- Regular pruning delays flowering - this is how it works
- Do not cut coriander from July for lush seed heads
- Always cut off the seeds as a whole
- tips and tricks
Regular trimming of cilantro delays flowering and thus extends harvest time for the leaves. However, if you also want to harvest coriander seeds, you should not overdo the pruning. Find out how to do it right here.
Regular pruning delays flowering - this is how it works
After the hand-grown or purchased coriander plants have grown in the bed, they strive vehemently to flower. If you let nature take its course, the harvest of delicious coriander leaves is already over in June. Targeted pruning delays flowering and the resulting negative change in taste until July/August:
- Cut off whole shoots close to the ground with a sharp knife
- Harvest individual leaves from top to bottom with scissors
- immediately cut out each shoot tip with a bud or flower
Use only freshly sharpened and carefully disinfected cutting tools. This prudence prevents lurking fungal spores, viruses and pests from attacking a coriander plant.
Do not cut coriander from July for lush seed heads
If you have a harvest of savory coriander seeds in mind, the plant can flower from mid/late July. This paves the way for numerous spherical fruits. However, you can only achieve this goal if no more shoots are cut. There is no need to harvest individual leaves as the taste is now immensely bitter.
Always cut off the seeds as a whole
From August, experienced hobby gardeners keep an eye on the coriander plants. Here the fruits with numerous seeds develop. So that they do not burst open prematurely and spread the seeds uncontrolled in the bed, they are cut early. If the seed pods turn light brown, the harvest can begin. Suspended on a string or spread out in a sunny, dry place, the grains ripen in peace.
If coriander seeds turn a dark brown color, they are ripe. Safely stored in a dark, airtight container, they wait to be used as a unique food seasoning.
tips and tricks
After chopping cilantro, are you piling up more leaves than you can use in the kitchen? Then you preserve the harvest surplus by drying, freezing or soaking in olive oil. In addition, strong shoot tips are wonderfully suited for propagation by cuttings.
GTH