Try growing Cilantro in your garden during the winter. Our cold winter temperatures are great for growing this herb to spice up our Mexican dishes on chilly evenings.
When other annual herbs are finished growing in the fall, it is the perfect time to plant Cilantro (Chinese parsley, Coriander). Cilantro is an herb that belongs to the parsley family. Start from seed using coriander seed sold in the grocery or packages. I like to buy the small plants at the herb farm. It grows very quickly. This plant does not like hot weather. It does need full sun with cool temperatures. It takes a freeze. If we get an ice storm, it will bounce back when the sun shines again. The delicate fern-like leaves will provide a tasty seasoning for salads, salsa, stews and soups until hot weather returns. Once the plant dies, you can harvest the seeds and grind them for use as Coriander.
Cilantro is an herb that is easy to grow and fun to use all winter long.
Pat High, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
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