How to Harvest Cilantro without Killing the Plant | 6-Step Guide With Image

Cilantro is used around the world. Cilantro is a primary plant that requires little maintenance and attention. If Cilantro leaves trim correctly, they will regrow for good! Cilantro is a tasty herb that does include in a variety of meals. Growing Cilantro is straightforward, but it must do adequately harvested, or else it will perish. This article will demonstrate how to harvest cilantro without killing the plant. Additionally, we will explore how to store Cilantro so that you can enjoy it for months!

In addition to boosting food flavor, this leafy herb is rich in vitamins C, provitamin A, and K, making it completely safe for daily consumption.

Using this daily requires frequent trips to the farmer’s market or a neighboring food store. If you always want fresh Cilantro in your kitchen, you should grow it yourself.

How to Harvest Cilantro without Killing the Plant

Cilantro is a popular herb in most kitchens, but it’s not always easy to keep it thriving. It grows best in sandy, well-drained soil and requires plenty of sunshine – two things that are often hard to come by in city apartments. You can grow cilantro indoors without special treatment or a green thumb.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be harvesting fresh leaves from your indoor cilantro plant within a few weeks.

• Keep the soil wet
• Avoid extreme temperatures
• Feed your cilantro every few weeks
• Don’t discard the roots.
• Harvest only the leaves you need
• Keep harvesting to keep the fresh supply going.

Keep the soil wet

Cilantro is probably best known for its pungent smell. The leaves have a special oil that gives them that strong flavor and scent, so if you grow cilantro indoors, you’ll want to ensure the soil stays moist. That’s especially important if you’re growing the herb in an apartment with a dry compost pile or no garden. Cilantro leaves are very susceptible to sun damage if they dry out.

If you have a large enough pot, you can water your cilantro in it and then transfer it to a soil-less growing area (like a kitchen counter). If you’re growing cilantro in a small pot, you’ll want to make sure the pot receives enough water to stay moist. You can fill the pot halfway with water, then cover it with a saucer or plate to weigh it down.

Avoid extreme temperatures

Most cilantro plants are tropical, so you’d think they’d be happy in any climate. Unfortunately, most outdoor cilantro varieties won’t survive winter indoors. Fortunately, you can harvest cilantro year-round in most parts of the country. The leaves of your indoor cilantro plant don’t need to withstand the harsh winter. So, your plant can live in a warm, tropical climate in your kitchen.

You can still harvest cilantro indoors if your apartment gets cold in the winter. Just avoid exposing your leaves to temperatures below 55°F. If you live in a climate that gets mild winters, you can also harvest cilantro indoors year-round. Southwestern climates are the best for this. Cilantro can handle temperatures between 32°F and 95°F.

Feed your cilantro every few weeks

Like most herbs, cilantro benefits from being fertilized every few weeks. You can mix in some compost or manure with your regular potting soil. Cilantro leaves are dark green and absorb a good amount of nutrients from the soil. That’s why you’ll often see people sprinkle cilantro throughout Mexican dishes to add extra flavor.

You don’t have to be a professional to grow cilantro indoors. You can easily grow cilantro in a pot on your kitchen counter, but it benefits from being grown in rich, tropical soil. So, if you have access to a sunny, well-drained garden area, you’re in luck.

Don’t discard the roots.

Many home gardeners think that the roots of a cilantro plant are discarded along with the leaves. In reality, the roots keep the plant thriving and don’t need to be removed. Cilantro leaves can easily be composted or used in a blender to make pesto. The roots are what’s most important, though, so don’t throw them out. Cut the stalks at the soil level and place them in a jar or bucket.

The roots will stay fresh in the water for several weeks, so you can use them whenever you need fresh cilantro. If you can’t find a bucket or jar to keep the roots, you can easily store them in a baggie in the fridge. Just ensure the roots are covered in water so they stay fresh.

Harvest only the leaves you need

A single cilantro plant can produce several bunches of leaves each year. If you have a plant that produces enough leaves for you to use regularly, you don’t have to harvest any leaves from the plant. If you don’t have enough leaves to use regularly, you can easily take leaves from other stalks growing from the same plant. Simply pinch a few leaves and place them in a jar or bucket of water.

You can use the fresh leaves whenever you need them. If you’re unsure how much to harvest, you can always place a few leaves in a jar of water. The leaves will let you know how much you need to harvest to keep your supply fresh.

