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When to plant
coriander in the UK
Bolts at the slightest excuse. Sow every 3-4 weeks, pick frequently, and choose slow-bolt varieties. It's a race you can win if you stay on top of it.
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
6 weeks from sowing to harvest
Get coriander seeds
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What coriander need
Partial shade in summer. Moist soil. Grows well in pots on a windowsill.
Spacing
15cm between plants · 20cm between rows
Space evenly in rows. Thin seedlings early to avoid crowding.
Varieties worth growing
Leisure
commonBred to be slow to bolt, which is everything in a coriander — most kinds see one warm day and shoot for the sky. Leisure holds on, giving you weeks of usable leaf instead. A patient, generous thing.
Coriander chutney
Blitz a big bunch with green chilli, garlic, ginger, lime juice, a pinch of sugar and a splash of water. Serve with anything — samosas, grilled chicken, rice. The green sauce you always wish there were more of.
Calypso
uncommonEven slower to bolt than Leisure, with larger, milder leaves. If you've given up on coriander because it always ran to seed before you could use it, this is the one that may win you back.
Guacamole
Mash ripe avocado with a fork (not a blender — keep it chunky), fold in finely chopped coriander, diced red onion, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. The fresh coriander makes all the difference between good and great.
Confetti
rareFinely cut, feathery leaves, something between coriander and dill to look at. The flavour is softer and less divisive — even those who usually find coriander soapy often take to Confetti. A gentle, peace-making herb.
Thai-style coriander salad
Toss the feathery leaves with shredded green papaya, peanuts, dried shrimp, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar. The delicate leaves wilt less than broad-leaf varieties and look beautiful scattered over the top.
When to sow coriander
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy coriander seeds
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for coriander.