How to Grow Cilantro Indoors for a Convenient Supply of Fresh Herbs

It's surprisingly easy to grow cilantro indoors. That's excellent news for home chefs, who love sprinkling a bit of the delicious herb in their noodles, guacamole, rice, chicken, and more. Even better, since cilantro can be grown inside, you can can enjoy it year-round, without depending on weather or the seasons.

Of course, like any plant, cilantro requires special care—especially if you plan on growing it inside. Here, we spoke to an expert gardener about the best way to do it, from when to plant your cilantro to how to harvestit once it's ready to enjoy.

When to Plant

One of the best things about growing cilantro indoors is that you aren't limited to planting it only during specific times of year. Instead, you can start it whenever is most convenient.

"Since cilantro grows quickly and bolts fast, my strategy for a constant supply is succession planting," says gardening instructor Meg Austin. "I start new seeds every two to three weeks to ensure we have it on demand." She says if she could pass on just one bit of advice to a gardener growing cilantro for the first time, it would be to set a reminder for planting fresh seeds.

How to Plant

Cilantro seeds are similar in size to small peas, and feature a hard, wrinkled surface. "They have a protective coating that needs to be softened before planting," says Austin. "One common mistake new gardeners make is planting the seeds while the coating is still intact."

She suggests speeding up germination by soaking the seeds in warm water for eight to 12 hours before planting. "If you're in a hurry and haven’t soaked the seeds yet, you can lightly scuff the hard seed shell with a nail file instead," Austin adds.

You're probably familiar with the technique of starting seeds indoors and then transplanting them into larger containers. However, cilantro requires a different plan. "Cilantro doesn’t like to be transplanted, so it’s best to directly sow the seeds into a container that it can permanently grow in," says Austin.

Care 

Taking care of cilantro indoors isn't complicated, but you'll set yourself up for success by ensuring your plants are in the very best environment.

Light 

Cilantro needs full sun, which can be a challenge indoors. "Place your pot near a south-facing window, or use grow lights for 12 to 14 hours of light during the day," says Austin.

Temperature 

You'll want your cilantro seeds to stay fairly warm while they're germinating, but once the seedlings have sprouted, cilantro is a cold-season crop—like spinach, kale, or mustard greens—that grows best during the cooler parts of the year.

When growing indoors, just make sure to keep your cilantro containers away from any direct heat sources that might make the ambient air temperature too warm.

Water 

Cilantro needs frequent watering, but never too much at once. "Keep the soil moist but not soggy," says Austin, "Water when the top inch feels dry or the soil pulls away from the edges of the pot."

Soil 

Your container-grown cilantro will appreciate a slightly acidic soil pH. "Choose a wide, shallow pot that’s at least 6 inches deep with good drainage," says Austin. "Cilantro grows a very impressive root system, so deeper is better! Fill it with a light, well-draining potting mix."

Harvesting

The specifics of when to harvest your cilantro will depend on the variety you grow, and which part of the plant you're interested in harvesting. If you're looking to use cilantro leaves, you'll probably only need to wait 50 to 70 days before harvesting—sometimes even less.

However, if your goal is to collect coriander seeds, then you'll have to be patient while the plants fully mature, bolt into tiny delicate blossoms, and then dry. However, most people are primarily interested in the leaves.

"When harvesting cilantro, I always start with the outer leaves first," says Austin. "By keeping the plant harvested, or essentially pruned, we keep the cilantro in a state of continuous growth."