When Should You Plant Cilantro?
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GardenSays
Sow cilantro plants outside May 5 – May 12 — after frost danger passes and soil has warmed.
- Sow from
- May 5 – May 12
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
Cilantro plants are frost-tender and germinate poorly in cold, wet ground — unlike peas or lettuce, you wait until AFTER the last frost (May 5) and until the soil warms. Sowing too early into cold spring soil rots the seed. The safe window in Minneapolis, MN opens around May 5.
Do this this week
- 1.The main sowing window closed May 12
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Sow a short row every 14-21 days through the window for a steady harvest. Sow through the warm months; cilantro plants stop producing once nights turn cold.
- Warm-season crops need warm soil to germinate: cold, wet spring ground causes seed rot and poor stands, which is why they go in after frost, not before.
- Days-to-maturity versus your frost-free season sets how late you can keep sowing.
When this doesn't apply
- Direct-sow only — cilantro resents transplanting. It bolts fast in heat, so afternoon shade and frequent succession sowing (every 2-3 weeks) keep a steady supply of leaves rather than one quick bolt-and-done crop.
- A cold snap after sowing can still kill seedlings — hold off if a late frost is forecast, even inside the window.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. First sowing windowMay 5 – May 12Calculated result
Cilantro is frost-tender — sow only after frost danger passes AND soil has warmed (0-7 days after the last frost)
- 3. Succession sowingevery 14-21 daysSource guidance
Cilantro plants keep producing from repeat sowings every 14-21 days
Data sources
- University of Maryland Extension — Cilantro/Coriander — Coriander/cilantro is easily grown from seed, sown directly in the garden since it does not transplant well. For a season-long supply, sow in succession every 2-3 weeks. Plants bolt in hot, humid weather; classified as an annual. Best with some afternoon shade. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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