How to grow coriander

All you need to know about sowing, growing and harvesting delicious coriander, in our detailed Grow Guide.

Coriander is a staple ingredient in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Middle Eastern dishes – leaves, stalks, seeds and all. It’s also used for adding a fresh summery taste to salad dishes.

An easy-to-grow leafy herb, coriander can be grown from seeds sown directly in the soil or in pots. Sow successionally for fresh bunches of coriander throughout summer.

How to grow coriander

Grow coriander in moist but well-drained soil or compost from spring to autumn. For a successional harvest throughout summer, sow seeds every two weeks. Water coriander plants regularly and harvest when you need to.

How to sow coriander

Coriander does best in well-drained soil and full sun, but will tolerate some shade in the height of summer. Seeds can be slow to germinate – crushing them very gently before sowing can speed up the process.

Coriander has a long tap root, so it’s best to avoid damaging the roots. Sow seeds in multi-cell trays, directly into the soil outdoors where they are to grow, or into pots. In the vegetable plot, sow seeds thinly 1cm deep in rows, 30cm apart. Seeds should germinate within 7-20 days. Thin out the seedlings to 25cm apart. Sow regularly through the summer for a constant supply. Seeds can be sown until late in the season for winter use.

How to care for coriander

Keep your coriander plants well watered. While it’s important to not overwater coriander, you do need to keep the soil damp, as dry soil can cause plants to bolt (flower prematurely). You can feed occasionally with a liquid seaweed mix if you want to, but coriander doesn’t need additional nutrients. Weed regularly around the plants to stop weeds competing with them.