Coriander a.k.a dhania in india a.k.a cilantro in the west is something that is used everyday in Indian cuisine. Either the seeds or the green leaves spice up our food. This makes Coriander a must grow for every kitchen garden. The reason it is an ideal candidate is a) it is very easy to grow b) grows very fast c) you can get the yields at a very early stage and it keeps yielding.
This post is all about seed starting coriander in containers. It doesn’t transplant well. So choose a container thats big enough to grow many plants. I usally use trays/tubs to grow them since the soil surface is more in tubs and hence we can grow rows of coriander.
Coriander seed is technically a fruit containing two seeds in it. So the round thing that you see has two seeds in it. Each of them will grow into a coriander plant. The fruit can be sown whole or split and sown. When split, it increases the germination rate since it scarifies the seed.
Here is a picture of how a split coriander seed looks like
So how to go from a whole coriander seed to a split one. The way I do is, I wear a slipper in my hands; spread the seeds on the floor ( preferrably a rough floor and not the tiles) and keep the slipper on the seeds and gently move the slipper while pressing them. This is not the place to show your strength. remember we are not making coriander powder so be gentle 
.
Try it. The good thing about gardening is you get to do things you would have never done before 
. One can sow the whole seed as well. It is more easier when you split.
I took a tray with potting mix filled all the way upto half inch from the top. Then make rows by drawing a line with your index finger or a stick. Simply sow the split coriander seeds in that row and once it is done, cover the seeds with coco peat. Water them and wait!.
It starts germinating somewhere between 5-7 days. It will look like this..
once they start germinating, keep them in a place that receives good amount of sunlight.
They will start growing vigorously and will look like the pic below.
In another 10 days time, they should be ready for use.
How many times we get sad looking, drooping coriander leaves from the market after paying so much for it. You get to grow fresh coriander like this if you do it on your own. Think of the coriander pot as a natural refrigerator that keeps things fresh for a looooonnng time ?..
Enjoy!
gg
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Hello! Thanks for the tips. I didn’t know about the two seed thing, so both halves should contain one plant each? Or is it only in one part and I should just discard the other one? I am interested in growing coriander hydroponically as well. I cannot seem to get them to germinate right now, yours grew beautifully though! Should i need sunlight for germination? I keep them tucked away in some dim corner. Also i presoaked them for around 3-4 days and maybe it drowned them.
Hi Maggie,
Thanks. Each half contains a seed so in whole seed you get two seeds. Both of them will become a plant. Coriander doesn’t need sunlight for germination. The ones shown in pic were sown at 1 cm depth. Coriander is a little slow to germinate. Mine took around 7 days. The ideal temp for coriander is 20-22 C. ( 68-70F). I will try to grow them hydroponically and let you know how it fairs out.
gg
Hey ,
very nice article i have been tryin to make dhania in pots for a long time but have remained unsuccessful….thanks for explaining the splitting point….ill definitely try it out once again…..
Hey GG, thanks for the detailed explanation. I too did not know the splitting of the coriander seeds till you explained it last weekend.
Its so exciting to see your veggies grow. Nice pics also.
I’m also getting a two old basins now. I have a question about drainage.
How did you do the drainage on your tubs? Like the plastic bins?
Do keep these coming. It is so useful and inspiring
Hi Asha,
Yes you are right, the drainage hole is made the same way it is done for bins.
Thanks for the encouragement.
gg
hi..you make it look so simple,..for me its a different story. Somehow i am not sucessful in growing cilantro. I tried with the seeds that we get from the indian stores. The plants are so week and after just 3-4 sets of true leaves, it flowers. This season i tried the cilantro seeds from a seed pkt, the result is still the same. Everything else grows so well in pots, but not cilantro. I am going to try again following the steps in ur post, hopefully i will get some good results. Fingers Crossed!!!!
Hi bindu,
The plants being weak and going to flower quickly indicates that it is being stressed. Is the weather optimal for coriander is it too hot over there? Hot weather makes it bolt quickly. What is the temperature like?
gg
Hey GG,
.
? ( Well I just dont want to miss asking you questions 
)
Ironically, just today morning I saw a empty trey at my place and thought why should I not grow corriander in it. Your post here defenitely helped me initiate my thoughts
Have few questions to you though.
