Which month is the best to plant coriander?

Coriander , also known as cilantro in some places, is an annual or biennial herb famous for its unique aroma. Although people have mixed opinions about it, this has not reduced coriander's popularity in the market. So which month is the best to plant coriander?

Which month is the best to plant coriander?

Cilantro can be grown almost year-round, but its growth conditions and yields vary depending on the season. Typically, the best time to plant cilantro is from March to April in the spring and in September in the fall. This is because the best growing temperature for coriander is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is lower than 15 degrees Celsius, it will be difficult for coriander to germinate, and even if it germinates, the growth rate will be very slow; and if the temperature is higher than 20 degrees Celsius, the quality of coriander may be affected. In summer, if the temperature reaches above 30 degrees Celsius and there is no proper artificial regulation, the growth of coriander may be seriously affected.

How to grow coriander

1. Variety selection

There are two varieties of coriander: large-leaf and small-leaf. The large-leaf varieties have taller plants, larger leaves, fewer and shallower notches, a lighter fragrance, and higher yields; the small-leaf varieties have shorter plants, smaller leaves, deeper notches, a stronger fragrance, strong cold resistance, and wide adaptability, but relatively low yields. Small-leaf varieties are generally chosen for cultivation.

2. Open field cultivation

Coriander is suitable for open-field cultivation in spring, autumn and winter. The amount of watering should be controlled during the seedling stage. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm, the plants are growing vigorously and need to be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. At the same time, apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer 1 to 2 times, and pay attention to inter-row cultivation, appropriate thinning, and weed removal. In summer, appropriate shade is needed to prevent erosion by heavy rain, and drainage should be carried out in time after rain to ensure uniform emergence of seedlings.

3. Greenhouse cultivation

Direct seeding is usually carried out from September to October, and frozen water is irrigated once before winter to help the seedlings survive the winter. Cover the greenhouse in January and no ventilation is required from January to February. When the seedlings turn green, carry out tillage, loosening the soil and weeding. When the seedlings are 10 cm tall, keep the greenhouse temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Apply about 15 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu, 1 to 2 times, and harvest can be carried out early.

4. Fertilize the land

When planting coriander, you should choose a plot with loose soil, rich in organic matter, and convenient drainage and irrigation. After the previous crop is harvested, the soil should be turned in time to a depth of 15-20 cm and weathered and dried for more than 2 weeks. Then spread 4000-5000 kg of decomposed high-quality farmyard manure and 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. After plowing and harrowing, the ridge surface is 140-150 cm wide and 20-25 cm high, and the ditch is 30-40 cm wide, which also serves as a sidewalk. The soil on the bed surface must be fine, loose and flat. If row sowing is used, sowing furrows 4-5 cm wide and about 2 cm deep should be opened on the bed surface with a row spacing of 8-10 cm in preparation for sowing.

In general, the suitable temperature for coriander to grow is 15-25 degrees Celsius. Usually, if the temperature is suitable, it can be harvested about 30 days after sowing. If temperatures are lower, harvesting may be delayed to around 40 to 60 days after sowing.