Cilantro is not something that my family grew when I was a kid and learning how to garden. I really like cilantro in my Mexican dishes and salsa but it took me a while to figure out how to grow it in Kentucky. I kept asking and experimenting until I figured it out. Here is a quick synopsis of what I learned through trial and error.
My first attempt was trying to buy plants and transplant them. They almost immediately went to seed. I talked to friends and did some research. What I found out was that cilantro does not like to be transplanted and will almost always go quickly to seed when it is planted this way in the garden.
My next attempt was sowing seeds. I put it out in time to be ready when my tomatoes were ready so I could use it for salsa. It never seemed to do well. I then found out that it does not like our hot summers. Next, I tried it in the fall with some success. This year I did a spring planting of it and it did very well.
You can cut cilantro for a while as long as it stays cool. I did not do a good job of that this year. When I went out to look at it today, I realized that it was starting to flower which meant that it would be going to seed soon. I pulled all of the stems out and spent the morning stripping off the leaves and putting them in the dehydrator. After it is dehydrated, I will put it in a container and store it in the freezer. I will take some out as I need it through the year. It did not all fit in the first load so the leftover stems are sitting in a cup of water until the first batch is done. Cilantro will keep in a glass of water for a few days.
I am glad that I have finally been able to grow cilantro. I use enough of it through the year that I will also be doing a fall planting of it. Hopefully, it will also turn out well.
My first attempt was trying to buy plants and transplant them. They almost immediately went to seed. I talked to friends and did some research. What I found out was that cilantro does not like to be transplanted and will almost always go quickly to seed when it is planted this way in the garden.
My next attempt was sowing seeds. I put it out in time to be ready when my tomatoes were ready so I could use it for salsa. It never seemed to do well. I then found out that it does not like our hot summers. Next, I tried it in the fall with some success. This year I did a spring planting of it and it did very well.
You can cut cilantro for a while as long as it stays cool. I did not do a good job of that this year. When I went out to look at it today, I realized that it was starting to flower which meant that it would be going to seed soon. I pulled all of the stems out and spent the morning stripping off the leaves and putting them in the dehydrator. After it is dehydrated, I will put it in a container and store it in the freezer. I will take some out as I need it through the year. It did not all fit in the first load so the leftover stems are sitting in a cup of water until the first batch is done. Cilantro will keep in a glass of water for a few days.
I am glad that I have finally been able to grow cilantro. I use enough of it through the year that I will also be doing a fall planting of it. Hopefully, it will also turn out well.
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