Herb

When to Plant Cilantro

You either love it or your genetics say no. For the cilantro lovers, it's an essential herb that bolts fast in heat.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

45-70

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

Frost Tolerance

moderate

The Short Answer

Cilantro can handle some cold. Direct sow 2 weeks before your last frost date. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Cilantro

Cilantro and coriander are the same plant — cilantro is the leaf, coriander is the seed. It bolts (goes to flower) faster than any other herb, especially in heat. The solution is succession planting: sow a small patch every 2-3 weeks throughout the cool season. Slow-bolt varieties (Santo, Calypso, Caribe) buy you an extra week or two but won't defeat summer. When plants do bolt, let some flower and set seed — the seeds dry on the plant and are the coriander spice used in cuisines worldwide. Self-sown volunteer plants often appear in fall.

Direct Sowing

Cilantro can be direct sown 2 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.25" deep, spaced 6" apart.

Fall Planting

Cilantro are planted in fall, 6 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 0.25" deep, 6" apart.

Growing Tips

Bolts quickly in heat — succession plant every 3 weeks and grow in partial shade during summer. Let some bolt for coriander seeds.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Beans Peas Tomatoes

Keep away from:

Fennel

Cilantro Planting Dates by State

Click your state for cilantro planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026