Planting guide · zone 5b
When to plant cilantro in zone 5b
In zone 5b, the average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is Oct 8. Here is cilantro's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 17Direct sowSpring
May 1Succession sowing 2Spring
May 15Succession sowing 3Spring
Jul 23Direct sowFall
Aug 6Succession sowing 2Fall
Aug 20Succession 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 5a →Cilantro in zone 6a →Cilantro in zone 6b →Cilantro in zone 7a →