Contents
Coriander (also known as cilantro) is a very popular spice in Eastern cuisine. In cooking, both herbs and plant seeds are used. You can grow seasoning on your own personal plot – caring for cilantro is simple, it also does not impose specific requirements on cultivation conditions. But still, there are certain nuances regarding when and how to sow coriander, how to prepare a bed and seeds. It is recommended to find out about them in advance, otherwise you can not count on a bountiful harvest.
When to plant coriander
Seeds and shoots of cilantro remain viable at temperatures down to -5 ° C. Therefore, the timing of sowing coriander is quite early: it is necessary that the substrate warms up to only 6-8 ° C. In a temperate climate, the optimal time is the second decade of April. In the subtropical southern regions, you can plant coriander earlier – as early as mid-March. In the Urals, in Siberia, in the Far East, we will have to wait for the second half of May.
Further during the season, every 1,5-2 weeks, you can sow a little until August. In autumn, cilantro is planted towards the end of October. This is how early greens are obtained. Seedlings when planting cilantro in autumn before winter appear already in mid-March.
In a heated greenhouse, coriander is grown all year round. It is planted at intervals of 3-4 weeks. If the gardener allocates green space in an ordinary greenhouse, cilantro is sown there at the very end of February, harvesting at the junction of April-May.
The timing of planting coriander determines the characteristics of the local climate and the conditions for its cultivation.
The best predecessors
Optimal growing conditions for cilantro include crop rotation. Coriander is recommended to be planted after:
- any legumes (peas, beans, beans);
- cereals (ordinary and green manure);
- all kinds of onions, garlic;
- corn;
- beets;
- cauliflower and white early cabbage.
Somewhat less successful, but also suitable predecessors for growing cilantro in the open field in the country:
- almost any spicy herbs, green salad;
- gourds (pumpkins, melons, watermelons);
- plants from the Solanaceae family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants);
- radish, radish, daikon.
For growing cilantro in open ground for greens and seeds, the areas where they were planted last season are not used:
- umbrella herbs (dill, fennel, parsley, celery, watercress);
- carrot;
- medium and late ripening cabbage.
Site selection and soil preparation
The quality and volume of coriander greens directly depends on the choice of a place for the garden. It is recommended to plant it where the plants will receive enough sunlight and heat. In partial shade, the culture also feels good, but in dense shade, cilantro develops much more slowly, and yields decrease.
Lack of sunlight leads to a reduced concentration of essential oils in plants
For a bed on which it is planned to plant coriander, choose a flat place or an area closer to the top of a gentle hill. It is impossible to sow cilantro seeds in open ground where moist cold air and rainwater inevitably stagnate. Dampness is not tolerated by either the roots or the aerial part of the culture.
The plant does not need a very nutritious soil. The looseness, water and air permeability of the soil is more important for him. It is best to plant coriander in sandy loam or loam. Acid-base balance – neutral or slightly alkaline. In an acidic substrate, the culture will definitely not survive.
Since cilantro is planted early, the bed is prepared in the fall. The site is dug up, while removing any debris, humus (up to 3-5 l / m²) and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (30-40 g / m²) are introduced. The latter can be replaced with sifted wood ash (0,5 l / m²). In the spring, just before planting coriander, the soil is thoroughly loosened, watered with a solution of any nitrogen fertilizer.
Seed preparation
It makes sense to plant only coriander seeds collected no later than two years ago. If they are old, you can count on single shoots at best.
To speed up the process of the emergence of seedlings, immediately before planting, it is recommended to soak them for 10-12 hours in water at room temperature or in a solution of any biostimulant.
Only coriander seeds collected independently or produced by agricultural companies are suitable for planting.
How to plant cilantro (coriander) in open ground
Growing coriander seedlings among gardeners is unpopular, although, in principle, it is possible. Most often it is planted directly in open ground.
Planting cilantro in open ground with seeds in spring
In order for the plants in the garden to have enough space, coriander is planted according to one of the schemes:
- rows with an interval between plants of 8-10 cm and a row spacing of 12-15 cm;
- in the holes – in the garden, as it were, they draw a lattice, dividing it into squares with a side of 12-15 cm, cilantro is planted at the corners of these “cells”.
Directly disembarking is an extremely simple process:
- Level the soil on the prepared bed, mark holes or grooves up to 2 cm deep.
- Spill them moderately with water at room temperature, wait until it is absorbed.
- Sow the coriander evenly if possible. “Norm” in the presence of grooves on the bed – 2-2,5 g / m². 2-3 pieces are placed in each hole.
- Fill the grooves and holes with a thin layer of soil, water moderately again.
Coriander seeds are quite large, so when planting, it is easy to distribute them relatively evenly.
Sowing cilantro (coriander) in autumn before winter in open ground
Sowing coriander before winter in those regions where there are no frosts below -10-15 ° C is carried out according to the same algorithm as in the spring. “Insulate” the bed, throwing it with spruce branches or tightening it with covering material in 2-3 layers.
