How to Grow Cilantro in Florida
Cilantro loves Florida's cool season and bolts the moment it heats up. Plant fall to winter, and grow culantro for summer.
Cilantro (coriander) is a cool-season herb; sow it fall through winter. Heat makes it bolt to seed fast, so it is a winter crop in Florida, not a summer one.
When to plant in Florida
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| North Florida | Oct-Feb |
| Central Florida | Oct-Feb |
| South Florida | Nov-Feb |
Varieties
- 'Santo' — slow-bolting standard.
- 'Calypso' — one of the slowest to bolt.
- Culantro (recao) — not the same plant, but a heat-tolerant stand-in with the same flavor for summer.
How to grow it
- Sow seed directly (it has a taproot and dislikes transplanting), keep it cool and evenly watered.
- Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply, since each plant is short-lived.
- Pick outer leaves often; once it sends up a flower stalk, let it set seed (that's coriander spice) or pull it.
Tip
When the weather warms and cilantro bolts, switch to culantro, which holds up through the Florida heat with a very similar flavor.
Source: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Cilantro.
When to plant in your region
Pick your region to see the planting months for cilantro where you garden.
See also: Cilantro in the plant library →
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