1. Do you have drainage hole set to this tray?
2. Once completely grown do u suggest to cut leaves only( allowing them to grow further) or to remove with root?
3. Seeds can be bought from local kirana shop right
Regards,
Sunil
Hi Sunil,
Yes there is a drainage hole provided at an inch from the bottom so as to hold some amount of water. Once grown, I just take few leaves here and there with scissors and they keep growing. You won’t believe this. This morning my wife came with scissors and started taking couple of leaves for cooking.. they just sprouted….
seeds can be purchased from local shops. Yep. Although, the seed that I have sown was given to me by the apartment maid. She said its natti variety and supposed to have more flavor.
gg
i have recently inclined towards gardening and i admit that urs posts helped me and encouraged a lot. i often visit ur site and always learn a alot. what must be the minimum size of a container to grow tomato,lady finger,cucumber, green chillies .i have sown these seeds but want to be sure about the size of my container.kindly help me.i m looking forward.thx
Hi Erum,
Welcome to my blog and nice to hear that it helped you to start gardening. For tomato, using a 20 L or 5 gal bucket is ideal. Esp if you are growing indeterminate or tall variety of tomatoes. Same applies to Ladies finger and cucumber. For chillies you can grow them in 2-3 gallon containers.
Hope this helps
gg
Hi,
Very impressive post, I have tried growing coriander aka cilantro in summer but never get lush green foliage. My question is I live in Seattle, zone 8 USDA. everything around is sheding leaves and getting dormat. In such weather can I grow kothimbir indoors? My house temp stays at 68F in night and 62F during daytime, Is it enough to germinate the seeds and make it grow? Thanks.
Hi fenugreeklove,
Thanks. You can grow indoors with artificial lights. 68F is ok but I think 62 should be little colder for it to grow. I will refer and get back to you.
gg
Hi GG,
The average daytime temperature is somewhere near 95F during summer. And during nights its drops to around 60F. Is the daytime temperature too hot for cilantro? At this temp, how many hours of sun exposure is sufficient.
Hi gg.. I learn so much here, i’ve tried planting this crop a few times, unfortunately i can’t even get it to sprout out. I am using seeds sold for cooking, i’m wondering if this has any effect. Can you recommend some good varieties?
I planted some fenugreek and some coriander the same day. The fenugreek has sprouted, but no signs from the coriander basin. Don’t if it also has to do with our rainy cold weather of late.
Some more questions here..
1) Do you soak the coriander seeds? You mentioned a wet tissue method of sprouting in Raja’s blog comment. Could you explain that?
2) Won’t the store bought dhania seed work or do I have to get it from Lal bagh?
Another unrelated question
3) Where do you get these decent looking stakes from which you use for the tomatoes?
Hi Asha,
It took a week’s time for coriander to sprout. I didn’t soak the coriander seeds when I sowed them. Regarding the wet tissue method, you take a tissue paper and moist it with water. You can use a spray a fine mist of water to moist it. Once moist, take few seeds, place it on the wet tissue and wrap it. The tissue is now placed in a zip lock bag. After 2 days you can check the progress. Seeds will readily sprout in this method. You can put several tissues containing different seeds in the same ziplock to save space. Once the seed has germinated it can be taken carefully and placed in a pot. I have done this for tomato and chilly.
The store bought dhania will do fine but again we don’t know how good it is. If you need some coriander to start with. I have plenty let me know.
Regarding stakes.I think you are referrring to the Moss sticks I have. If so, I got it from Pooja garden products in K.R road.
Thanks so much for all the answers, GG.
Let me do one more try with the coriander – assuming its our present weather to blame. If I am still not successful, I will take up on your offer
. Thanks a lot.
Got it – Thank you!
Hi,
I followed your steps with some coriander seeds bought from local supermarket and very happy to say that I have two pots with coriander plants growing int it. It took more time to germinate than what you have mentioned( i think around two weeks) but germinate it did. Today used a little for making sambhar also. I’ve always wanted to grow coriander at home because the one’s we buy usually go rotten soon. Thanks to your post I was able to start. Now planning to follow your tips and plant tomato, spinach and brinjal.
Hello Amrita,
I am very happy to hear this. Please keep us posted of your progress on tomato and brinjal too.
