When is the best time to plant autumn coriander?

Coriander , also known as cilantro, is a vegetable used for flavoring and seasoning. Its leaves are thin and tender, and are fragrant and delicious when eaten raw. Coriander has a short growing period and can be planted in spring and autumn. So when is the best time to plant autumn coriander? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant autumn coriander?

Coriander can be planted in spring, summer and autumn. The sowing time varies in different planting seasons. Coriander is a cool-loving and cold-resistant vegetable. It can withstand temperatures as low as minus 5°C and its suitable growth temperature is 15-20°C. The best time to sow autumn coriander is mid-September, and no later than early October.

How to plant autumn coriander

1. Seed shelling

The shell of coriander seeds is hard, and direct sowing will result in slow germination and a low germination rate, so they are artificially shelled before sowing. You can place the coriander seeds on the cement floor and step on them or crush them with a beer bottle to split the coriander seed shells into two halves.

2. Seed germination

Place the shelled coriander seeds on a wet paper towel, cover them with plastic wrap, and refrigerate them for 24 hours. Then place the refrigerated seeds indoors and wait for the seeds to turn white. Keep the paper towel moist during this period. When 60% of the seeds turn white, you can start sowing.

3. Sowing method

When planting coriander , you should choose soil that is loose, rich in organic matter, and has strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities. Rake the soil flat and fine, and apply fully decomposed farmyard manure and a small amount of triple compound fertilizer in combination with land preparation. After preparing the land, water the soil thoroughly, scatter the seeds on the soil surface, and lightly rake the topsoil with a rake. When sowing, you can sow the seeds densely and then thin out the seedlings for consumption, which can extend the harvest period of coriander.

4. Field management

When coriander grows to 2 cm in height, you can apply a small amount of urea as a seedling-raising fertilizer. When coriander grows to 10 cm in height, it enters its peak growth period. You can water it frequently with small amounts of water, try to keep the soil moist, and apply 10 kg of urea with the water to promote vigorous growth of coriander. In addition to soil fertilization, foliar fertilizer is also needed. 20 days before harvesting coriander, you can spray the leaves with 0.5% urea solution, once every 7 days, and spray twice in a row. The coriander will grow thicker, greener and tenderer.

That’s it