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Cilantro is one of those herbs that rewards you with incredible flavor—but it can be a little impatient! Once summer heat arrives, cilantro naturally wants to flower and set seeds.
The secret to keeping a steady supply? Harvest often, harvest correctly, and consider succession planting.
🌿 When Is the Best Time to Harvest Cilantro?
You can begin harvesting cilantro once the plants are 4–6 inches tall and well established.
For the freshest flavor, harvest in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day.
Young leaves tend to have the most tender texture and bright flavor.
🌱 Don't Wait Too Long!
Cilantro grows quickly, and once it begins producing flower stalks, leaf production slows.
If you see the plant beginning to stretch upward or develop a central flower stalk, it's time to harvest!
✂️ How to Harvest Cilantro
🌿 Method 1: Harvest Individual Stems
For a smaller harvest, simply cut or pinch off the outer stems near the base of the plant.
Leave the younger leaves in the center to continue growing.
This is a great method when you only need a handful for dinner.
🌿 Method 2: Harvest the Whole Plant
If your cilantro is beginning to bolt, it's time to use it!
Cut the entire plant about 1–2 inches above the soil line.
Use the leaves immediately or preserve them for later.
🌱 The Cilantro Harvesting Trick
Unlike basil, cilantro doesn't become dramatically bushier every time you cut it.
Instead, the best way to maintain a continuous supply is to plant cilantro in succession.
🌱 Succession Planting
Every 2–3 weeks, sow a few more seeds.
As one planting begins to flower, another will be ready to harvest.
This keeps fresh cilantro coming instead of having your entire crop bolt at once.
Zone 5 Tip: Early Spring and late summer/early fall are often excellent times to grow cilantro because the cooler temperatures slow down bolting.
🌸 What About Cilantro Flowers?
Don't pull the plant just because it flowers!
Cilantro flowers are:
Edible
Beautiful
Attractive to beneficial insects and pollinators
The flowers have a delicate, herbal flavor and can be used as a garnish.
And if you let the flowers mature, you'll eventually get coriander seeds!
🌿 Don't Forget the Seeds!
Cilantro and coriander are actually the same plant.
🌿 Leaves = Cilantro
🌱 Seeds = Coriander
Allow some plants to flower and form seed pods. When the seeds turn tan or light brown and begin drying, harvest the seed heads.
Cut the stems and place them upside down in a paper bag. As they finish drying, the seeds will fall into the bag.
Store the dried coriander seeds in an airtight container.
You can use them whole or grind them fresh for cooking.
🥑 What to Do with Your Cilantro Harvest
Fresh cilantro is fantastic in:
🌮 Tacos
🍅 Fresh tomato salsa
🥑 Guacamole
🌯 Burritos
🍚 Rice dishes
🥣 Soups
🥗 Summer salads
🌽 Grilled corn
🐟 Fish and seafood
🍋 Lime-based marinades
And don't forget the stems!
Tender cilantro stems are flavorful and completely edible. Chop them finely and add them to salsa, sauces, soups, or marinades.
❄️ How to Preserve Cilantro
Fresh cilantro doesn't last particularly long in the refrigerator, so if your garden is producing faster than you can use it, preserve some!
🌿 Freeze It
Wash and thoroughly dry the cilantro.
Chop the leaves and tender stems, then freeze in:
Freezer bags
Ice cube trays with water
Ice cube trays with olive oil
Frozen cilantro works especially well in cooked dishes, soups, sauces, and marinades.
🌿 Make Cilantro-Lime Herb Cubes
Combine chopped cilantro with a little lime juice and water or olive oil.
Freeze in ice cube trays and transfer to a freezer bag.
Drop a cube into rice, beans, soups, salsa, or marinades whenever you need a burst of fresh flavor.
🌡️ Growing & Harvesting Cilantro in Zone 5
Cilantro actually prefers cooler weather, making it an excellent early- and late-season herb.
🌱 Spring
Plant as soon as the soil can be worked.
Protect young greenhouse-grown plants from sudden cold and gradually acclimate them before planting outdoors.
☀️ Summer
Heat causes cilantro to bolt quickly.
Provide:
Morning sun
Afternoon shade
Consistent moisture
Succession plantings
🍂 Fall
Late summer and early fall can be an excellent time for another cilantro crop.
Cooler temperatures often mean slower growth and a longer harvest window.
🌿 A Note About Greenhouse-Grown Cilantro
If you're bringing home cilantro starts from the greenhouse, don't immediately put them into full outdoor sun.
Give them time to adjust.
🌤️ Harden Them Off
Over approximately 7–10days:
Start with a few hours outdoors in a sheltered, shaded location.
Gradually increase the amount of morning sun.
Slowly expose them to more wind and outdoor conditions.
Bring them inside if temperatures are unexpectedly cold.
Once they're acclimated, plant them in their permanent location.
This helps prevent transplant shock, sunscald, and damaged foliage.
🌿 Keep the Cilantro Coming!
If cilantro is one of your garden must-haves, don't plant just once.
Plant a little. Harvest a little. Plant again.
Succession planting is the secret to having fresh cilantro available throughout the season instead of getting one giant harvest followed by a flower stalk!
And when your cilantro finally bolts, don't be disappointed—let some flower for the pollinators and harvest the coriander seeds for your spice cabinet.
🌸 Final Thoughts
Cilantro may have a reputation for being difficult, but once you understand its rhythm, it's an incredibly rewarding herb to grow.
Harvest it young, keep it cool and consistently watered, plant successively, and embrace those flowers when they arrive.
And remember. Today's cilantro can become tomorrow's coriander! 🌿🌱
Come visit The Flower Bin for cilantro starts and all the herbs you need to keep your summer kitchen garden growing.
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