My coriander won't grow past much more than a seedling.....help please?

Question

Ok, I don't think I'm doing anything wrong with the watering side of things.

How much sunshine should the plant get, and is this direct sunlight (as in very hot sun) or will this burn it.

I have nothing more than miserable looking wilted plants that turn yellow after a few weeks, so any tips? Soil type, position?

Answer 1

I live in Kentucky and corainder aka cilantro grows wonderfully here. Three crops in the spring/summer months.

However, my recent seedlings of 6 weeks ago are now stopped growing with the colder weather. I will not be able to harvest much more, since the frost will blacken the leaves and rot will set in.

I wonder if your soil is not nutritious? Are they outdoors or indoors? I have not had success indoors. Maybe they are too close together. I thin mine to about 3 inches apart.


I find it selfseeds now that i have been growing it for 4 or 5 years. In fact I have often had so much that I cut it up and mix with oil and vinegar and freeze the mess in ice cube trays for use in soups and other dishes. Mmmmm.

Keep trying. ANY leaf that you eat is a gift to your body, so even eat the rather miserable looking things. Be blessed.

Answer 2

Cilantro/ coriander is a cool weather plant. It likes sun though. I suspect that it may be too hot and damp, and your seedlings are "damping off"- a mold condition that causes the young stem to collapse. Try putting your seeds more on a mound so the humidity doesn't just sit there and grow mold. If you have it in a pot, raise the soil level and put it where it will get more of a breeze or the air is moving.

Answer 3

Try starting the seeds in sterile soil in sterile pots. There is a fungus that attacks seedlings and watering brings the fungus out of the soil and onto the seedling. Also consider watering from the bottom (i.e., capillary watering).

Answer 4

My coriander grew in full sun. You aren't doing anything wrong, there is not enough sun (hours of daylight) for the seedlings, shortest day of the year (solstice) is in December. You could try a grow light for them. good luck

Answer 5

you may not have a big enough pot or hole, put the hole three times larger in width & depth, water well and place plant in to the top of the root ball, then back fill with good dirt and compost mix, tamp and water once more generously and then let the Winter cycle take its course...it must rain periodacially where you are in addition to the good weather

Answer 6

They grow in the shade and also it could still be a watering problem with too much water.