Coriander

[Gordonmull]

Hi folks

My OH has just noticed a hole in our herb arsenal - coriander.

I grew some last year but it quickly ran to seed and died off. We use fairly large amounts of it on a semi-regular basis - any tips on how to prevent going to seed? I'd like to get 3-4 plants in as cut-and-come again, if possible, and have some space in flower beds if it will grow outdoors.

Last year it was one of those pre-impregnated paper discs that was grown alongside parsley, chives and basil in one of those long windowbox-planter-tray-type thingies. Soil was Lidl multipurpose compost, the planter was on the inside of the bedroom windowsill. Watering might have been less than diligent (may have answered my own question there).

This year windowsills are not an option due to the vast amount of tomatoes that seem to be occupying them....but now have GH  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers

Gordon

[Gordonmull]

[artichoke]

Coriander is surprisingly hardy; mine grows outdoors and often survives the winter. I don't mind it going to seed as the seed germinates and pops up all over my allotment - I am nurturing a promising little patch at the moment.

I personally think you need much more than 3 or 4 plants - I like a forest of it. I spot the seedlings popping up and move them into a patch or row, and it's an ongoing process that I think is well worth it for the superb flavour.

[Kleftiwallah]

On an allotment programme a while ago an eastern gentleman first gently cracked his coriander seed between two bricks - I did say GENTLY.  He said it helped germination.  :o  Why not give it a try ?    Cheers,    Tony.

[goodlife]

Yep..dead easy to grow..but to prevent them going too early to seed you need to  provide them right spot...not too much sun and good moist spot. Once they start 'feeling' bit dry around their 'toes' or lacking lush 'bedding'..they take offence and start flowering.. ::)

[peanuts]

Agree with all that has been said.  Allow it to self-seed and with luck, and if it is happy, it will keep you in coriander for a long while.  I usually do several sowings a year, if it hasn't self-sown sufficiently. 
If you cut it down to nearly ground level, it will produce more, and slow it down from going to seed. 

When it is going to seed, do use the green seeds - they are DELICIOUS -  juicy, full of flavour, and can be added to salads, sauces, etc. 

[Gordonmull]

Wow. So I can basically neglect them in a damp, part-shaded spot with a bit of feed now and then!  :D

I know just the place.

Thank you very much for the input folks, what would I do without youse? (Grow coriander on windowsill, fail give up ;D )

Looking forward to trying the green seeds, Peanuts, it sounds well interesting.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

One interesting thing I think I discovered about coriander, the seeds seem to have a good shelf life. As an umbellifer I wouldn't have guessed that but both on the allotment and in the greenhouse in a pot of compost I sowed some old packets, just to use the packets up and to get rid of them and both sowings have germinated. My next experiment will be to sow some from a spice packet.

[pumkinlover]

Hi and welcome Tosh (may we call you that ;) )
I've grown coriander from a big bag of seeds bought on the market and they were fine. I guess some seeds may be more suited to leaf than going to seed but it seems conditions play a large part. Off to find a shady  spot on the plot!

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

Tosh is fine. :)

[goodlife]

Tosh is fine. :)

;D..great..otherwise your name is bit long to type..

[goodlife]

This year I've prepared a coriander 'growing spot'..old plastic bowl dug foot down into ground..filled mixture of 'old' spent compost, grit and surrounding soil. The bowl is buried and hopefully that it will keep the coriander's toes damp and still allowing excess moisture to soak away once/if the water should fill the bowl...sort of underground water reservoir.
I'm just about to scatter load of seeds over the 'spot' and let all what germinate to grow into thicket...no thinning. Its like supermarket 'herb pot' but in larger scale.. ;D

[caroline7758]

I recently sowed a pot of new T&M seed and a pot of seed from an old packet of supermarket seed (intended for cooking) as a trial. None of the supermarket stuff came up. I wondered if this was just due to age or could they have been treated with something?

[BarriedaleNick]

I just cant grow the damned stuff which is a shame as I love it..

[theothermarg]

mine survived over winter in the cold greenhouse with hardly any watering
marg

[antipodes]

Even if they flower I still cut off greenery and use it, even the blossoms, the fragrance is throughout the plant. I freeze a lot when it is in leaf, then let it self seed and you usually get some again in the autumn :)
Successive sow throughout the spring and summer for a constant supply.
I let it flower as the insects seem to love the flowers...

[caroline7758]

I'm sure Bob Flowerdew recommended a variety less prone to bolting but I can't remember its name. ::)

Just checked on i-player- it's called Cilantro- but having googled that it seems to just be another name for Coriander.  ???

[pigeonseed]

calpsyo?

[pigeonseed]

i mean calypso!

[queenbee]

I buy "The living herbs" from the supermarket, after all they are just seedlings grown close together, I split them
into about ten pieces and plant in a big pot, cut them down to about a third and I finish up with enough for the season. (cost about 79p) I do this with flat parsley, chives, thyme and any other herbs that they call windowsill herbs,  I freeze any surplus.

[antipodes]

I grow LEISURE variety, it doesn't bolt too quickly.