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Slow-Bolt Cilantro/Coriander

Slow Bolt · Apiaceae

Slow-bolting cilantro selected for a longer leaf harvest than standard coriander. Finely cut aromatic foliage is used fresh, while mature dry seeds become coriander. Key facts: 28–40 days to maturity, 4+ hours of sun, 6–8 " spacing. Container-friendly (minimum 1-gallon pot).

Updated April 19, 2026 · Backed by 4 cited sources
Overview

At a Glance

The essentials first: timing, light, spacing, seed-starting, container fit, and overall size.

Days to maturity
28–40 days
Sun
4+ hours
Full Sun In Cool Weather, Light Afternoon Shade In Warming Climates
Spacing
6–8 "
between plants
Seed start
0 weeks
before transplant
Container
Yes
1+ gallon pot
Height
1–2 ft
at maturity
Planting window

Zone Planting Guide

Switch zones to see whether this plant is a strong fit, what frost timing looks like, and any extra notes worth planning around.

This card updates instantly with viability, frost timing, and any planting notes for your selected zone.

Resilience

Plant Health

Stress tolerance, resistance notes, and the most common problems to watch for as plants mature.

Tolerance
Heat: Low Cold: Moderate Drought: Low

Common Issues

Bolting

Cause: Warm weather and increasing day length push cilantro into flower rapidly.

Prevention: Grow in spring or fall, mulch, and succession sow every 2-3 weeks.

Aphids

Cause: Tender foliage and stems attract sap-feeding insects.

Prevention: Encourage beneficials and wash foliage with water when infestations are light.

Leaf Spot

Cause: Crowding and wet foliage allow minor foliar diseases to spread.

Prevention: Improve airflow and water early in the day

Feeding & picking

Nutrition & Harvest

How hungry the plant is, what ripe harvest looks like, and how long the crop keeps after picking.

Feeding
Nutrition
Feeding intensityLight feeder
RecipesWorm Castings Topdress, Compost Tea
Timing
Harvest

Plants are 4-6 inches tall for baby harvest or 6-10 inches tall for bunching; foliage is tender and strongly aromatic.

Expected yield0.1–0.4 lbs/plant
Storage5 days — Refrigerate loosely wrapped; seeds store dry after heads brown fully.
Plant relationships

Companion Planting

Helpful neighbors can support growth or deter pests. Keep antagonistic plants separated to reduce stress and competition.

What you'll need

Growing Supplies

Based on Slow-Bolt Cilantro/Coriander's growth profile -- recommendations matched to this variety's specific requirements.

Drip irrigation / soaker hose kit

Every gardener benefits from putting water at the root zone instead of on the leaves, because drip and soaker systems reduce foliar disease pressure by limiting leaf wetness and soil splash. A quality kit should include a backflow preventer, filter, pressure reducer, and UV-resistant tubing.

Source: Iowa State University Extension; Colorado State University Extension; UMass Extension

Soil test kit

A soil test gives a baseline for pH and nutrient status so gardeners can add only what the soil actually needs. Prioritize a mail-in or lab-affiliated kit whenever possible because extension guidance notes that laboratory testing is more accurate than instant readers.

Source: University of Maryland Extension; Purdue Extension; Montana State University Extension

Quality bypass pruners

Extension guidance favors bypass designs because they make cleaner, closer cuts on living tissue than anvil types. Look for hardened steel blades that can be sharpened, a comfortable grip, and a cutting capacity matched to real home-garden stems.

Source: University of New Hampshire Extension; Iowa State University Extension; Purdue University Extension

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Research

Sources

Reference material and extension guidance used to build this growing guide.

seed_catalog Seeds Nowuniversity Illinois Extensionuniversity University of Maryland Extensioninference GDD estimated from slow-bolt cilantro leaf-harvest windows
Internal links

Slow-Bolt Cilantro/Coriander Planting Dates by Zone

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