...for discerning weeders A COOL WEATHER HERB INSIDE THIS ISSUE Illumination
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Cogangrass
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Game of Thrones
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Events
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Bad manners
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Book Review
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Nursery in Action
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Walk on the Wildside
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Last Word
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
By Lee V.
Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, also known as coriander or Chinese parsley is an annual herb. Cilantro is native to regions from southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It begins life as a flat rosette of leaves and, after overwintering, sends up a tall, 10-12 inch, flower stalk. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink with the petals pointing away from the center of the umbel. The flowers, although tiny, are regularly visited by honeybees and other pollinators. The fruit, known as coriander, is a globular, hard, dry seedpod containing two brown seeds. Although sometimes eaten alone, the seeds often are used as a spice or an added ingredient in other foods. Every part of the plant is edible. Since this herb is a cool weather plant, it should be planted in August or September in northern Florida and used throughout the winter in salads, salsas and noodle dishes. Seedpods should be lightly rolled with a rolling pin or smooth jar to break them into individual seeds. The seeds need to be soaked overnight in warm water to hydrate then planted very shallowly, 1/4-1/2 inch deep, in rich, deeply cultivated soil. It grows well in pots and may be used as a potted patio plant throughout the cool seasons. Germination should take less than a week and the leaves may be harvested beginning when three mature leaves are present. The leaves should be harvested by pinching individual stems thus allowing the plant to continue producing new leaves.
Seeds should be gathered when they become light brown. Seeds shatter easily and care must be taken when harvesting to prevent loss. Coriander seeds may be stored in a jar in the refrigerator to be used to start a new crop in the early fall.
At first frost, cilantro leaves turn a bronze color but, when a few warm days occur, new, green leaves will appear. Harvest may continue all winter as long as the plant is growing. The first warm days of spring will stimulate the flower stalk to begin to form.
One of the simplest herbs to grow, cilantro or coriander is one you should try next fall.
An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
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Southeast Asian cultures use all parts of the plant as garnish or seasoning. The leaves are used as garnish for soups and salads and are a major seasoning item in salsas while the coriander seeds are ground and used in soups, curries and sauces. Even the small carrot-like roots of mature plants are thoroughly washed and dropped whole into sauces such as spaghetti sauce or other tomato based dishes and discarded prior to using the sauce.
Ed. Note: We’d like to hear about different herbs our members are growing or are trying to grow. Let us know! February, 2014