Regular pruning of coriander delays flowering and thus extends the harvest time for the leaves. Meanwhile, if you also want to harvest coriander seeds, do not overdo the pruning. How to do it right, you can find out here.
Regular pruning delays flowering – here’s how.
After the home-grown or ready-bought coriander plants have grown in the bed, they vehemently strive to bloom. If you let nature take its course, the harvest of delicate coriander leaves is already over in June. By selective cutting, you can delay flowering and the resulting negative change in taste until July/August:
cut off whole shoots close to the ground with a sharp knife
harvest individual leaves from top to bottom with scissors
cut out any shoot tip with a bud or flower immediately
Use only freshly sharpened and carefully disinfected cutting tools. This prudence denies lurking fungal spores, viruses and pests any chance to attack a cilantro plant.
Do not cut cilantro after July for lush seed heads.
If you have a crop of spicy coriander seeds in mind, the plant is allowed to flower from mid/late July. This paves the way for numerous, spherical fruits. However, you can achieve this goal only if no more shoots are cut. There is no need to harvest individual leaves, as the taste is now incredibly bitter.
Always cut off seed stalks in their entirety
From August, experienced amateur gardeners keep an eye on the coriander plants. Here now develop the fruits with numerous seeds. To prevent them from bursting prematurely and spreading the seeds uncontrollably in the bed, they are cut early. If the seed stalks turn light brown, harvesting can begin. Suspended on a string or spread out in a sunny, dry place, the grains will ripen in peace.
If coriander seeds take on a dark brown color, they are mature. Safely stored in a dark, airtight container, they await their use as a unique food seasoning.
Tips & Tricks
After cutting cilantro, do you accumulate more leaves than you can use in the kitchen? Then preserve the harvest surplus by drying, freezing or pickling in olive oil. In addition, strong shoot tips are wonderfully suitable for propagation by cuttings.
