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A tonne of recipes asks you to finish your dish by adding a garnish of coriander, Cilantro or dhaniya—the many names of this wonder plant. Holding a place of pride in any kitchen garden, this plant is fairly simple to grow.
Adding chopped coriander almost instantly adds freshness to a dish, along with a citrusy flavour. Not just in Indian food, coriander is often used in cuisines from Mexico, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Both the leaves and seeds of the coriander plant are used in cooking.
The leaves are often used fresh in salads, salsas, chutneys, soups, stews or as garnishes, while the seeds are used whole or ground in a powdered form in curries, spice blends, marinades, salads, picklings, baking, and spice mixes.
Growing coriander at home means that you’ll have a fresh supply of the herb all year. Gowing it at home is quite a straightforward process that can be done both indoors and outdoors. You will need coriander seeds, small pots if planting indoors, and large pots if planting outdoors. Good-quality soil, compost, or organic matter and a watering can or spray bottle.
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Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:
Preparing the Seeds For An Easier Germination
Gently crush the coriander seeds to split them into two halves. Another thing to do to quicken the germination is to soak the seeds in water for 24–48 hours. This will soften the seed coat and encourage quicker germination.
Choosing Where To Grow The Plant
If you want to plant coriander indoors, then make sure that you choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight, such as a balcony or a sunny window. You can use small pots for planting the seeds.
To plant coriander outdoors, you will have to select a large pot with good drainage. Here as well, you need to make sure that the site receives full sunlight.
Video Credit: Ali Raja Bagan Bari Uk
Preparing The Soil
It’s best to use good-quality soil that is rich in organic matter. If you use garden soil, mix in some compost or manure to improve fertility. Remove any big rocks and loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 inches.
Sowing The Seeds
Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Space the seeds about 6 inches apart if you are sowing directly in the ground or in larger pots. If you are using a small pot, then sow the seeds about 1 inch apart. After sowing the seeds, water the soil lightly to keep it moist. Make sure it’s not waterlogged.
Germination
Temperature: Coriander seeds germinate best at temperatures between 18°C and 24°C. It takes about 7–14 days to germinate.
Caring for the Seedlings
You need to keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering. Water it gently to make sure you don’t wash away the seeds or damage the young seedlings. Once the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin them out so that there’s no overcrowding. If you make sure they are about 6 inches apart, then they will grow healthily.
Ongoing Care
It is important to continue to water regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist. The plant needs to be fed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2–3 weeks to make sure it stays healthy. It’s good to apply a layer of mulch around the plants to retain soil moisture and also suppress weeds. Give the plant some shade during the hottest part of the day. Watch for common pests like aphids and caterpillars. Use organic pest control methods like neem oil or insecticidal soap if you need them.
Harvesting
You can start harvesting the leaves when the plant grows to about 6 inches tall. Cut the outer leaves first, so that the inner leaves can continue to grow. Regular harvesting encourages new growth. If you want to harvest coriander seeds, let the plants flower and produce seeds. When the seeds turn brown and dry, cut the seed heads and place them in a paper bag to dry completely. After drying, gently crush the seed heads to release the seeds. You can sow seeds every 2-3 weeks so that you have a continuous supply of fresh leaves.
