Coriander

[cupcake]

I have grown various seeds of coriander, confetti, the leaves rather than seed types and they all go to seed really quickly. Now I know they grow the big bunches for supermarkets in the uk, SO, what variety do they use, and where am I going wrong? ..........PLEASE?

[zazen999]

leaf coriander gives you the leaves. any other stuff gives feathery leaves and goes to seed really fast.

google leaf coriander and you should find a supplier.

[Two_Sheds]

Coriander hates being transplanted. It will bolt really quickly if you move it, so sow it where you want it.

[kitchengardner]

I have grown various seeds of coriander, confetti, the leaves rather than seed types and they all go to seed really quickly. Now I know they grow the big bunches for supermarkets in the uk, SO, what variety do they use, and where am I going wrong? ..........PLEASE?

The stuff in the shops is leaf coriander. They buy their plants in from commercial growers who keep conditions perfect until the plants are mature and thus easy to maintain for a couple of weeks. The usual problems with growing it yourself in winter is the fluctuation in temperature you get in the windowsill, lack of daylight (they use horticultural lamps) and overwatering.

I usually manage to grow it from seed until late November and then again from March. In between I cheat and buy them from Tesco's, pot on and then feed fortnightly with liquid seaweed. Three plants bought in Nov keep me going all winter.

Regards

Kitchen Gardener

[Snadger]

Grew corriander for the first time last year...........very easy to grow but I was surprised how quickly it seeded. Got loads of seeds (actually seed pods methinks) off it and they really keep there flavour well. The foliage stinks of cats pee to me and really turns my stomach............so quite glad it set seed quickly!

[tlck9]

what am i doing wrong

Hi all

I grew quite a number of seeds only last month, they grew to around 3 inches high and then wilted and died, I have got to this stage twice and cannot seem to get them to live

Any tips?

[zazen999]

Hi all

I grew quite a number of seeds only last month, they grew to around 3 inches high and then wilted and died, I have got to this stage twice and cannot seem to get them to live

Any tips?

It's far too cold for coriander at the moment.

Try sowing again in April/May.

If you succession sow, and chop the flowers off as they come; you should get a better supply - until the frosts come as it doesn't like the cold - at all!

[vicky]

Strangely my corriander outside is still growing well, barely wilted at all from the frosts! And there are lots of seedlings springing up around it too!
I find it will run to seed very quickly, I re sow it every 2 weeks so there is a constant supply - or leave the seeds where they fall and you'll have an ongoing supply. Also when it's small you can cut it almost like baby salad leaves.

[tlck9]

would you sow in april indoors or directly outside in pots?

I have only tried inside

[zazen999]

tick

If they got to 3 inches and died, and you sowed them indoors, then they probably didn't have enough light and stretched for it and fell over...or it got damping off.

I sow several pinches, outdoors from april onwards. I use alot for companion planting so I have them in patches around the garden. It all dies off around Oct time, and I'm left with stalks with the seeds on them. I throw these in a pile and the next year the seeds will grow and give me more coriander. I'll then still sow the pinches in places where I want them and use the ones grown from the thrown down seed, if they germinate and grow early enough,by digging them deep and putting them where I want them. It doesn't really like being transplanted so you have to dig quite deep and transplant a root ball.

I've never got coriander to grow indoors myself, but someone might be along with more help in a bit.

[gingerneil]

I bought a coriander plant from a garden center last year and put it in my raised bed - got a reasonable amount of leaves, but it ran to seed in autumn. I'm now left with the bare sticks in the ground that used to be the storks ! Should I have pulled these up, or will fresh growth appear ? They look fairly dry and lifeless... but there should be loads of seed in the soil around waiting to spring up when the weather turns.

[zazen999]

Hi Neil

No, they will be dead - but the seeds will probably start sprouting in a few weeks.

Can you pop your location into your profile so that we know whereabouts you are.

[vicky]

They are annuals so that's it for that plant gingerneil, however, there will be lots of seeds (hopefully!) all around the plant so watch out for lots of seedlings around your plant come the spring

[gingerneil]

OK -thanks for the quick replies. I'll dig up the sticks and look out for the shoots!
(profile updated too)

[zazen999]

Excellent... on both counts.