Jun 11, 2026 / By Anas Heaba / in Growing Guides
Coriander is one of the most rewarding herbs you can grow at home. The fresh green leaves (cilantro) are a staple of Egyptian cooking, and the dried fruits (coriander) are a classic spice. Best of all, coriander is generally trouble-free and grows quickly from seed, so it is a great choice for beginners. The catch is timing: coriander is a cool-season annual that bolts (sends up a flower stalk and stops producing leaves) once it gets hot, so the secret to success in Egypt is sowing it at the right time of year.
Coriander grows best between roughly 10 and 29 C, and it bolts readily once temperatures climb above about 29 C. Since Egyptian summers go far beyond that, you should grow coriander as a cool-season (winter) crop, never in summer. The reliable leaf-harvest window is the mild winter, roughly October through February.
In the Delta and Lower Egypt, direct-sow from mid-to-late October through January; the mild, light-frost winter (often 10-20 C) keeps plants in their ideal range and delays bolting, giving the longest harvest. In Upper Egypt (الصعيد), which warms up sooner, sow a little later in the cool window (November-December) and harvest before the spring heat arrives. In both regions, make a fresh sowing every 2-3 weeks through the cool months for a continuous supply. Summer sowing is not recommended because plants bolt almost immediately.
Coriander does not transplant well because of its long taproot, so always direct-sow it where it will grow. Direct seeding also reduces the risk of early bolting. Choose a spot in full sun with well-drained soil; coriander tolerates very light shade, and a little afternoon shade actually helps slow bolting if you sow toward the warmer edges of the season.
Sow the seed about 1.3 cm deep in rows at least 38 cm apart. Note that each coriander "seed" is really a fruit holding two seeds. Germination is slow, taking about 2-3 weeks, so be patient and keep the soil moist. Once the seedlings are well established, thin them to about 5 cm apart for a leaf (cilantro) crop. If you want to grow plants on for coriander seed instead, thin them to about 20-30 cm apart.
Because coriander is grown mainly for its foliage, it favors nitrogen. A simple approach is to apply about a quarter cup of a nitrogen fertilizer (such as 21-0-0) per 2.3 square metres of bed, one to two times during the growing season. Avoid overfeeding; steady, moderate feeding produces lush leaves.
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season, and water regularly while the plants are getting established. Once they are established, coriander needs little water. If you are growing plants on for seed, reduce watering as the seed nears maturity. Always avoid waterlogged, soggy soil. Coriander is usually trouble-free, but watch for slugs and snails on young seedlings, aphids, and fungal problems in overcrowded plantings, so give plants room and good airflow.
Start harvesting leaves once plants are about 10-15 cm tall, using a cut-and-come-again approach so the plant keeps producing. Foliage is usually ready in roughly 45-80 days. Always harvest leaves before the plant bolts: in hot, dry weather it stops making leaves and sends up a flower stalk. If you want coriander seed, leave some plants to flower and collect the fruits once they turn light brown.
Success starts with good seed. At tna W rna you can pick up our coriander (الكزبرة) seeds to get started, or choose the local Egyptian variety with بذور كزبرة بلدي (Coriandrum sativum), which is well suited to our climate. For larger beds or successive winter sowings, there is also a bulk coriander seed pack. Sow at the right cool-season time, keep the soil moist, and you will be cutting fresh cilantro all winter long.
Jun 11, 2026 by Anas Heaba
Jun 11, 2026 by Anas Heaba