Happy gardening.
gg
Hi GG,
Thanks for your replies to my earlier comments, sorry I didn’t respond earlier.
well so I have started out on the coriander, and happy to update that they have started sprouting from around day 12. It’s quite fun to see them keep popping up!
Unfortunately I have a new ‘situation’ as re my veggie gardening aspirations – monkeys! They popped in to the balcony a couple of weeks back and pretty much put paid to the lovely big dahlia that was standing so resplendent
So pretty much have given up on trying veggies in pots for now. Would love to create a mini greenhouse / cage kind of thing but don’t have the time and effort resources for that at this time 
I tried the coriander by putting the container on a ledge in our drawing room that’s next to the balcony door. It would seem like I have only a 50% germination rate at the moment. The seedlings are growing quite tall at the moment and they are yet to get that corinader-shaped leaves. I am a little worried that they are not in direct sunlight and i feel that the leaves are getting a tad yellowish… but hopefully that’s just my paranoia.
Oh and i tried mint too… rooted some cuttings and put some in water. Both have rooted, now i want to observe how they will grow and propagate…
That’s my update
Swapna
Hi Swapna,
Nice update from you. Good to hear about your success in coriander.
Ahh those monkeys. Its better to not grow than letting the monkeys take it.
Mint roots readily in water and in cocopeat as well. I propagate mint this way. Head to the market, buy mint bunch that have thick stems and take the 4inch long stem tip and remove the bottom 2 leaves and stick them into the pro tray ( the one with cavities). I have around 20-25 of them. Put them in a huge polythene bag and keep them in bright location. It 3 days will start growing roots..
goodluck
gg
I’ve started growing coriander myself after reading this… I didn’t really think your slipper trick would work but it did!
I’m also soaking the seeds for an hour before I sow them. The trick worked well with my tomatoes and they might work well here too
My only worry is the weather in Chennai. I can take the tray into my AC of course, but then no sunlight…let’s see what happens and I’ll report back.
Hi GG, I am based in delhi. I have put coriander seeds in a pot and it has sprouted. the seedlings r almost 2-3 inches now. But after that its not growing much. Shall put some compost to enhance the growth ?
Hi Nimisha,
Lack of growth can be due to many reasons. Is the plant getting good sunlight. Adding compost will help. You can add manure as well..
Thanks GG. yes it is getting lotsa sunlight. do u suggest to get direct sunlight ?
one more basic ques : how to add compost ? Shall I just put a layer of compost in the pot ?
Whats manure ? and from whr to buy it ?
Nimisha,
As long as it gets good sunlight its enough. Direct sunlight can be scorching during the noon. Compost can be mixed with 2 inches of top soil. Manure is actually decomposed animal waste. Its much stronger and richer in nutrients. Its available in lalbagh. Use just a handful and ensure it is completely decomposed.
gg
Hi GG
Very good info, stumbled across your site. I tried growing Coriander indoors, seedlings grow very tall and flowers just after a few leaves. The weather is cold outside where I live, so I keep them indoors but they get good light. I didn’t put them in direct sunlight. I understand that direct sunlight is not good for coriander.
Any tips?
thanks
Sri
Sri,
Thanks. Direct sunlight is OK for coriander. It is high temperature that will cause bolting. My coriander trays are in direct sunlight(under 35% shade net). High temps cause bolting. Most of the times the leaves are harvested in my house even before it bolts. Just morning sunlight is good too.
gg
My coriander seeds haven’t germinated after one and a half weeks yet
. I read in some places that it can take 2-3 weeks for them to come up.
I hope nothing’s wrong. My tomato seeds germinated in just 2 days!
Hi Bhagwad,
It takes usually about 10 days or so. Give it a weeks time.
gg
My dhania experiment failed
. Two weeks and nothing. So I dug up the soil, and not one had even started to germinate…
Raj at http://rajsmusings.wordpress.com/ suggested that I soak the seeds overnight first. So I’m going to try that now…
Hi there,
). Will coriander (Lalbagh would have good coriander seeds ?) do well with this light or does it need full sun ? Would like to make a kitchen garden on the balcony.. but I guess most of those plants need a lot of sun ?
