How To Grow Coriander?: A Beginners Guide For Coriander Cultivation

Coriander/ Cilantro or Dhania is a popular spice used in stews and curry. It is loved for its unique aroma and flavour that it adds to food!

People often wonder if coriander is a herb or shrub. Well, Coriander is a fast-growing annual herb that grows best in spring and falls’ cold weather. It’s always in demand, regardless of the timing. It is becoming a force both locally and internationally regarding market and returns. 

According to reports, the demand for coriander and other similar spices has increased by more than 40%, with growers gaining more money by up to 25% compared to traditional crops. 

Here’s how to grow coriander at home. Whether outdoors or in small spaces, or on a farm, the growing guide ahead will equip you to grow coriander plants in all scenarios. 

Happy growing!

Varieties of Coriander Farming

Coriander is grown for its leaves or seeds. Therefore, varieties have been bred to produce a better yield. So, the variety you choose to harvest is important. 

A seed variety will produce seeds faster than a leaf variety. But the clause is once a plant ‘runs to seed,’ it will stop leaf production. 

‘Calypso‘ or ‘Leisure‘  variety is best for cilantro leaf production as it has a superb ‘cut and grow again’ habit. 

At the same time, the ‘Santo‘ variety produces larger flower heads and runs to seed more quickly. 

You do not need to choose these varieties but check if the seeds you use are ‘seed’ or ‘leaf’. In addition, wide improved varieties of coriander are now available in different states, such as:

Coriander Varieties and their Characteristics 

Variety	Parentage	Characteristics	Duration	Yield/ha (Kg)
CO1	A pure line selection	Tall plant, many umbels per plant, suitable for green and grains.  Duration 110 days.  Yield 500 kg per ha.	110	500
CO2	A reselection from culture P2 of Gujarat	High-yield, dual purpose variety, tolerant to drought, oil 0.3%.  Duration 90-110 days.  Yield 600-700 kg per ha.	90 -110	600 – 700
CO3	Reselection from Acc. No. 695	High-yield, dual purpose, medium size grain, seed oil 0.38-0.41%.  Duration 103 days.  Yield 640 kg per ha.	103	640
Gujarat Coriander-1	A selection from local	High-yield, more branches, seeds bolder and greenish in colour.  Duration 112 days.  Yield 1100 kg per ha.	112	1100
Gujarat Coriander-2	A selection from CO2	High-yield, more branches, dense foliage, umbels large size, grain purpose variety, bold seeds, no lodging.  Duration 110-115 days.  Yield 1500 kg per ha.	110 -115	1500
Rajendra Swati	A mass selection from germplasm type	High-yield potential, suitable for intercropping, fine seeded, rich in essential oil, resistant to stem gall disease.  Duration 110 days.  Yield 1200-1400 kg per ha.	110	1200 – 1400
Rcr-41	Recurrent selection from UD 41	High-yield, tall erect, suitable for irrigated areas, resistant to stem gall.  Duration 130-140 days.  Yield 1200 kg per ha.	130-140	1200
Swati	Mass selection	High-yield, semi-erect, suitable for delayed sowing.  Duration 80-90 days.  Yield 885 kg per ha.	80-90	885
Sadhana	Mass selection	High-yield, suitable for rainfed areas, semi-erect, resistant to aphids and mites.  Duration 95-105 days.  Yield 1000 kg per ha.	95-105	1000

Soil and Climate Requirements

It is a tropical crop and can grow throughout the year (except in very hot seasons, i.e. March-May) for leaf purposes. 

Dry and cold weather free from frost, especially during flowering and fruit setting, favours good production. 

Remember: Cloudy weather during the flowering and fruiting stage promotes pest and disease incidences. 

Heavy rain affects the crop. However, as an irrigated crop, it can be cultivated on almost all types of soils, provided sufficient organic matter is applied. 

For proper coriander plant care, black cotton soils with high moisture retentivity are recommended under rainfed conditions.

Climatic Requirements	Frost-free tropical climate. Cool and comparatively dry climate.
Sowing Time	June – July  October – November
Soil Preparation	Well-drained silt or loamy soils are best for cultivation.  Rainfed cultivation soil should be natural clay, and the pH should be 6 – 8.  Coriander performs well in a temperature range of 20 – 25 °C.

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Seed Rate and Sowing Method

Field Preparation and Sowing

• Prepare the main field to a fine tilth.
• Add FYM 10 t/ha before the last ploughing.
• Form beds and channels (for irrigated crops).
• Show the split seeds at a spacing of 20 x 15 cm.
• Spray pre-emergence herbicide Fluchloralin 700 ml in 500 lit of water per ha.
• The seeds will germinate in around 8-15 days.

Seed rate

How to grow coriander from seeds? The point is the whole seed will not germinate; hence, the seeds are split into halves before sowing for more germination percentage.

