I bought some of these seeds a month ago and was looking for any feedback.It's supposed to be a slow bolter and has feathery leaves.I've never grown cilantro from seed,on the packet it says it's best to direct sow,cilantro does not like to be transplanted. I would like to start it indoors,has anyone done that?Any tips would be appreciated!
Cilantro 'Delfino'
Cilantro really does grow like a weed. Sow it outside and you'll be surprised how fast you've got leaves. The trick is to keep sowing every week or sow. It does go to seed fast but if you keep seeding you'll have fresh cilantro all summer long. When it does bolt the seeds fall to the ground and you'll find more plants coming up. I really think direct sowing is the way to go. You won't save any time by starting indoors.
Hope this helps.
Nancy
Thanks nannybee! I'll be growing some tomatoes& peppers in a raised bed,so I'll just direct sow it.Thanks for the tip about staggered sowing.
I am going to grow Culantro this year. Same flavor with better heat tolerance. It does not bolt when it gets hot. My cilantro bolted the last two years as soon as it got hot.
Tom DeBaggio says that cilantro, dill, and other "don't like to be transplanted" herbs do find with his clump transplanting method. Sow seed in fairly dense rows in a seed starting tray. When they get 1 or 2 pairs of true leaves, it's time to pot them up (48 cell trays or 2 inch pots). Handle them by their leaves, not their tender stems. Break away a clump of 3 ot 5 seedlings -- take what comes readily, don't prick apart and then gather into clumps. Fill pot with moist potting mix. Dibble a hole (finger, pencil, whatever) and drop the clump in, being sure to set it deeper than it was growing in the seed starting tray, up to the first set of true leaves (it's OK to bury the nurse leaves). Water a little to settle the soil around the roots.
Leave the seedlings in their pot until they fill the pot with roots (eg, if you knock the plant gently out of the pot, the roots hold the soil from the pot in place around them). Then transplant into your garden or container.
I've done this with a number of plants, although not with cilantro because I don't care for it.
I second Critterologist. Have transplanted Dill, Cilantro, Fennel & other so-called "don't transplant" types all the time without a problem. So long as you're careful to disturb the roots as little as possible - no problem.
Great, thanks so much critter and breezy! I'll definitly try that!