contrary coriander

[Normans Mum]

Hi all
Have taken to growing( with varying success) lots of different herbs, but the one thing I cannot seem to grow is coriander.
I have raised plants from seed, and as soon as the plants get to 3-4" high they die.
Last week I ventured in to the local supermarket and purchased a pot grown plant. It duly wilted and died within a few days. What am I doing wrong?
Advice please!

[Two_Sheds]

I don't think it's warm enough yet for coriander. It self-seeds on my lotty, and hasn't shown its face yet this year

[Green Wolf]

Last year I put about 10 seeds in small pots every two or three weeks and let them grow in the kitchen then planted the whole pot out when about 2 or 3 inches high.....much closer than recommended on the packet. It also recommended that the plants be cut down once 5/6 inches high to stop it flowering but I missed a few and let them seed and this year we have a clump about 3 foot square that came up of its own accord, even in this wet weather.

It seems quite hardy down here in Essex but does run to seed incredibly quickly so keep cutting the leaves even if you don't need to use them to keep it productive as long as possible.

[Shadylane]

I don't think it's warm enough yet for coriander. It self-seeds on my lotty, and hasn't shown its face yet this year

Really? I have it all over up here. It self seeded all over - with a little help from me - popped up in the autumn, survived the winter and has been popping up all over ever since. A lot is going to seed though.

As well as letting it self seed I pre chit it then sprinkle it throughout the summer. When I've direct sown it in the summer before, watered it etc, it never showed up whereas the stuff that had been in the ground dormant all winter, covered in muck, forgotten and ignored, came up just fine. I agree, it is contrary

[Normans Mum]

well..... will try again. Tis a shame cos it's one of my favourite herbs.

[Two_Sheds]

Really? I have it all over up here. It self seeded all over

Nope, none this year. I've had flat leaf parsley come up all over the place though, I'm currently weeding out about 10,000 seedlings which have surprisingly strong roots

[Shadylane]

well..... will try again. Tis a shame cos it's one of my favourite herbs.

I'm the same with rosemary. It really doesn't like me at all. It either doesn't grow or dies.

Weird that your parsely has come up but not the coriander Two Sheds.

[dominic10]

A couple of years ago a friend gave me one plant in a deep tub and it had been pinched out so it was about 2 feet tall and quite bushy. Never have managed such success myself but this year I have about 10 plants growing nicely and 10 lemon coriander. Apparently it has very deep roots and doesn't like being moved - it's £2 a pot at the supermarket so I'll persevere and also plant some at my new herb bed on my new plot. I wish I had your success with parsley 2S.

[Ananke]

I used to have issues growing coriander in pots and transplanting now I chuck the seed into the soil and I get two cuttings from the row before I leave it to run to seed. This year i'll be doing two or three rows sown a few weeks apart. It was my best crop last year, I was really impressed with it.

[Florence Fennel]

It does seem to take ages to germinate. I've a bucket full of it about 8" high and I've sown two more buckets. I cut it and freeze it unless I want the seed.

[Shadylane]

I freeze it too FF. I also made some coriander chutney (coriander, green chillies and salt) which is fab with a curry if you like it hot.

[Bren In Pots]

My coriander that I sown March 12th is about 3inch high some is in a trough the rest is growing around the base of an apple tree.

ShadyLane I like the sounds of turning it into Chutney could you post the recipe please.

[Shadylane]

Here y go
140g (5oz) coriander
2tbsp chopped green chillies
1tsp chilli powder
salt
In a food processor/grinder blend the coriander and chillies to make a paste. Add water if necessary. Stir in the chilli powder and add salt to taste. Serve immediately.

I made a load and froze it in an ice cube tray.
It's not the kind of chutney you preserve in a jar, you basically serve it with y pre-curry popadums.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for the recipe

[Shadylane]

no worries