 2-3 seeds at a distance of 8-10 cm in longitudinal grooves on the garden bed. If the seeds are sown more often, the plants will gain little green mass and will quickly go into bloom. The grooves should be spaced 10-15 cm apart to provide the plants with maximum illumination. The seeds of coriander are large enough, so they are sealed to a depth of 1-2 cm. After sowing, the garden bed must be watered abundantly.

Coriander seeds lose their germination capacity relatively quickly. Therefore, for sowing, seeds should be taken no older than two years, although as a spice they can be stored much longer.

Seedlings appear, depending on the variety, storage period of seeds and weather conditions, within 5 - 20 days. After planting cilantro, caring for it is simple:

• Thinning. So that plants do not compete for a place in the sun and a feeding zone on the earth, out of several plants that have emerged in one nest, only one, the strongest, should be left.
• Weeding. Cilantro does not tolerate thickening. Otherwise, instead of juicy green shoots in the garden, the umbrellas of the peduncles will quickly stretch out.
• Regular watering... After sowing and before the first shoots appear, the bed should be watered abundantly so that the cilantro embryos do not lack nutrition and moisture. When the first green bores appear above the ground, watering should be reduced. While the sprouts are gaining strength, it is enough just to keep the garden moistened. With the beginning of an active set of green mass, you need to start watering the plantings again more and more often so that young plants do not go into bloom ahead of time. But at the stage of fruit ripening, watering should be reduced to a minimum.
• Loosening of row spacings... On dense, poor soils, cilantro produces little greenery and quickly gains inflorescences.

The soil for coriander should be slightly alkaline or neutral, loose, nutritious, and conducts moisture well. It can be loam and sandy loam, properly filled with organic matter and mineral complex fertilizers.

Cilantro is not fed during active growth! All nutrients under it should be introduced in advance. In autumn, potash and phosphorus fertilizers, as well as compost, are added to the soil. In the spring, before sowing, nitrogen fertilization is applied.

The green mass from the plants is cut off as it grows. Collect greens before discarding flower baskets. After the peduncles start to grow, the green mass of plants coarsens and becomes scarce. Observing the rules of agricultural technology, greens from each plant can be harvested up to three times per season.

Cilantro on the windowsill

Favorite coriander can delight with its bright taste all year round. Growing cilantro at home is a snap. To do this, you will need:

• The sunniest place in the apartment is on the balcony, on the windowsill.The more sun you can provide to this curly southerner, the more generously he will thank you with luscious greenery. It is best to grow cilantro on a south-facing windowsill.
• Planting containers. They should be chosen depending on the amount of greenery you are going to get. For a small bunch of green cilantro, you can use a regular flower pot with large holes in the bottom. It is desirable that the pot is ceramic, without glaze - the air permeability of such pots is much better than that of plastic ones. If you plan to grow more spicy herbs, then it is better to use seedling containers. Better if it is a wooden box - for the same reasons of air permeability. In plastic containers, coriander can also be grown quite successfully, but this will require more thorough loosening of the soil. Drainage should be laid at the bottom of the containers to drain excess moisture.
• Soil for planting seeds. The soil should be loose, nutritious and moisture-permeable. You can use garden soil by sifting earthworms away. You can use a ready-made universal primer purchased from a store. As a top dressing before sowing, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer, for example, urea, can be added to the soil.
• Fresh seeds. The fresher the seeds are, the stronger and more friendly seedlings they will give.

Up to 5 plants (5 nests) can be planted in one pot. Too thicken the crops is not worth it, so as not to cause pulling out of the seedlings. If you are using a seedling box, then you need to sow cilantro in lines, leaving 4-5 cm between plants and 10 cm between lines. Seeds are sealed in 2-3 pieces in separate holes to a depth of 1-2 cm.

The cilantro plant has a straight taproot with poorly developed adventitious roots. Any, even minor damage to the main root leads to the death of the plant. Therefore, cilantro cannot be transplanted, but must be sown immediately to a permanent place.

After sowing the seeds, it is recommended to cover the pot on top with glass or film, put a plastic bag over the pot. This procedure, when growing cilantro at home, will help maintain a constant level of humidity and temperature, which is much needed for germinating seeds. When the seeds sprout, the greenhouse must be removed.

At the stage of 1-2 true leaves, the plants must be thinned out, removing the weak ones and leaving the strongest and strongest in each nest. You need to water the seedlings regularly, but little by little, so that the earthen lump in the pot is moderately moist. Excess water from the pan must be drained. In winter, if the plants are stretched, additional lighting is needed.

You can sow cilantro densely in a small container to grow it in a bundle for single use. But in order for such a beam to turn out to be large and juicy, additional illumination will definitely be required. You can collect the first cilantro greens from the windowsill in a month. Unlike gardening, cilantro grown at home should not be cut at the root. You just need to pick off the leaves from it and use them for food. When peduncles appear, they must be pinched immediately so that the plant continues to grow greenery.

Storing cilantro

Since we use not only fresh herbs for food, but also dry seeds, a few words should be said about the storage of cilantro. Cilantro greens, when dried, lose almost all of their aroma. Therefore, it makes no sense to procure it for future use in this way. But coriander seeds, on the other hand, retain their bright aroma perfectly for many years if you create the appropriate storage conditions for them.

For storage, the seeds are thoroughly dried. The complete absence of moisture is the main guarantee of long-term storage of cilantro. The dried seeds are placed in tight containers and sealed hermetically. For this, plastic bags in 2-3 layers, glass or plastic jars with lids are suitable.In this form, coriander seeds can be stored for a very long time without losing their taste and healing qualities. Skillful housewives will always find use for this amazing plant and its aromatic fruits.

Grind coriander seeds into powder immediately before using them, and add to dishes just before the end of cooking. This allows the spice to reveal its aroma most vividly. With prolonged heat treatment, coriander seeds completely lose their aroma. The same happens if you store the spice crushed, and not whole seeds.

The use of cilantro in the daily diet significantly enriches its taste and helps to avoid many diseases. Therefore, knowing how to plant cilantro, it is worth giving this amazing plant a little time and care by settling it at home.

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