As a recovering farmer I have grown many many bushels of cilantro in
my time...
never in the house however! But a lot in the greenhouse, so here are
my educated observations, ignore them at your own risk! Cilantro loves
cold weather!! It will survive the winter here in zone 6b. It will not
tolerate heat or dry! It is a VERY short liver annual, don't believe
anyone who says it will produce for any length of time! They don't
know what they are talking about! If you want a constant supply you
will need to start some every couple of weeks, a 6 inch pot can easily
produce 3 large buches of cilantro. Fill the pot with a good soil
(promix?) pack it gently to about 1 inch from the top place a LOT of
cilantro seeds on the top, 4-8 per sqaure inch!! Cover with 1/4 inch
and BOTTOM water. It can take a long time (10 days) to germinate. Feed
miracle grow, or 20-20-20 at a high rate (200-250 ppm N)...I think
that was about 1 T+/gallon, bottom water! Careful to not over/under
water!! (The perenial problem!) Plenty of sun, close to a window, or
once germinated a cool porch (anything above freezing is fine!) Don't
wait to use it! Once it gets 6 inches high use it as much as possible,
you can pick the outer leaves and SOME new ones will regrow.... maybe.
Once you see the pencil sized seed stalk grab (for use)the leaves and
harden your heart to kill the pot.... so you can replant. This is a
great method even for summer since you can put the pot in a shadier
place as it gets hot.
I have grown a LOT (100's of bushels) of cilantro, dill (plant as
thickly), and basil (10-15/pot) like this, small scale commercially, I
used 6 inch nursery pots that are cheap to buy or if you only need 20
or so easy to find free after folks plant in the spring! It should be
possible to have it 9-10 months a year! Good luck!
(Snowfeet1) wrote in message ...
Does anyone have any luck growing this in the house? I live in Texas and even
if I plant it outside, the heat dries it up pretty fast. Other herbs last all
summer, but not cilantro.