Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Cilantro seeds can be scattered in the planting area in the fall, or you can start them indoors by
planting them
1
⁄
4
to
1
⁄
2
inch deep. Give seedlings about 12 inches to spread. If you are transplant-
ing cilantro, do so earlier rather than later, as they don't like to be disturbed after they are better
established.
Cilantro reaches about 2 feet in height and will bolt to flowering when the temperatures reach 75°F
for several days. Clipping the leaves regularly can help slow bolting, but after it begins setting to
seed there isn't much you can do to stop it. In hot climates, offering the cilantro some afternoon
shade can help prolong the ability to harvest the fresh leaves.
When the plants go to flower, you can let them—they are highly attractive and the seeds are valu-
able in their own right. As the flowers set seed you can cut the stems, hang them upside down with
the flower heads wrapped in paper bags, and shake the seeds loose as the plant dries. The pungent
seeds add a zing to salads, meat, and other dishes, but you'll want to store them in an airtight jar so
bugs won't get in.
If some of the seeds fall to the ground, you can leave them undisturbed for volunteer seedlings.
Cilantro will self-sow in many climates and provide plenty of seasoning in future years. Planting
your cilantro crop from started seedlings purchased at the nursery won't save you very much
money, if any. But planting successive sowings of seeds and allowing the summer flowers to set
seeds each year in the herb garden saves you a small fortune.
Over the Garden Fence
Fresh leaves never last long in the garden, so you have to preserve the harvest when you can. Try freezing
cilantro in zipper-lock storage bags. Like basil, cilantro freezes better than most herbs.
Dill (
Anethum graveolens
)
A member of the parsley family, dill is usually grown as an annual plant. It's most often used as the
main flavoring for pickles, and while it's pricy to purchase from the store, it's easy and inexpensive
to grow. The fine-cut foliage and bright yellow flowers are attractive in the garden.
Dill grows tall and can be planted toward the back of an herb border. The plants attract many
beneficial pollinators and insect predators to the garden. I like to include a dill plant at the end of
rows in my vegetable garden, sometimes to encourage better pollination.
Sow seeds directly in the fall for spring germination, or in the spring at the last frost date. Don't
cover seeds but just lightly tap them into the soil. Thin seedlings so they are growing 10 to 12
inches apart.
Harvest dill by sheering the stems and flower umbels and be sure to cut them before the flowers go
to seed. After the flowers set seed, let the seed drop to the ground to provide more dill the follow-
ing year. You can also harvest seeds as a digestive aid.
