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#1
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Cilantro surrogates
We are planning an experiment trialling Porophyllum spp. in several
gardens across Norway next summer and the other Coriander-surrogates will probably also be compared. I am therefore very interested if anyone can help us get hold of seed (or plants in the case of Houttuynia) of a) Coriander "Santo" or other slow-bolt varieties; b) Porophyllum species and cultivars apart from P. ruderale; c) the Houttuynia cultivar with Cilantro scented leaves. We want as good a range of these plants as possible. We'll make it worth your while. Living in Norway, not far south of the Arctic Circle, with very long summer days, Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) which is adapted to Mediterranean climate and day length, tends to bolt. I have also tried Santo, but this slow-bolt variety doesn't seem that much better under our conditions. I have also tried other Coriander "taste-alikes" mentioned here. My experience is that Vietnamese Coriander (Polygonum odoratum) quickly becomes too strong flavoured in the summer. It isn't hardy in our climate (minimum –24C) and we therefore overwinter indoors. Mexican Coriander or Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) needs warm summers and must be kept in the shade. I grow it indoors. If it is kept on the window sill it quickly bolts, but if kept out of the light it produces plenty of leaf which has a pleasant Coriander-taste (probably a bit milder than Cilantro). My personal favourite is Porophyllum ruderale, another Mexican herb (known as Quilquiña) with a taste which strongly resembles Coriander. This is an annual in the Compositae (the Daisy Family). In my rather mild climate this plant produces plenty of leaf outside (we sow the seed inside in the spring and transplant out in May/ early June) once the soil has warmed up. I like the taste of this plant. It's a bit stronger than Cilantro, so use sparingly. There are also various cultivars and P. colorata is another species which is used. There may well be others too. These plants are often collected in the wild in Mexico. If your season is too short for seed to set, you can do as we do and keep one plant in a pot, which is taken indoors when the cold weather arrives. We harvest seed indoors in December. Finally, there is Houttuynia cordata (Himalayan Water Creeper). This is in yet another plant family – the Saururaceae. There are several cultivars including "Chameleon" with beautiful multi-coloured variegated leaves. Although this species has highly aromatic leaves, the ones I have do not smell strongly of Coriander. There is supposed to be a Japanese cultivar with leaves which are much closer to Coriander, but I've never seen this advertised. Steve. |
#2
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Cilantro surrogates
This was an impressive exposition. I had no idea there were cilantro
taste-alikes. Regards, Dianna _______________________________________________ To reply, please remove "fluff" from my address. |
#3
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Cilantro surrogates
Cilantro in Norway? I did not know Norwegians use cilantro. BTW, cilantro
tastes best when harvested young , IMHO. What is the purpose of the experiment -- aside from trying to raise cilantro and surrogates. Are these raised in greenhouses? /z. |
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