10 – 12 kg/ha	Irrigated crop
20 – 25 kg/ha	Rainfed crop

How to Water and Weed your Coriander Crop?

Irrigation Guidance for Cultivation of Coriander

First, watering should be given immediately after sowing. Irrigation requirements depend on climate, soil moisture level, and coriander plant growth stages. 

The standard irrigation schedule is 5–6 irrigations 30–35, 60–70, 80–90, 100–105 and 110–150 days after sowing.

Weed Control

This blog discusses how to grow coriander at home and in fields. So, during coriander cultivation, the first weeding is done 30 days after sowing. The second weeding in irrigated coriander may be done between 50 and 60 days of sowing, depending upon the weed growth. 

One can also use Herbicides for weed control. For example, pre-plant Fluchloralin @ 0.75kg/ha, pre-emergent Oxyfluorfen @ 0.15kg/ha, or Pendimethalin @ 1.0kg/ha are effective herbicides.

Pest and Disease Control

Aphid

Aphids can be resisted by spraying Methyl demeton 20 EC @ 2 ml/lit or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/lit.

Diseases

• Powdery mildew: Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf 1) @ 10 g /kg and foliar spray of Pf1 2 g/lit or Spray Wettable sulphur 1 kg/ha or Dinocap 250 ml/ha at the time of initial appearance of the disease. 2nd Spray at 10 days intervals. Neem seed kernel extracts 5 % spray thrice (1st Spray immediately after the appearance of disease, 2nd and 3rd at 10 days intervals).
• Wilt: Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @10g /kg followed by soil application of Pf1 @ 5 kg /ha.
• Grain mould: Grain mould can be controlled by spraying Carbendazim 0.1% (500 g/ha) 20 days after the grain set.

Physiological Disorders

Coriander is susceptible to frost damage.

How to Harvest Coriander?

Now that you know how to grow coriander from seeds. Let’s now harvest the plant. 

You can start harvesting coriander when the crop attains 20-25 cm height. After that, 3-4 cuttings can be taken.

For instance, if you grow coriander for its seed, it will be ready for harvesting in April.

Marketing and Economics of Coriander Cultivation

Marketing 

It is very easy and simple. You can sell coriander as a vegetable in your local market. Although, you must set your marketing strategies before getting into the business.

Preferred varieties	Co3
Grade specification	Pungent, golden colour, Well dried and matured, without shrivels.

Economics of Coriander

Activity	Cost per Acre (Rs)	Explanation
Seed Purchase Cost	500	250 gm of coriander seed is for one-acre of land The cost of 250 gm seed is Rs.500
Land Rent	1000	Calculate the average value of the cultivable land
Seed Treatment Cost	2000	Seed treatment before sowing with 1gm carbendazim, 2.5 gm mancozeb per kg coriander Costs of these treatments are Rs.1500-2000
Cost  of Ploughing	4000	Operations like: ploughing, seedbed preparation and net shade construction.
Transplantation Cost	1000	Done twice labour force
Labour Cost	2500	Labourers for irrigation, harvesting and weeding or intercultural operations Labourers needed per day, 5 times The cost of one labour is Rs.200-250
Pesticide and Fertilizer cost	2000	Fertilizers like 1kg SSP, 150 gm MOP, 350 gm Urea
Harvesting Cost	3000	Done at least 5-6 times Two labourers needed per harvest Therefore the cost is between Rs.2500-3000
Marketing Cost	3000	Transportation expenses to nearest available markets per harvest So this cost is incurred at least 5 times, which amounts to Rs.3000 approximately
Miscellaneous Cost	5000	Net construction expense Charges for cultural equipment used Other accessory costs
Total Cost	24000

Does Coriander Leaves Benefits your Health?

Let’s find out:

• Coriander leaves are a good dietary fibre, manganese, iron, and magnesium source. 
• Coriander leaves are also rich in vitamins C, K, and protein. Moreover, it is antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature.
• Coriander also contains linoleic acid and cineole, which adds anti-inflammatory properties. 
• The herb helps avoid inflammation, such as swelling due to arthritis, kidney malfunction or anaemia.
• Consuming the coriander herb also improves skin appearance and helps fight fungal infections.
• Coriander reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. It helps lower bad cholesterol deposition and raise healthy cholesterol levels, preventing cardiovascular issues.
• Coriander helps stimulate blood sugar levels and increases insulin secretion.
• Coriander is rich in iron. It helps prevent anaemia and facilitates the proper functioning of all organ systems.

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Conclusion 

Coriander is generally easy to grow and trouble-free. Just be sure to protect your seedlings from snails and slugs.

Plants tend to flower prematurely in hot and dry weather. So if you’re cultivating coriander for its leaves, water plants daily in summer to delay flowering. 

This is particularly important when growing in small pots, which dry out quickly. Out of midday sun, a cool growing site is best in summer. 

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