I’m much of a newbie to the gardening stuff. I’m trying to grow plants on my balcony. While there is enough ambient light in the house/balcony, the balcony gets direct sun only 2 hours during the morning. Have some Brahmi, and I just planted some methi, and it seems to be germinating (yay !
Lavanya,
Good to hear that you are starting gardening. Coriander will do just fine. You might not get super duper yield but it will yield. Not all of them need so much sunlight. You can grow palak, lettuce, methi, strawberries, knolkohl etc.
gg
Hi GG !
I like this website. I’m very fond of gardening. I do terrace gardening in pots. Now I want to start kitchen gardening. I’m planning to start with Tomatoes & Coriander.
Thanks for your tips.
Sunita
Hi Sunita,
Glad you liked my site. Keep us posted of your progress.
Thanks
gg
[...] you know? Carrots belong to the family Apiaceae that includes Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin(Jeera), Dill, Fennel(Saunf) and Asafetida ( Heeng). Most of them are aromatic in [...]
Good to hear that you are starting gardening. Coriander will do just fine. You might not get super duper yield but it will yield. Not all of them need so much sunlight. You can grow palak, lettuce, methi, strawberries, knolkohl etc.
Direct sunlight is OK for coriander. It is high temperature that will cause bolting. My coriander trays are in direct sunlight(under 35% shade net). High temps cause bolting. Most of the times the leaves are harvested in my house even before it bolts. Just morning sunlight is good too.
Apart from coriander, I would also like to grow other herbs commonly used in my kitchen such as mint, parsley, basil, thyme, dil, methi. Could you also post techniques for these as well??
Hello Ancy,
I will definitely write a post on growing herbs for your kitchen. Thanks for this excellent idea.
hi,
i tried the dhania thing…
it takes long time to germintate… more than 2 weeks…
i didnot split… also my tray is not deeper.
i have some questions..
1) why all the seeds don’t grow?. dhania seeds were from stores..
2)i bought some palnt seeds from lal bagh.. gypso phylla & verbana polka dot mix..ii planted all the seeds.. only one / two have grown….why?
3) do i need to transplant?
actually it is your blog which is assuring me that home garden is practical..
tahnks very much all useful detailed points…
jeya
Hi,
Dhania from stores may not grow sometimes as it may not be mature seeds. Transplanting is needed for verbena. if there is only one grown and it is in a bigger pot, no need then.
Hi,
Very interesting GG, wud definitely try this one. I got a question, where did u get horse manure from? Is it available at lal bagh?
Gr8 site! There”s so much to learn from you.I will be asking you for advice!
Hi GG,
I am a spice and Herb fun and recently i got an idea of growing my own at home. following your advice i planted coriander seeds and am glad to tell you that after 2 weeks, they have germinated successfully with about 90%. i have also managed to sprout onions, carrots and ginger. at the moment, am having problems sprouting cumin, cardamom and red papper. pliz give me some advise. am living in Uganda (tropics)
Hi Vince,
Nice to hear that you had good success in coriander. For the other seeds you mentioned you couldn’t germinate, were the seeds speciicaly meant for sowing purposes or culinary purposes. Sometimes the ones that are in the kitchen are harvested too soon. If they are “seeds” for sowing..then check out their ideal temp for germination. you can also use a moist tissue paper to wrap them and do a germination test. What is the temperature like?
Thanks
gg
Hi GG, thanks for the quick reply, as you mentioned above, i think am having problems with these other seeds because they were meant for the kitchen and not for sowing. problem is that getting seeds that are meant for sowing for such spices in not easy in my country since they are not common here. the temperature here is around 70f and below in most cases. but i will not give up, with lots of efforts, i will sprout those spices and will keep you posted. keep up the good work
Hi gg,
I tried to grow coriander in pots twice but failed miserably both times. I bought the seed from the local grocery store in bangalore. I split the seeds as mentioned before planting. I did not however soak them overnight, i planted them immediately after splitting.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there any specific store I can get coriander seeds that grow in bangalore? I did search in Lal bagh 2 weeks ago but did not find coriander seeds…
Usually the store bought coriander seeds don’t germinate because of the early picking or some processing that the seed goes through. I have coriander seeds that do germinate. you can collect it from me sometime.