Why We Love Cilantro
Coupling easy growing with bountiful harvests, cilantro is the perfect crop for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Not only that, but growing cilantro actually comes with a little surprise, a spice! That’s right, cilantro seeds are more commonly known as coriander, which is used often in cooking Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern dishes. Cilantro also comes with health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and supplying the body with anti-inflammatory properties.
Varieties
- Leisure Cilantro – Also known as Chinese parsley. Boasts green, feathery, flat leaves. Features an aromatic and zesty flavor profile. Heat tolerant and slow to bolt.
- Marino Cilantro – Feathered leaf variety. High yielding variety that is quick to grow and slow to bolt. Boasts a citrus-like taste.
- Santo Cilantro – Common variety among market farmers and home growers. Slow bolting with a relatively dark color and strong flavor.
Planting Your Seedlings
What You’ll Need
- Tower Garden Growing System
- Seedling Starter Kit (if starting with seeds)
- Cilantro seeds/seedlings
- Net pots or Growing Clip
- LED Indoor Grow Lights (for indoor growing)
- Access to power source
How to Start Your Seeds
- Germinate your seeds. This step will take roughly 1-2 weeks. Cilantro seeds should be ready for transplant (about 2–3 weeks) when they have a good root system growing from the rockwool cubes.
- Place one seedling cube into each net pot or growing clip on your Tower Garden Growing System. We’ve found that cilantro grows well when planted in the top sections of Tower Garden.
- Gently press the seedling cube until it touches the base of the net pot or growing clip.
Growing Conditions
Temperature: 40–80° F
Light exposure and watering cycle can be controlled by our digital timer, but for manual reference:
Light
For outdoor – minimum 6-8 hours of full sunlight daily
For indoor – set grow light timer for 14-16 hours on, 8-10 hours off
Watering Cycle
Please set the Tower timer to “O” for outdoor growing or “I” for indoor growing.
Maintenance & Pest Prevention
- Check water and pH levels at least weekly.
- Keep roots away from pump.
- If growing outdoors, rotate garden regularly for even growing.
- Clean pump monthly.
- Check regularly for pests.
- Remove dead plant debris.
- Destroy diseased plant material.
Harvesting
- Snip the bottommost leaves at the base of their stems.
- Remember to never take more than a third of a plant at once.
- To save coriander seeds, cut them from the plant and place them in a paper bag until they are fully dry and fall off the stems.
- Cilantro leaves lose most of their flavor when dried. So for the tastiest results, use them fresh or freeze for later.
- And if you’re cooking with cilantro, add it last to preserve the herb’s bright flavor.
Ways to Enjoy
- Salsa – All traditional Mexican salsas feature freshly picked, and finely diced, cilantro. Skip the store-bought stuff and make salsa with cilantro picked straight from your Tower Garden.
- Marinade – Combine freshly picked cilantro with salt, pepper, lime juice, garlic, and olive oil for a delicious marinade perfect for chicken, shrimp, and other dishes.
- Smoothies – Cilantro has been known to support digestive health. Add a bunch of fresh cilantro into your next smoothie for a health-filled cup of goodness.
