Coriander
A dual-purpose herb, offering fresh leaves and flavourful seeds. Coriander is essential in many cuisines, but it can be a little temperamental as it's prone to bolting (flowering) quickly.
Coriander seeds
£1.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
April – August, direct outdoors every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
Plant out
Not usually transplanted due to sensitivity; best sown direct
Harvest
June – October (leaves); August – September (seeds)
Conditions
Sun
Full sun to partial shade, needs some protection from intense afternoon heat
Water
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; critical for preventing bolting
Soil
Light, well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
15-20cm (6-8 inches) between plants
Containers
Good for pots (15-20cm diameter) or window boxes
Indoors
Can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill, but usually bolts faster
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not needed if soil is rich; can use a weak liquid feed if leaves look pale
Pruning
Pinch out flower stalks as they appear if you want to prolong leaf harvest
Harvesting
Snip outer leaves and stems as needed; cut whole plants for seed collection once seeds brown
Storage
Use fresh; can be stored in a glass of water in the fridge for a few days, or frozen chopped
Good companions: Anise, Dill, Potatoes