Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant cilantro in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is cilantro's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 24Direct sowSpring
May 8Succession sowing 2Spring
May 22Succession sowing 3Spring
Jul 16Direct sowFall
Jul 30Succession sowing 2Fall
Aug 13Succession sowing 3Fall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Average, well-drained soil. Cool weather is the real requirement — heat makes it bolt within days.
Seedling care
Cilantro has a taproot and resents transplanting. If starting indoors, use deep cells, transplant young, and disturb roots as little as possible.
Growing notes
Succession sow every 2 weeks — a single planting only gives 3–4 weeks of good leaf.
Harvest
Cut outer stems once plants reach 6 in. If it bolts, let it — the seeds are coriander.
Same crop, other zones
Cilantro in zone 5b →Cilantro in zone 6a →Cilantro in zone 6b →Cilantro in zone 7a →