When enough snow falls, it is thrown onto the plantings of cilantro for winter with seeds over the shelter, creating a snowdrift up to 30 cm high. It must be periodically updated, while breaking the crust on the surface.
Features of growing cilantro in a greenhouse
No specific care is required for cilantro if it is planned to be grown in a greenhouse. The only difference is the earlier planting dates and the accelerated rate of crop ripening.
You also need to follow the planting pattern – in favorable conditions, cilantro is actively growing. Greens can be cut already 40-55 days after germination, it depends on the variety.
“Crowding” in the greenhouse is more dangerous than in the open field – a higher risk of developing diseases
Caring for cilantro (coriander) outdoors
To grow cilantro from seeds in the garden, you need to remember the main rule. Coriander needs about the same care as the more popular herbs – parsley, dill.
Thinning sprouts
Coriander seedlings are thinned out in the phase of the second true leaf. A minimum of 5-7 cm is left between seedlings. Only under such conditions, cilantro, which is planted on greenery, will form lush bushes with large juicy leaves. With “crowding” in the garden, the greens noticeably turn pale, the leaves lose their tone, exude.
Thinning seedlings when planting in open ground replaces the picking of seedlings when growing seedlings
Seedlings also need to be weeded. Weeds greatly weaken young plants. Adult cilantro practically does not need weeding, it is able to “score” and “force out” most of the “competitors” from the garden.
Watering and loosening
Coriander cannot be called a very moisture-loving plant, but during the active growth of greenery, it needs regular watering. The substrate is constantly maintained in a moderately moist state. The intervals between waterings are adjusted depending on the weather outside.
When it is not too hot, coriander is watered every 3-4 days, spending about 4-5 l / m². If cilantro is planted on seeds, about a month before they ripen, the rate is reduced to 2-2,5 l / m². This stimulates the formation of flower stalks.
Additional fertilizing
All the necessary fertilizers when growing coriander from seeds in open ground are applied in autumn and spring when preparing the beds on which they are planted. Therefore, in favorable conditions, he does not need top dressing during the growing season.
But if the substrate is very “poor” or “light”, depleted, coriander is fed every 2,5-3 weeks by watering with nutrient solutions. They use both purchased fertilizers for herbs and natural organics – infusions of cow dung, bird droppings, “green tea” from weeds.
Protection against diseases and pests
The immunity of coriander is generally quite good, regardless of whether it is planted in a greenhouse or in open ground. But there are several fungal diseases that the culture is susceptible to:
- powdery mildew – a grayish-white powdery coating on all parts of the plant;
Powdery mildew is a disease that affects the vast majority of horticultural crops.
- ramulariasis – brown spots on the leaves, quickly drying plants.
If nothing is done, the cilantro bush affected by ramularia will completely dry out in 7-10 days.
To avoid the development of pathogenic microflora, coriander, which is planted in the garden, is regularly inspected. At the first suspicious symptoms of planting, the soil in the garden is sprayed with a solution of any fungicide of biological origin.
Due to the high content of essential oils, coriander is inedible for most pests. The exception is the umbrella and striped bug. But this insect cannot be called very common; to prevent its attacks, it is enough to dust the plants and soil once every 2-3 weeks with a mixture of sifted wood ash and tobacco dust.
Umbrella and striped bugs are brightly colored, so it’s easy to spot them on plants.
Harvesting and storage
From coriander (it doesn’t matter if it is planted in open ground or in a greenhouse), greens are harvested several times during the season, waiting for new leaves to appear. The cut is stopped after the formation of peduncles – they become noticeably rougher, unpleasantly bitter.
Plants that have begun to bloom are suitable only for collecting seeds.
For long-term storage, coriander greens are dried naturally or in the oven, microwave, or electric dryer. Keep it in a dark, cool place, in linen or paper bags, hermetically sealed plastic containers.
When coriander is planted on seeds, you need to wait for them to fully ripen. This can be determined by the brownish-brown hue of the shell and the characteristic smell typical of a store-bought spice. In unripe seeds, the “aroma” is very unpleasant, for many it causes associations with bedbugs.
First, they are dried in natural conditions, uprooting the plants and spreading them out in an open area, well blown by the wind. You need to wait until they freely crumble from the flower stalks. Then they are separated from plant debris and poured into small paper bags. Store them in the same place as dry greens.
Seeds and dried coriander greens should be kept away from any food that absorbs odors.
Conclusion
You can sow coriander both in open ground and in a greenhouse. The unpretentious plant adapts to a wide range of climatic and weather conditions. But in order to obtain a crop of greenery and seeds, it is necessary to choose the right planting date and place, and prepare the garden bed. Planting coriander is not difficult, agricultural technology includes only standard activities: you do not need to be an experienced gardener to care for the crop.
