Coriander

Coriandrum sativum

Coriander seeds. Photo: Sara Heitlinger
Coriander seeds. Photo: Sara Heitlinger

Coriander is a Middle Eastern and Asiatic herb. As it is quite expensive to buy as a green leaf and doesn’t keep well, it makes sense to grow this crop so that you can use small amounts when required. Coriander likes a well-drained, moderately fertile soil and is best sown directly into a warm (15°C), finely cultivated bed. Sow thinly into 1cm deep drills, 20cm apart. Rolling or pressing the soil will improve germination. It can be sown from late April onwards and will take 1-2 weeks to germinate. During the summer plants will bolt fairly quickly, so repeat sow every 2-3 weeks to maintain supplies of leaves. The flowers are particularly attractive to beneficial predators such as hoverflies.

Growing calendar for coriander
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Halema Begum

Halema Begum. Photo: Sara Heitlinger

About

Seed Guardian, Selby Estate Gardening Club

My name is Halema Begum and I live in Selby Street. I’ve lived in this country more than 25 years. I came from Bangladesh. I’m the mother of three children, I have two daughters and...
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Where the seeds came from
My coriander seed originally from Katherine from the farm 3 or 4 years ago, and since then every year I have saved my seed.

How to grow
I just dig to prepare the soil and then put the coriander seed in and cover with another layer of soil. If you sow your seeds in July or August you can eat the leaves until December. They like hot, summery conditions. But they grow well in winter too. They are more scented in summer time.

Tips and challenges
Slugs and snails are the main problem. I put egg shell around my plant to stop them from going near. I also pick them up with my hands and throw them away. Same with the caterpillars.
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Halema on Coriander

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