Leaf Coriander
Key Facts
- Ideal for recipes like Chinese stir-fry, Mexican Salsa, etc
- Easy to grow
- Only takes about 1 to 2 months to grow
- Available from Amazon
Background
Leaf coriander (or called cilantro or chinese parsley) is one of the most popular herbs in the world
- Originally from the southern Europe, North Africa and Soutwest Asia.
- Very unique flavour – you either love it or hate it, very often linked to your genetic & cultural basics.
- Used in many different recipes, ranging from Chinese stif-fry to Mexican Salsa, etc.
- Days from seed to harvest – about 30 to 40 (1 to 2 months)
- About 30 to 60 cm high
Example leaf coriander recipes
There are 3 types root, seed and leaf coriander.
This variety (when you grow it for its leaves) is most often used when cooking Chinese stir-fry, Mexican Salsa, etc.
- Stir-fry coriander rice (see video)
- Coriander chicken with rice and spiced vegetables
- Tomato, Peppers and Coriander Salsa
How to grow leaf coriander at home
There are 2 ways to use the seeds:
Using soil..
If you want to grow leaf coriander indoors from seed using soil (i.e. in a pot) then all you do is.
- Sow the seeds thinly in a pot
- Cover the seeds with 6mm sieved compost
- The seed will germinates in 7 to 14 days
- The thin the seedlings 23 to 30cm apart
.
Make sure you place the pot on a window sill, terrace or balcony in a sunny position, ideally with some shade during the hottest part of day.
Using hydroponics or aquaponics
Alternatively coriander is an ideal herb to use in your hydroponic or aquaponic system.
All you do is:
- Sow your seeds in rockwool planting cubes
- Make sure you keep them moist
- When they start to germinate put the cubes in your hydroponic or aquaponic system
- And then grow as above, making sure you provide light 12 hours per day.
Either way if you want to use the coriander for it’s leaves then you will be able to use the leaves in about 3 to 4 weeks.
Adds a lovely flavour to recipes (but in my opinion not as good as seed coriander). Very easy to grow – but do try hydroponics or aquaponics as you will get much better yields