Cilantro for leaves
Apiaceae · Direct sow · compact garden planning guide
| Bed spacing | 6 × 6 in (152.4 × 152.4 mm) |
|---|---|
| Minimum sun used | 4 hours per day |
| Root depth used | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Container volume used | 5 L |
| Spring preparation | -21 to -7 days from your last frost |
| Maturity estimate | 30–45 days from sowing |
Square-bed spacing, root-space and sun thresholds, spring offsets, germination check ranges, harvest occupancy and clearance days are selected planning settings. They are not universal cultivar rules or a guaranteed harvest schedule. Packet, nursery and local guidance take precedence.
Before planting
Sow for leaves during cool conditions; choose a slow-bolting cultivar if available.
Establish
Keep the seed surface evenly moist; thin without moving established taproots.
Tend and harvest
Watch for finely divided leaves and a flower stalk; these mark the transition away from leaf production. Take small leaf cuts before bolting; for this leaf plan, clear flowering plants before the next sowing.
Plans using this crop
Fall planting · 6+ hours sun
Fall cilantro after summer bolting
Restart a cool-season leaf herb after a bolted summer crop, with separate scallion timing.
Cilantro for leaves · Bunching onions
Lower sun · 4+ hours sun
Four-hour herb growth trial
Check whether a measured four-hour site supports useful herb leaves before expanding.
Compact parsley · Cilantro for leaves · Chive clumps
References
- UMN Extension: Growing herbs
Herb spacing depends on mature size. Our spacing and partial-sun thresholds are compact-cultivar planning choices; full sun is preferable.
- UMD Extension: Growing vegetables in containers and salad tables
Sun exposure, drainage, growing media and crop-specific minimum volumes; our thresholds are conservative planning settings.
- UMN Extension: Planting the vegetable garden
Cool and warm season establishment; weather and soil readiness matter. Minnesota month dates are not used as global dates.
- UMN Extension: Planting for fall harvest
Maturity is a cultivar-dependent estimate; our extra 14-day fall buffer is an explicit planning assumption.
Updated 2026-10-13. We have not field-tested the plan in your climate.