To grow coriander in a pot

When and how to grow coriander in a pot?

When to sow or plant?

Not hardy, coriander is grown as an annual. Our coriander plug plants are planted from April to August, for a harvest from June to October.

Sowings of coriander seeds should be staggered from March to July for a harvest from June to October. For an earlier harvest, you can sow under cover from March. Place your sowings behind a sunny window or in a mini-greenhouse. You can start harvesting the first leaves about 1½ months after sowing.

Our tip: you can repeat sowings several times during the season to always have fresh coriander on hand, as it tends to go to seed.

How to sow coriander in a pot?

• Spread a layer of clay balls in the base of the container
• Fill your pot with potting compost up to 2 cm from the top
• Press down very lightly with the flat of your hand
• Insert around ten coriander seeds per pot
• Cover with compost to a depth of 1 cm
• Water regularly with a fine spray using a mister until the seedlings emerge (germination takes about 15 days)
• Place pot in a cool spot, keeping substrate consistently moist during germination without waterlogging it
• At the 2–3 leaf stage, thin out to leave only 2–3 plants per container

Sowing coriander

How to plant it correctly?

• Spread clay balls in the base of a container with drainage holes for good drainage
• Cover with garden compost to about 10 cm
• Plant the coriander plug plants, spacing them 10–20 cm apart in all directions
• Fill in with compost
• Water thoroughly

Which type of pot should I choose?

Coriander forms a beautiful plant, taller than wide, reaching up to 50 cm high. To plant it successfully, choose a terracotta or plastic pot with drainage holes to facilitate water flow, 20 x 20 cm for one young plant, or 40 x 40 cm for 2 to 3 young plants. You can plant it alongside other aromatic plants with similar requirements such as basil, parsley and dill. You can also plant your coriander in a planter.

What substrate should I use?

Use a good, rich potting compost that retains sufficient moisture, preferably for vegetable gardens and aromatic plants. It will provide all elements necessary for successful cultivation of your coriander. You can add a small handful of river sand to slightly lighten it.

What exposure for coriander?

Coriander is a frost-tender plant! Wait until frosts are definitely over, usually from April–May depending on region, before putting your pot out on the terrace or balcony. Place it in sun or partial shade during hottest hours and sheltered from wind that could snap its stems. In midsummer, it may suffer from intense afternoon sun, too harsh for it. In a pot, you can easily move the container to always provide ideal exposure for your plant. Remember to bring your pot indoors if nights are cool.

Indoors, place it near a window or on a windowsill. Provide a spot sheltered from draughts.

Pots of aromatic herbs placed in sun

How to care for coriander in a pot?

Watering

In a pot, very regular watering is required, and the potting mix dries out faster than in the ground. A lack of water can cause coriander to run to seed prematurely. Water without excess, however, as soon as the potting compost is dry; this may be every day, especially in very hot weather. Excess water could make it decline. Not too much, not too little — that is the rule for watering coriander! If in doubt, I suggest checking whether your coriander needs water by pushing a finger 2–3 cm into the soil: if it is dry below 3 cm, it is time to water.

To keep a little coolness, reduce watering and avoid the potting mix drying out too quickly, you can mulch the base to retain moisture throughout the growing season.

Which fertiliser to use?

Like most aromatic plants grown in pots, coriander will benefit from an application of vegetable fertiliser every three weeks, which will encourage development of new shoots.

How to cut coriander in a pot?

Fresh coriander leaves are harvested as needed. Pick stems that are fresh green, not yellowed or wilted, cutting them at the base with scissors or simply with your thumbnail. In summer, coriander will produce small white flowers that will turn into small ribbed, edible and aromatic seeds. You can leave the flowers or cut them as soon as they appear to encourage the production of new tender stems.

Coriander runs to seed quite quickly; to avoid running to seed, it is best to harvest leaves frequently and to cut the flowering stems as they appear. If, however, you wish to harvest coriander seeds at the end of summer, let your young plant set seed. Cut the stems close to the base when the seeds have turned light brown, and harvest them by shaking the umbels in your hands or over a clean cloth. You can keep some seeds to use whole to flavour pickles or terrines, for example, or to resow them indoors in early spring.

What should I do with my wilted coriander?

Coriander becomes exhausted and dies quickly, even if you grow it indoors. It cannot tolerate cold and disappears as soon as temperatures cool. Here, it is grown as an annual aromatic plant: from end of summer, simply discard faded tufts.

Learn more

Discover our comprehensive guide: Coriander: cultivation, harvest, benefits