Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant cilantro in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is cilantro's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 4Direct sowSpring
Mar 18Succession sowing 2Spring
Apr 1Succession sowing 3Spring
Aug 27Direct sowFall
Sep 10Succession sowing 2Fall
Sep 24Succession 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 7a →Cilantro in zone 7b →Cilantro in zone 8b →Cilantro in zone 9a →