Cilantro question

[VA Gardener]

I will seed some cilantro in the space where I had peas. It's behind tomatoes, so should be pretty shady. All my spring sown cilantro is blooming - I will let it set seed.

[AzGirl]

I've found I can grow cilantro in shade here in Arizona during the hottest months but the heat still makes it bolt pretty quickly. I can harvest when it's basically in the large seedling stage and continue to sow seed every week or so. That's fine for me when I have an abundance of home saved seed, but when I'm buying seed it's just not worth it money-wise when I can get it for 50 cents a bunch at the grocery. It can be done though!

[BalconyFarmer]

Originally Posted by AzGirl

I've found I can grow cilantro in shade here in Arizona during the hottest months but the heat still makes it bolt pretty quickly. I can harvest when it's basically in the large seedling stage and continue to sow seed every week or so. That's fine for me when I have an abundance of home saved seed, but when I'm buying seed it's just not worth it money-wise when I can get it for 50 cents a bunch at the grocery. It can be done though!

To save money on seeds when you don't have your own, you can buy large bags of coriander seed in Latino markets for about a dollar. It's not a slow-bolt variety, but it's enough seed for a year or two of weekly cilantro seeding.

[AzGirl]

Originally Posted by BalconyFarmer

To save money on seeds when you don't have your own, you can buy large bags of coriander seed in Latino markets for about a dollar. It's not a slow-bolt variety, but it's enough seed for a year or two of weekly cilantro seeding.

Duh! Never thought of that! You, sir, are a genius. Those bags are 79 cents here. I'll give it a whirl.

[LarryS]

Originally Posted by TXDirtDog

For those of you who live in hot climates, how do you handle this dilemma? Do you grow a variety that handles heat? Do you store it somehow? Does cilantro that germinates when temps are already hot resist bolting?

Help me out here please. My salsa is a little lonely.

I live a couple of hundred miles north of you. This is about all you can expect
with cilantro in this region. The plants absolutely dont last long when the
heat sets it. Autumn and early winter, and early spring to early summer
are your only outdoor options.

Luckily we here in Texas can buy primo cilantro in the grocery store at
any time.

[Sarina]

There's another thread on here where someone suggested cUlantro in place of cIlantro in hot areas. I bought some this weekend and dropped it into the shady area of one of the gardens. I'll let you know if it's successful at all. (fingers crossed!)

[TXDirtDog]

I do have some sprouts going in an area that only gets part-day sun. We'll see how they turn out. Probably will go to seed small.

Sarina, definitely report on the culantro please.

[SpaceAge]

Originally Posted by TXDirtDog

So my cilantro plants bolted with the heat a month or so ago. I've got plenty of coriander seed, but no cilantro. Lol. Oh, and I usually don't get any volunteers show up until the weather cools. These plants that bolted were volunteers.

Today for the first time I made roasted salsa from maters, onions, garlic, jalapenos and anchos from the garden. It tastes fantastic, but a little cilantro would make it even better.

For those of you who live in hot climates, how do you handle this dilemma? Do you grow a variety that handles heat? Do you store it somehow? Does cilantro that germinates when temps are already hot resist bolting?

Help me out here please. My salsa is a little lonely.

Perfect post ... "My salsa is a little lonely."

no kidding !

yeah I've tried everything ... planting on all 360' around the house , in flower beds in weed patches in the neighbors yard ... the only thing that works well is to buy a bunch at the grocery store for 49 > 69 cents

[RedZone]

Why not grow culantro. Loves the heat and prefers to grow in shade.They are slow to start, but once they get growing they are tough plants. Only thing I have seen eat them are are slug or snails.
They have the same flavor as cilantro only stronger. Culantro is my absolute favorite for salsa and Pico de Gallo.
BTW, you may have to grow them in pots if you have freezes or frost.

RedZone
Administrator

Originally Posted by TXDirtDog

So my cilantro plants bolted with the heat a month or so ago. I've got plenty of coriander seed, but no cilantro. Lol. Oh, and I usually don't get any volunteers show up until the weather cools. These plants that bolted were volunteers.

Today for the first time I made roasted salsa from maters, onions, garlic, jalapenos and anchos from the garden. It tastes fantastic, but a little cilantro would make it even better.

For those of you who live in hot climates, how do you handle this dilemma? Do you grow a variety that handles heat? Do you store it somehow? Does cilantro that germinates when temps are already hot resist bolting?

Help me out here please. My salsa is a little lonely.

[TXDirtDog]

Thanks Redzone.

I'm going to see how Sarina's culantro goes and I'm also going to see how my seeded cilantro goes.

I'll probably try to get some culantro to start in the fall now that I've read about it and am curious.