GrowSabzHow to grow coriander in pots
Also called Cilantro, Chinese Parsley, dhaniya, cilantro · Coriandrum sativum
دھنیا
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.3 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 13–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 25–40days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 0.4 kgper 20 L pot
Coriander is one of the fastest things you can grow — roughly 40 days from sowing to harvest. That makes it forgiving of mistakes, because a failed sowing costs you weeks rather than a season, and it's a good crop to slot between slower ones.
Short answer
Grow coriander in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 13 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 25–40 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does coriander need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Use pots with good drainage. Prefers wider pots for root spread. |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Ensure well-draining soil and consistent moisture. |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Excellent for controlling soil conditions and drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water coriander?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Bottom watering or gentle top watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting
- bolting
- yellowing leaves
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: water on leaves; standing water; letting soil dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow coriander where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 13 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | 0 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 10 °C — best at 20 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for coriander? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Coriander growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for coriander
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why coriander fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Coriander wants about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Wetting the leaves
Overhead watering in the evening leaves foliage damp overnight, which is exactly the condition fungal disease needs. Water the soil, early in the day.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Fennel
Fennel produces substances that can inhibit the growth of many plants, including coriander.
Companions
What to plant with coriander
Good neighbours
May improve the growth and seed production of coriander.
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which prey on common pests like aphids.
Repels some common pests like aphids and ants. Plant in containers to prevent invasiveness.
Provides ground cover, keeping the soil cool and moist, which can help delay coriander's bolting in warm weather.
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, contributing to a healthier garden ecosystem.
Keep apart from
Fennel produces substances that can inhibit the growth of many plants, including coriander.
Can attract similar pests (e.g., carrot rust fly) and compete for nutrients, potentially hindering coriander growth.
Members of the Brassica family (like cabbage, broccoli, kale) can stunt the growth of coriander.
Problems
Coriander pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25 · daylightHours >14
Premature flowering, especially in hot weather or with inconsistent watering. Causes leaves to become bitter and reduces leaf production.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing stunted growth or yellowing.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Can cause leaves to yellow and die prematurely, especially with poor air circulation.
Damping Off humidity >80% · temp <20 · soilMoisture high
Seedlings suddenly collapse at the soil line and die. Caused by various fungi in overly wet, cool soil conditions.
Leaf Spot humidity >70% · temp 20-30 · wetLeaves prolonged
Small, circular to irregular spots on leaves, often dark brown or black, sometimes with a yellow halo. Can lead to defoliation.
Coriander Wilt humidity any · temp >25 · soilDrainage poor
Leaves yellow and wilt, often on one side of the plant, eventually leading to plant death. Caused by a soil-borne fungus (Fusarium).
Spider Mites humidity <50% · temp >27
Tiny pests that cause leaves to look stippled, pale, and eventually turn yellow and drop. Fine webbing may be visible on undersides of leaves.
Harvest
When to harvest coriander
First picking falls between day 25 and day 40, and the plant then keeps producing for about 60 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Leaves are 4-6 inches tall, vibrant green
- Before bolting (flowering) occurs for leaf harvest
How much to expect
Storing it: Refrigerate fresh leaves in a jar of water or wrapped in a damp paper towel for up to 1-2 weeks. Dry seeds in a cool, dark place, then store in an airtight container.
Questions
Coriander: common questions
How long does coriander take to grow?
About 40 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 25 and day 40. It then keeps producing for roughly 60 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does coriander need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water coriander?
About 500 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does coriander need?
It does best between 13 °C and 24 °C and survives from 0 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 10 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow coriander in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about 0 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when coriander is ready to harvest?
Leaves are 4-6 inches tall, vibrant green; Before bolting (flowering) occurs for leaf harvest. Once picked: refrigerate fresh leaves in a jar of water or wrapped in a damp paper towel for up to 1-2 weeks. dry seeds in a cool, dark place, then store in an airtight container.
How much does one coriander plant produce?
Roughly 0.4 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 1 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.