Crazy Cilantro

[Inailum]

Can anybody tell me what in the heck I should do with this cilantro? I have gotten plenty of good stuff off of it already but then this happened. I was told it was easier to grow in a pot. The only herb I have ever grown is basil and it always turns out terrific. I kind of want to pull it out. Any suggestions?

[kimbledawn]

I need your cilantro for all of the rockin salsa I'm making when my tomatoes ripen!!!

[Kisal]

I haven't grown cilantro for about 4 or 5 years, but as I recall, it gets bitter after it flowers. The sudden flowering is called "bolting". Lettuce is famous for bolting, because like cilantro, it likes kinda coolish temperatures.

However, I would suggest that you allow it to flower and go to seed, then collect and save the seed. The seed is also used as a seasoning for foods. You might know it under the name Coriander.

[applestar]

I was also going to suggest you let it go to seed. I don't have to buy seeds or sow them any more because they self sow like crazy and germinate in cool weather according to what suits them -- spring and fall. In fact, I was hoeing sprouted cilantro like weeds today to clear the way for sowing bush bean seeds. I already have enough thinnings from other parts of the garden and got tired of plucking them one by one.

[Gary350]

It looks to me like your plant is trying to flower and make seed. I always cut off the flowers but you have to keep a very close watch on the plant within a week it will be trying to flower again in a different place. Just keep cutting off the flowers. In the mean time get another plant started from seeds. Once your other plant is up and doing fine let the first plant make seeds. I have noticed my plants aways try to make seeds as soon as the weather gets hot so I keep starting new plants from seeds about every 4 weeks. All the plants make seeds and I get a pint jar of seeds every summer.

[Inailum]

I need your cilantro for all of the rockin salsa I'm making when my tomatoes ripen!!!

LOL Well that's exactly why I planted it. I also planted onions and tomatoes so I could make it any time I wanted! great minds think alike!

[Inailum]

I haven't grown cilantro for about 4 or 5 years, but as I recall, it gets bitter after it flowers. The sudden flowering is called "bolting". Lettuce is famous for bolting, because like cilantro, it likes kinda coolish temperatures.

However, I would suggest that you allow it to flower and go to seed, then collect and save the seed. The seed is also used as a seasoning for foods. You might know it under the name Coriander.

Yes I had heard that about the seeds however I would rather have the cilantro. I planted it so that I could make fresh salsa. I'm just not sure what to do because it gets really hot here in the summers, sometimes over 100 and I don't think it does well in that temp and in full sun. I did read an article that said its better to grow it in a pot where it gets partial sun and then harvest it starting on one side and slowly rotating around like a clock. This way it will continue to have regrowth. Not sure if that's correct or not though.

[Inailum]

I was also going to suggest you let it go to seed. I don't have to buy seeds or sow them any more because they self sow like crazy and germinate in cool weather according to what suits them -- spring and fall. In fact, I was hoeing sprouted cilantro like weeds today to clear the way for sowing bush bean seeds. I already have enough thinnings from other parts of the garden and got tired of plucking them one by one.

Holy cow! That's crazy, I had no idea! I know I don't want them taking over my garden like weeds but I do want fresh cilantro. I know they don't transplant well so now you have me wondering what to do with them. I was honestly going to pull it out. I have basil planted to the left of it and strawberries planted to the right. hhmmm food for thought. Thank you once again!

[Inailum]

It looks to me like your plant is trying to flower and make seed. I always cut off the flowers but you have to keep a very close watch on the plant within a week it will be trying to flower again in a different place. Just keep cutting off the flowers. In the mean time get another plant started from seeds. Once your other plant is up and doing fine let the first plant make seeds. I have noticed my plants aways try to make seeds as soon as the weather gets hot so I keep starting new plants from seeds about every 4 weeks. All the plants make seeds and I get a pint jar of seeds every summer.

WOW! That's amazing! So, how long are the seeds good for? Do you have to plant them right away?

[Yogas]

You are suppose to stagger your plantings if you want a continuous supply of cilantro. Your plant has definitely bolted. It will drop it's seeds though and you'll find some surprise plants at some point if you leave the plant alone.

Personally, I stopped growing cilantro because it is so abundant in the store and it seems a pain to grow enough to have when you want it.

[Kisal]

Yogas, that's why I stopped growing it, too. I can buy fresh organic cilantro in just about any store for a very reasonable price. I prefer to dote on my tomato plants.

[Inailum]

You are suppose to stagger your plantings if you want a continuous supply of cilantro. Your plant has definitely bolted. It will drop it's seeds though and you'll find some surprise plants at some point if you leave the plant alone.

Personally, I stopped growing cilantro because it is so abundant in the store and it seems a pain to grow enough to have when you want it.

I think that's what I am going to do, I have heard the same thing. Most people tell me its easy to grow, if you put it in a pot but don't like it in the garden.

[Inailum]

Yogas, that's why I stopped growing it, too. I can buy fresh organic cilantro in just about any store for a very reasonable price. I prefer to dote on my tomato plants.

AMEN! I'm jumping on that train! That will make room for something else in my garden!

[Sunnydays]

Wow that is a monster !!. For me I would take what is still usably and try and make something like a cilantro pesto, which should store for a wile in the fridge, or else you could put it into ice cube containers and freeze them down, then you can you use them when ever you need them and they will store for ages

[speedster7926]

how do you collect seeds from flowering herbs i tried getting some from my sage it flowered big purple flowers but i didn't find any seeds