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How to grow Coriander in the UK

Quick and easy - sow a pinch every few weeks for a steady supply.

• DifficultyEasy peasy
• WhereBeds or Pots
• Grows to40cm
• Spacing5cm
• Time to first pickabout 6 weeks

When to sow, plant and harvest coriander

Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.

Sowing it outdoors

1. Pull out any weeds and rake the top of your bed until it's crumbly, like cake crumbs
2. Make a little line in the soil (1cm deep) with your finger or a stick
3. Drop the seeds in, about 5cm apart in the row, with rows 20cm apart
4. Gently cover them with soil and pat it down
5. Water with a watering can that has a sprinkler head
6. Push in a label so you remember what's there

Top tips for growing coriander

• It runs to seed fast in hot, dry weather - sow it somewhere a bit shady in summer, and water well.
• Choose a variety called 'slow to bolt'.

Soil and feeding

Poor, free-draining soil - they don't like it too rich. Most herbs like it quite poor and sunny. Too much food makes them floppy and less tasty.

Pests and problems

• Slugs & snails: munch seedlings overnight, worst in wet weather

• Protect seedlings from slugs

Harvesting and eating coriander

Cut handfuls of leaves when the plants are 10-15cm tall.

How to eat them: Scatter on curries, tacos and noodles. The seeds are a spice too!

Storing coriander

Keeps a few days.

• Stand the stalks in a glass of water in the fridge

Chop and freeze in ice-cube trays with a little water or oil - drop a cube into cooking.

Good varieties of coriander

• Calypso: Keeps making leaves for longer before it flowers.
• Leisure: Good for lots of leaves.

Companion planting

Grows well with

• Salad leaves: let a few flower - hoverflies love them
• Swiss chard: brings hoverflies

Saving your own coriander seed

Summer, once a plant has flowered and the seed heads have dried.

1. Leave one or two of the best plants to flower (this is called 'bolting') - don't pick them
2. When the flower heads turn brown and dry, cut them on a dry day
3. Hold them upside down in a paper bag and shake - the seeds fall out
4. Pick out the bits of stalk and leave the seeds to dry for a week

Where to buy coriander seeds

Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon

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Coriander questions

When should I sow coriander in the UK?

In the UK, sow coriander outdoors from early April to late August. These dates suit central England; sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland and up to two weeks earlier in the mild south and south west.

When can I pick coriander?

Coriander is ready from mid May to late October. Cut handfuls of leaves when the plants are 10-15cm tall.

How long do coriander take to grow?

Roughly 6 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.

Are coriander easy to grow?

Coriander are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.