How to grow cilantro on a windowsill

Growing cilantro from seed at home on a windowsill is becoming more and more popular. This makes it possible in winter to have fresh herbs and a whole range of useful substances necessary for the human body. Cilantro is a unique seasoning used in cooking in different countries. Has several names. Among them are coriander, calender, hamem, Chinese parsley, chilantro. Latin – Coriandrum sativum. The only caveat is that the greens of the plant are called cilantro, and the seeds are called coriander.

Is it possible to grow cilantro on a windowsill

This popular type of greenery is traditionally grown by gardeners. However, any vegetable grower can easily grow cilantro from seed on a windowsill. It is only necessary to provide appropriate care and competently sow the culture. The taste and aroma of cilantro greens will be the same as when sowing in open ground. This is an annual crop, so the agricultural technique of growing greens on the windowsill cannot be called complicated.

A lush bush of spicy greenery grown on a windowsill serves as a source of nutrients in winter

How to grow cilantro at home on a windowsill

There are two main methods that allow you to get the same result. Cilantro on the windowsill is grown in a pot. It is convenient and practical. You can collect ripened seeds or cut green sprouts.

Coriander is harvested in two ways:

1. Sowing seeds. This is a variant of seedless technology. Cilantro seeds need to be sown in a container and provide them with the proper conditions. The process is longer, but it is more reliable. It is important to sow high-quality cilantro seeds, then follow all the requirements of agricultural technology.
2. Growing plants obtained in hydroponics. Planting material can be bought in the distribution network. The advantage of the method is time, and the disadvantage is the poor survival of greenery, because cilantro reacts with a strong decrease in growth during transplantation.

Experienced farmers advise to adhere to the order of sowing greens 1 time in 12-14 days. There are also basic steps and rules for growing cilantro on the windowsill.

Soil preparation and planting capacity

In order for the culture to feel comfortable and develop well on the windowsill, attention must be paid to the choice of containers. The root system of coriander is large and powerful. She takes up a lot of space and doesn’t like transplanting. This is due to the very small number of adventitious roots. Injury to the main root leads to the death of the plant. Therefore, a pot for growing greens should be chosen taking into account these nuances. The container must be:

1. Rectangular shape. The width of the flowerpot is not more than 25-30 cm, the depth is more than 40 cm. Such parameters will allow the gardener to place it on the windowsill with the most beneficial use of space. The size of the pot depends on the amount of greens grown.
2. from a certain substance. Another important requirement for capacity is the ability of the material to “breathe”. Ceramic, plastic, wood or clay without enamel are suitable.
3. With the right kit. The pot must be equipped with drainage holes to avoid moisture stagnation.

For sowing, it is allowed to use an ordinary flower pot with drainage holes.

Now about the right choice of substrate. For cilantro, you will need a loamy or sandy loamy soil of a loose structure. You can buy this soil mixture for greenery at the store or cook it yourself. It is enough to mix garden soil with compost or humus, peat and sand in equal amounts. Add 3 tablespoons of wood ash for every kilogram of the mixture. Warm the soil in the oven or spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate. Then use to grow cilantro greens on a windowsill.

Preparation of planting material

For sowing greens, you need to purchase only fresh cilantro seeds. This is due to the fact that they quickly lose their germination. Sowing material three years ago, you can not wait for the appearance of sprouts. It is better to purchase it in specialized stores where they sell high-quality seeds.

The spice department sells heat-treated coriander seeds. If you decide to collect cilantro seeds yourself, then it is important to give them time to ripen well.

You need to sow dry cilantro seeds. Some farmers advise soaking planting material for 15 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent diseases. To improve seedling quality, you can soak cilantro seeds for 2 hours in plain water.

Before sowing, it is better to sort out cilantro seeds in order to leave the largest

Rules of landing

The algorithm for sowing cilantro from other crops is not fundamentally different. But it still has its subtleties. The main stages of growing greens on the windowsill:

1. Lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
2. Fill the container for cilantro with prepared soil, which is slightly moistened. The distance from the edge of the pot to the surface should be at least 2-4 cm. This will allow you to add soil as needed.
3. Lay cilantro seeds with a planting depth of 0,5-1,5 cm. There are several options for planting patterns. You can put from 3 to 10 seeds in one pot with a distance of about 7-10 cm between them. It is very convenient to arrange them in a spiral. The second way is a few cilantro seeds in one hole in the middle of the pot. Get a lush bush of greenery. If you sow cilantro in a container or box, then it is better in rows. The distance between the grooves is 5-7 cm, between the seeds is 1,5 cm. If necessary, cilantro seedlings can always be thinned out.
4. Sprinkle a thin layer of sifted peat on top and moisten.
5. Cover the container with film or glass, put in a dark place.
6. Moisten the soil periodically.
7. Open the film to remove the condensate and ventilate the mini-greenhouse.

The first cilantro sprouts will appear on the windowsill in 10-14 days. The film must immediately be removed and the containers transferred to the light.

