[mellowmick]

I'm growing Coriander (for leaves rather than seed) and they seem to be trying to bolt and flower, so I've been nipping out the developing flowers. I've always done this with Parsley but would just like someone to confirm it's ok with Coriander too.

[Heather_S]

Lost cause. You just have to sow Coriander in waves fortnightly for a good supply. Especially in the heat we're getting, they'll bolt even quicker. I find the leaves go feathery even if you pinch off the flowers/buds. You could just let it selfseed if nothing else but sowing regularly will work out nicer. Less waiting around for the plants to be big enough to harvest from. Try growing them in dappled shade at this time of the year with the heat and sun. If you're growing them in pots, grow them in a very large container instead of a small one since small ones heat up quicker.

[Sadgit]

ahhh my Coriander is doing exactly the same.. I started the seeds in the green house and then planted them in the main garden, so far they have about 10 leaves and about 10in tall.. oh and flowering. Waste of thyme (ho ho) they were. Think I will try the pot idea in dappled shade. thanks.

cheers
SG

[Oliver]

I'm growing Coriander

Hello chaps and chapesses. She has tried growing corriander on the plot many times and has had mixed results. She uses seed she saved herself. She breaks it up (like she saw on Monty's programme) and it germinates Ok, but bolts.
Recently she decided to buy some seed and came across two 'kinds' : one 'for seed' (called corriander! :shock::? )and one 'for leaf' called cilantro (Suttons). (She thought cilantro was the American name for corriander  so whats the difference?)
They both work the same - germinate well so far, although the 'cilantro' has darker green leaves and there are no ffluffy leaves - yet. :? The 'seed' kind has fluffy leaves and ordinary looking leaves and is a lighter green. For her, they both work best in a pot.
This probably just confuses the issue!

[SweetPea]

My coriander bolted too.  I'm a bit annoyed with myself because it was quite big before the flowers appeared and I wish I had nipped it all off then!

[Heather_S]

Oliver - Tell She that coriander can mean the seed ground up... if you go to the spice rack and see a jar of ground coriander, that's the seeds ground up. However, Cilantro refers only to the green leaves even if it is American useage. I think that's why they name them that way.

[twysted1]

everybody seems to be disapointed that they have seeds on there corriander well i have millions of seeds on my plants and think they taste lovely, i was wondering when do i harvest the seed and how do i dry them.

[Oliver]

corriander seeds

Let them get properly ripe on the plant. When the plant starts to dry up pull it up and tie in bunches. Put the bunches seed side down in a paper bag and hang them up in an airy place to dry completely.  When you think they are dry rub the seeds off into a tray and remove anything that does not look like a corriander seed.  If they are properly dry store them in jars. they will last many years in a sealed jar (of course, it depends how much you use them! Don't be tempted to grind a good supply because unless you use it quickly it looses its 'savour' and tastes like sawdust. Grind or crush it as you need it.

[twysted1]

thankyou clever cat, you have picked up many things from he and she.

[hermon]

hi everyone,

my corriander flowered lovely! guess i shouldn't have done the whole packet at once!! theres always next year

[Oliver]

thankyou .

thank you twysted1 - you see a lot from the shed roof or from the kitchen floor. (strange view up their legs!) but she won't let me up on the work tops. The otherone takes flying lessons if he goes up there so he sticks to opening the fridge whenever they forget to put the rock on front of it.    (I thought everyone kept a rock in the kitchen but nextdoors don't. They do get mad though when the otherone opens the freezer. And even madder when it takes a chop or something! Cats hey! :roll: