Seedling ID #1: Cilantro. Sowing Difficulty 1/10
Welcome to Seedling ID. I’m starting this project because I’ve asked myself too often, “is that the right seedling?” Have you been there? A seed germinates and the new-plant-thrill washes over, only to find out three weeks later that it’s a Burnweed. And every time I google “spinach seedling” or “poppy seedling” or “tithonia seedling” etc., I get squat - or close to it. This Seedling ID bank will help you and me ID our seedlings and prevent us from getting super excited over some damn Buckthorn. This project will take a while, thanks for your patience and for joining!
This project’s first ever ID post: Cilantro!
If you were inside the picture above, you could confirm this with a sniff test. But since you’re not, note the teeth on the flat leaves that are rounded into three individual lobes. The leaves themselves seem to be similar in size to that of a mature cilantro plant, but the lobe can multiply and the teeth get more dramatic. Right now, they’re just waiting around for their fellows to shoot up and get even more cilantro-y.
Cilantro is a hella easy herb to grow from seed. I would be comfortable sowing these in situ 2-3 weeks before the last frost. That’s because I’ve seen self-seeded cilantro start to shoot up around that time. I’d also be just as comfortable sowing these in my unheated greenhouse in cells 4-6 weeks before the last frost. They reliably start popping up in a week or two, and are unmistakable with their saw toothed edges. This is one that you want to sow a lot of, and if you’re a big cilantro fan, think about successional sowing, so you have a constant supply. I personally let them bolt (flower) and go to seed (it coriander at that point), see the pics. I collect all the seeds, clean them, dry them, and grind them up for a winter’s supply of coriander. It’s a bonus for two reasons: 1. inevitably, some seeds will fall on their own accord and volunteer cilantro seedlings will pop up in happy places and 2. You get to enjoy cilantro’s dainty white flowers, they are delicious for the eyes and the tongue. If you’re not growing for seeds, harvest often to prevent bolting. You can get a few harvests in before the plant has had enough.
Cilantro likes full sun to part shade and well draining soil. If you’re using a pot, make sure it has a hole in the bottom so the roots aren’t sitting in wet. Otherwise, a raised bed works great. Before planting, amend the soil with compost. Once established, fertilize weekly. This is a great early crop and can satisfy the gardening itch when its a touch too cold to start planting most things. Everything else you need to know can be found on the packet!
Happy planting…
