Last updated on September 23rd, 2022 at 04:08 pm
Many gardeners have problems when it comes to maintaining certain plants.
These problems arise primarily because you can’t apply one universal method to plants that have specific needs.
Cilantro is one plant that requires special care and attention. And if you would like to plant in your garden for the first time, you may have concerns.
So, to avoid a loss, you may ponder how to maintain cilantro plants.
To take care of cilantro plants, you’ll have to ensure that you plant it well in good soil and that it has access to a proper amount of sunlight and water.
Tips on Maintaining Cilantro Plants
Maintaining cilantro is easy when you get the hang of it. But, let’s face it, taking care of any plant is hard until you have made it a routine.
So, to properly maintain your cilantro, you’ll have to make sure that you regularly attend to its needs when due.
There are certain areas you’ll need to attend to if you want to raise cilantro successfully. They include:
- Planting
- Maintenance
How To Plant Cilantro?
The cilantro plant can be grown anywhere. However, the fall season is best suited for planting cilantro. In warmer climates, you would prefer to plant cilantro in late spring.
As soon as you have decided when to plant your cilantro, it would be helpful to note the following.
1. It is best to sow cilantro by planting the seeds directly into the ground. Seeds should be buried a quarter of an inch into the soil, although you can even scatter them atop the soil.
2. In addition, it is preferable to sow the seeds rather than transplant your cilantro. Whether you’re growing your cilantro in the garden or indoors in pots, transplanting is not a good option.
Because cilantro proliferates, so it does not need a head start indoors.
3. Also, cilantro develops a taproot, so it doesn’t like to be transplanted. However, if you must transplant cilantro, grow it indoors in peat pots that you can transplant directly into the ground.
4. It is also best to plant cilantro during the cool days of spring or fall. Although cilantro thrives in sunny climates, the seeds will germinate better in cool temperatures.
Too much sun and heat will scorch the germinating plant and make it stunted.
5. You should space your cilantro about six to eight inches apart so that the plants will not crowd around each other.
They’ll rob each other of growth space, sunlight, water, nutrients, and heat.
What Climate And Soil Conditions Are Best For Cilantro?
When growing cilantro, you should note first of all that it is an annual warm climate herb. Thus to maintain it, you should consider the following elements:
1. Cilantro needs a lot of sunlight. Thus you should grow it in places where it will receive full sunlight or at least partial sunlight.
2. Also, you should be able to provide the plant with shade in the afternoons mainly. However, however if you live in a warmer climate.
This is because cilantro bolts easily in hot weather conditions.
3. If your cilantro is potted, you can move it into the garage or the porch or any other such shady spot in the hot afternoons to protect it from the brunt of the sun.
4. Cilantro is a cool-weather crop, and it grows best at temperatures between 50-85°F. It can survive temperatures as low as 10°F.
However, it is susceptible in crowded situations to heat. Thus once temperatures exceed 85°F, it will start to bolt. Once cilantro bolts, the leaves it produces tend to be bitter and harsh.
5. Cilantro also grows best in well-drained, moderately fertile loamy or sandy soil. But it can tolerate any soil as long as the soil has enough moisture and nutrients.
6. Make sure that the soil you plant your cilantro in drains well and does not get soggy.
If you plant cilantro in wet soil with poor drainage, the excess water will clog the roots. Once the roots cannot get enough oxygen and become clogged, they will rot and die.
Do You Need to Fertilize Cilantro?
If your soil isn’t fertile enough, it would be best to consider fertilizing your cilantro.
When cilantro begins to grow, you may need to fertilize it to augment its growth. With fertilizers, it can grow faster and be healthier.
So, here are some tips on fertilizing cilantro.
1. It is best to fertilize cilantro plants using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Using them is more convenient because you will often water the plants in the early stages of their growth, so water-soluble fertilizers are more suitable.
Then, you can simply mix them with the water you’ll be using to irrigate, and you’re good to go.
2. You should fertilize cilantro plants every couple of weeks.
You can also use ammonium nitrate or urea; when using either of the two, apply half a teaspoon per square foot. You can also use balanced organic fertilizers.
3. Plant cilantro alongside plants that introduce more nitrogen into the soil as they grow. So that the cilantro can also benefit from the nitrogen.
4. You should also add a few inches of mulch around cilantro plants to regulate moisture levels and keep the roots warm.
5. You can also improve natural soil by putting in several inches of old compost. And for potted plants or containers, consider a premium bagged potting mix.
6. You can stop applying fertilizers to your cilantro plant once the flowers appear and the plant begins to set seeds.
How Much Water Does Cilantro Need?
Cilantro requires a lot of water before it germinates. You need to keep the seedlings moist, so they can take to the soil and grow well.
Therefore, during the growing season, ensure to always water the seedlings regularly. You should give them at least an inch of water every week for the best growth.
1. Once it has germinated, it no longer needs so much water. However, cilantro will grow better if you keep the soil moist at all times.
To do so, you can use a soaker hose and drip irrigation if it becomes necessary. You can also use a watering can, jug or sprayer at the end of a hose.
2. Ensure you water them gently so that you do not harm the plants and the soil covering the roots is not washed away.
Also, make sure the water pressure is low to avoid damaging the plants.
3. Although you need to keep the plants moist after germination, ensure not to overwater them.
4. In preventing weeds, mulching should be done around the cilantro plants as soon as they sprout.
Apart from applying mulch, you can also carryout the tilling shallowly around the plants to prevent weeds from damaging the roots.
5. In situations where the weeds have already grown, you can carefully remove them from the soil around the plant.
However, if removing them can damage the plant, especially in its early stages, you should pinch it lightly and remove it when the plant is stronger.
Does Cilantro Have Pest and Disease Issues?
Like most plants and herbs out there, pests and diseases will plague cilantro.
Although pests Infestation doesn’t frequently occur with most herbs, including cilantro, from time to time, it does happen.
Furthermore, some common pests and diseases that affect cilantro include leafhoppers, aphids, fungal wilt, and mildew.
And if you do not handle these problems correctly, they will overrun and destroy the plant. So, to ensure that pests and diseases don’t ruin your plant, here are some practical steps to stopping them:
- You can use insecticidal soap or pesticides to eliminate the pests once you spot them on the leaves.
- You can also make use of companion planting to deter insects and diseases from growing in your garden. Companion planting helps prevent the spread of insects and diseases in your garden.
Planting cilantro together with dill plants will discourage spider mites and aphids. Meanwhile, a combination with garlic will help disguise the smell of rotten leaves that attract other insects.
- You can also clean up debris, dead plant leaves, and other clutter to avoid aphids and mildews.
- You can also use pest-controlling oils. These oils, simply known as horticultural oils, are effective, low in toxicity, and can be applied at any time of the year.
- These oils do not control just pests but also various diseases. Especially fungal diseases.
When Can You Harvest Cilantro?
Cilantro is generally ready to harvest after four weeks of growth when the plants are about 6 inches tall.
Here’s how to harvest leaves from cilantro:
1. Identify the most significant outer leaves, then use a pair of scissors to snip them about an inch from the soil’s surface. You can also use your fingers.
2. You can also remove the entire plant at once, but afterward, you will not harvest anymore from the plant.
3. It is better to harvest a few leaves or stalks from several plants at a time so that they can all keep reproducing.
Harvest leaves by pulling them from the stem near the base of the plant.
Conclusion
Cilantro is a warm climate herb and one of the best herbs to grow because it is low maintenance.
Once it is grown in ideal temperatures, it receives enough sunlight, and you water it appropriately. Then, the plant will grow well and seed.
Cilantro is an annual herb; as such, it does not regrow after the first season. Therefore, it mostly does not survive the winter cold.
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