Keep harvesting to keep the fresh supply going.

It may seem like a hassle to harvest fresh leaves from your cilantro plant every few weeks, but you’ll get used to it. If you harvest the leaves from a healthy plant, the leaves will stay fresh for a few weeks. If you don’t harvest the leaves, they’ll age quickly and lose their flavor and potency.

That’s why it’s important to harvest only the leaves you need. If you harvest too many leaves, your fresh supply will go bad before using them. If you forget to harvest leaves from your indoor cilantro plant, you can often find fresh leaves in the grocery store’s produce section. You can also easily grow your indoor cilantro plant and harvest the leaves whenever you need fresh ones.

When to Harvest Cilantro

Once the seeds sow, the cilantro plants take around four weeks to reach harvest maturity. When plants get 6 to 8 inches, the first harvest can expect.

Remember to use a sharp knife or scissors instead.

You can get more than one harvest if you trim and replant the plant before it goes to seed after four months of growth.

By watching the leaves, it is possible to determine when the Cilantro will bloom. When the plant grows taller, and its leaves become thinner and more delicate, it is about to bolt (similar to carrot leaves).

This is possible if you cut them properly.

At this time, you can harvest all of your Cilantro by removing each plant before the leaves lose their flavor, or you can take as many leaves as you desire and let the plants bolt so you can harvest the coriander seeds. 

Cut the above the nodes.

You can even allow some seeds to fall to the ground and germinate independently.

How to Harvest Cilantro successfully?

The optimal period to do this is when the plan has 4 and 6 weeks, also, when it is growing fast (around 6 inches).

In contrast to other plants, collecting Cilantro needs extreme care and persistence.

Follow these procedures to harvest Cilantro without causing damage to the plant:

You can gather Cilantro doing this:

• You can harvest when only a small quantity of a plant needs a specific meal. 
• The remaining plant is stored until it is needed again.
• Large quantities of Cilantro are picked, which can be stored in the refrigerator or sold before being used to produce a variety of recipes.
• If you do not precisely adhere to the harvesting guidelines, you risk harming the plant. 
• Now that you understand how to properly care for your cilantro plant, you can harvest it without harming it.

The harvesting of Cilantro does do regularly. Indeed, the more Cilantro you harvest, the longer your plants will produce leaves, so it is advantageous to gather them frequently.

Depending on your needs, you may harvest small or huge quantities. Here are some recommendations based on the chosen strategy.

How to Harvest Cilantro in large quantities?

Respect timings

Winter is the optimal time to harvest vast quantities of Cilantro when the plants are vigorously growing.

Summer is not the best time to harvest them because that is when they generate seeds and flowers. If you don’t need the sources, gather only during the winter, as the luscious leaves have more culinary applications than seeds.

Check out the plant’s look.

Make sure it is old enough to have stems and leaves fully grown by measuring their height.

Before being harvested, Cilantro stems must be fully grown; therefore, this is a critical stage. If the branches aren’t fully developed, they won’t be able to withstand the harvesting pressure.

Do Not Harvest the whole thing at once.

More than a third of the plant must be left alone for massive harvests of Cilantro not to hurt the plant. It (the remaining plant) will foster again for the following harvest season.

Use Scissors only (maybe a knife instead)!

You must do gathered with care, especially in huge quantities. Use a knife or pair of scissors to make precise cuts so that you don’t hurt the other stems of the plant and that new growth can happen.

• Start by removing the leafy branches (the largest one) from the plant’s base.
• Using sharp objects could cause damage to items that do not intend for harvest.
• Remember to retain the plant’s 25% and prune each stem individually.

How to Harvest Cilantro (small quantities)?

Take what you need.

Because you will be using it for cooking something, take the amount you need to cook. The more you consume, the more you discard. Instead of wasting the plant’s resources, reap its benefits.

Take the quantities you need

Pick the remaining Leaves

This plant’s outer leaves have a particular flavor. The older cilantro leaves have different tastes and should not do utilized in food preparation. The use of the outer leaves has no adverse effects on the plant. 

Use scissors or knifes only!

Utilize a good pair of scissors or a knife (sharp blade) to collect Cilantro. Both small and large quantities do treat similarly. You’ll need a quality pair of scissors or special knives to accomplish the process.

