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Cilantro (Slow Bolt) is a specifically bred selection of coriander that extends the harvest window by several weeks compared to standard cilantro — critical in a plant notorious for bolting to seed the moment temperatures push above 75°F. The leaves carry cilantro's signature flavor, a complex herbal quality that food scientists have linked to specific aldehyde compounds — the same compounds that make a small percentage of people perceive cilantro as soapy. For those who love it, fresh cilantro is irreplaceable in Mexican salsas and guacamole, Thai curries, Indian chutneys, Vietnamese pho garnishes, and Middle Eastern chermoula. The Slow Bolt selection produces taller, more branching plants than standard varieties, giving more harvestable leaf area before the plant's energy shifts toward flower and seed production. When it does bolt, the seeds dry into coriander — a distinct spice worth harvesting separately.
Cilantro is best direct-sown rather than transplanted — it has a taproot that resents disturbance, and transplant shock triggers premature bolting. Sow seeds (which are actually dried coriander fruits containing two seeds) directly in the garden 2–3 weeks before your last frost, or in late summer for a fall crop. Scratch seeds shallowly into the soil (1/4 inch deep) and keep consistently moist until germination (7–10 days). Thin seedlings to 4–6 inches apart once they reach 2 inches tall; overcrowding accelerates bolting. The most effective strategy for a continuous harvest is succession planting — sow a new patch every 3 weeks from early spring through April, then again in late August through September when heat subsides. In summer heat, plant cilantro in partial shade (east-facing beds that get morning sun only) to slow bolting by 1–2 weeks. Harvest by cutting stems about 3 inches from the base when plants are 6 inches tall — never remove more than one-third at a time. When plants inevitably bolt and flower, allow them to set seed: the dried coriander seeds are a valuable spice in their own right, and some will self-sow for a volunteer crop next season.
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