Caring for cilantro at home on the windowsill

As soon as tiny loops of sprouts appear, competent care is immediately required. It consists of:

• thinning;
• watering;
• weeding;
• loosening;
• top dressing;
• pruning.

It is important to create comfortable parameters for the growth and development of culture on the windowsill.

Optimal conditions for growing cilantro on a windowsill

Cilantro is able to grow on the windowsill all year round. To do this, you need to take care of the environment appropriate for the culture. The main requirements, without which a good harvest of coriander cannot be obtained:

1. Ambient temperature. For culture, a value of at least + 15 ° C should be maintained. The top should not exceed + 30 ° C, otherwise the plant will begin to form flower stalks very quickly. In this case, there will be almost no greenery. Room temperature is ideal for cilantro.
2. Humidity. The average value is the most optimal. In dry air, the plant looks oppressed, slows down growth. High humidity leads to rot and fungal infections on cilantro seedlings. Therefore, you should not put the pot on the windowsill above the heaters. It is also required to avoid places where there are drafts.
3. Lighting. Diffused light works best, although cilantro can withstand direct sunlight well. If the containers are on the windowsill of the south, east or west window, then there will be enough lighting. It is not recommended to put plants on the northern windows. Cilantro needs light for 10-12 hours. Minimum 6-8 hours. In winter and on dimly lit window sills, additional cilantro lighting or backlighting will be needed.

If cilantro does not have enough light or moisture, then the bush will grow weakly.

Watering

For cilantro, a specific irrigation algorithm has been developed. From the moment of sowing seeds until the appearance of the first leaf, it should be plentiful. Then the intensity needs to be reduced and the soil should be moistened moderately for 1-1,5 weeks. As soon as the period of active vegetation of cilantro comes, you can again switch to abundant watering. If it is required that cilantro seeds ripen on the bush, then at the time of their ripening again reduce the amount of moisture. It is important not to let the soil dry out and to maintain the rhythm of watering. After 15 minutes after irrigation, it is advisable to drain the excess water to avoid the development of powdery mildew. On hot days with increased dryness of the air, you need to spray the leaves with warm water.

Additional fertilizing

When growing cilantro on a windowsill, it is necessary to fertilize the soil. The frequency of feeding is 1 time in 14 days. It is optimal to use complex mineral compounds and prepare the solution strictly according to the instructions. You need to start feeding the sprouts after the formation of the outlet. It is possible to replace chemical compositions with biocomplexes. In this case, be sure to combine any top dressing with watering. For the active growth of greenery, complexes with a high content of N (nitrogen) are required. When ripe cilantro seeds – phosphorus and potassium. Too zealous with the nutrition of cilantro on the windowsill is not recommended. Feeding once every 2-3 weeks is enough.

In addition to watering and nutrition, when growing cilantro from seeds on a windowsill, it is imperative to perform other important procedures:

1. Thinning. It is not always possible to accurately calculate the number of plants per pot volume. To get lush green cilantro, you need to thin out seedlings in a timely manner. Too dense sowing will lead to a lack of green mass and forcing of peduncles. Plants on the windowsill will have to compete for light, water and food. The first thinning is necessary at the stage of 1-2 true leaves. Of several nearby cilantro seedlings, one should be left the most developed and strong. For the normal development of one bush, 35 square meters are required. m area.
2. Weeding is another necessary condition. There should be no weeds around the plant that reduce the intensity of green growth. This event also reduces the possibility of diseases and pests of cilantro.
3. Loosening prevents an increase in soil density. Cilantro loves loose soil, especially when grown on a windowsill.
4. Topping flower stalks are carried out if seeds are not needed. Then the cilantro greens will be much more magnificent.
5. Cut. No need to cut the stems at the root, just cut off the leaves of cilantro and eat.

In the general mass, the process of caring for a plant on a windowsill is not considered difficult.

Thinning allows cilantro seedlings to get enough light and nutrition

Useful Tips

In addition to the generally accepted rules for growing cilantro on the windowsill, summer residents know some secrets and tricks. This allows you to get high-quality results faster and without much effort. For example:

1. Sow cilantro should be constantly at intervals of a month. Thus, fresh herbs will be on the table all year round.
2. You can reuse the soil by adding a little compost and disinfecting it in any convenient way.
3. Do not dry cilantro greens. She will not please with either taste or smell. It is better to dry the seeds and grind them into a powder before use.
4. Add coriander powder to dishes before the end of the heat treatment so that it does not lose its flavor.
5. At the time of flowering cilantro, greens smell like bugs. Then this smell is replaced by citrus. You just need to wait.
6. It is recommended to plant several varieties of cilantro at once. They behave differently under the same conditions. The taste will be more varied, you can choose your favorite variety for further cultivation.
7. Pinch flower stalks in time to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the leaves.

Another tip – do not sow cilantro in the same pot with other herbs. She doesn’t like her neighbors very much.

Grow cilantro separately from other herbs so as not to oppress the plant.

Conclusion

Growing cilantro from seeds at home on the windowsill is available even for beginners. By following agrotechnical recommendations, you can have fresh spicy herbs with your favorite taste all year round.