On television, chefs are frequently seen deftly plucking cilantro leaves directly from the saucepan.

Additionally, you can locate the plant’s leaves and pinch them. Start from the node, as this is where new growth begins.

Remove older leaves and stems.

Remove the old stems above the ripest and best-for-cooking produce to help it grow more.

Carefully remove the stem from the stemless plant without damaging the plant. This will allow us to sustain the plant’s life.

How to Store Fresh Cilantro

Once harvested, Cilantro, like other similar herbs and leafy green vegetables, may quickly lose its color and flavor.

If you’re not going to use the cilantro leaves immediately, store them carefully to improve their life.

The best method to prevent Cilantro from ending up in the trash can is to gather what you need at any time. You will obtain the herb’s most fantastic flavor and aroma, but prevent it from wasting away.

You can wrap them with a paper towel to preserve them

Let’s check some simple and practical ways of storing the remaining leaves and use them later.

Use water to keep them.

Store the cilantro in a glass of water to maintain its freshness for many days or longer. Refrigeration will prolong its freshness. Store the herb leaves with some water (an inch) to preserve them.

You can put them into the water to keep them fresh

Store them in the fridge

If you want to preserve freshness, wrap them and clean the cilantro leaves in damp kitchen towels. Afterward, place them in an airtight bag in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. This will preserve the freshness. 

Add some olive oil and put them into the fridge.

How to Dry Fresh Cilantro

A time-honored approach to storing Cilantro leaves for use in cooking throughout the year is to dry them all.

You can bake cilantro leaves, but hanging them to dry preserves their flavor.

Here is how everything operates 

Take a handful of cilantro leaves. Tie them together with string. Remember to hang your cilantro plants upside down. Find a ventilated room. 

As you can see, it is not difficult to harvest and store Cilantro properly.

You can use this kind of natural dryer.

So, you will get many harvests you want throughout the season. This will let you add fresh herbs and flavor to your meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Cilantro keep growing if you cut it?

Can you cut Cilantro and anticipate that it will regrow? Completely clipped Cilantro may eventually regenerate, but the suggestion would be to prune what you need. On the other hand, promote vigorous growth at the same time. If Cilantro is grown in the best way and picked regularly, one plant can produce for several weeks.

How often should you do Cilantro harvesting?

Do this weekly. If the plant is developing appropriately, you may harvest continuously. To prevent Cilantro from bolting, gather it weekly, if not more often.

How do you keep Cilantro growing in the summer?

Sow seeds in 14″–12″ soil and thoroughly water them. The plant should absorb as much sunlight as possible; particularly in the late evening (the morning fits well too). During the hottest portion of the day, you should locate some shade to keep the plants as cool as possible. This keeps the soil from completely drying out.

What do you do after cilantro bolts?

Unfortunately, once the plant has bolted, the flavor of Cilantro quickly diminishes. Flowers removed from the cilantro plant will not restore the taste of the leaves. Allow the cilantro blooms to grow to seed instead.

Will Cilantro grow back every year?

Although Cilantro is annual, it may be able to pass winter if grown in a calm environment. If you leave a few seeds from the plant after it blooms, new cilantro plants will emerge in the fall when the temperature gets better. Next spring, cilantro seedlings may appear even if you do not fertilize them!

Bottom line

Cilantro is an excellent addition to your diet if you want to increase your green consumption. It pairs well with a variety of foods. This well-known herb pairs well with various foods, including lemon, eggs, and beans, to mention a few.

Although cilantro plants develop rapidly, they have a limited lifespan and bolt suddenly, leaving you with no harvest. So, if you use it every day, you might have to go to the store or garden every two weeks to harvest and plant seeds more often.

Now that you understand how to collect Cilantro without causing damage to the plant, it is time to experiment with planting Cilantro! Watch for indications that it is about to bolt to prevent Cilantro from transforming into a coriander seed.

In addition, remember that Cilantro is an excellent fresh herb with numerous culinary applications.

We consider that anyone can harvest Cilantro. However, you must follow each step we discussed earlier.

Sources:

• https://backyardanswer.com/how-to-grow-cilantro-from-cuttings/
• https://backyardanswer.com/how-to-plant-coriander-seeds/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6PoR8eAzN0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Q3UkDz2SU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY6nDlYzIOI