Corriander plants

[aussietail]

I've tried planting Coriander for the first time this year - a friend suggested (when I couldn't find any elsewhere) trying seeds from a packet in an Indian "supermarket". I soaked the seeds overnight and planted a short row in the garden about 6 weeks ago and we've got some healthy leaves growing about 3 inches high.

Have we planted them at entirely the wrong time? Could we try some more seeds in the greenhouse soil - we've got tomatoes down one side and only a couple of spades and hoes standing in the soil on the other side of the path.

[wulf]

Where in the world are you? Membership of this community spans the globe so I've learnt to be careful in making assumptions about climate and conditions!

Wulf

[Wombat]

Yes Aussietail,

Depends upon where you are.....

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

The fact that you have healthy plants with leaves suggest that your climate/season is right, wherever you are!

My tip is keep sowing, because coriander starts going to seed very quickly and the leaves are no good then. I'm on my fifth sowing this season for leaf harvest.

If you are growing for the seeds, the seeds of my first sowing are just starting to turn beigey reddish coloured and they were planted in April. So that takes a long time!

[Aussietail]

Oops! Forgot to mention that we live right up in the North East corner of England - about 5 miles inland from the coast - it used to be said of our particular micro-climate that winter had arrived when the constant (vertical) summer rain became horizontal - but I honestly think that global warming has heated up our atmosphere - or maybe it's the hot flushes!!!

Anyway - back to the Coriander - I think I will try sowing some more - got lots of seeds left - so will try some in the greenhouse and another couple of rows outside. Will let you know how it goes.

Next question - has anyone tried freezing coriander leaves - I've successfully dried sage and rosemary - and frozen parsley and rosemary - but looking at the delicate coriander leaves I don't think it will dry successfully. Trouble is, I've looked through various gardening and cookery books I've acquired over the years, and there's hardly any mention of coriander - even if the other more common herbs are mentioned.

[wulf]

I think it sounds like you've got it under control. Given that you've got space, I'd just keep sowing it in small blocks and keep a note of the dates for each one for future reference.

I've not been hugely successful with coriander this year - my clever idea of planting it in a tub with some nasturtiums backfired when the nasturtiums turned out to be much larger and more vigourous than I expected! From the next batch, most didn't make it past the seedling stage, although I've got a couple of survivors that will hopefully bush up a bit over the next few weeks.

I look forward to hearing how you get on.

Wulf

[Millymollymandy]

I have put some coriander in bags in the freezer. I don't know quite how good this will be but I reckon there will be a little bit of flavour, which is better than nothing! I did try a leaf out of the freezer and I could discern the coriander taste!!

I also freeze coriander root for putting in Thai soups.

[diver]

I've got coriander out side in the herb garden at home and I've just had to cut it back cos it got straggly..but last week I planted some more in pots...3 lots in the greenhouse and 3 lots outside...nothing ventured as they say...oh by the way I am in the north west of England
ps the stuff in the green house is sprouting already

[Lyds]

I've found that coriander works betterin pots than in the herb patch but it needs sowing in batches - this year it is running to seed really fast. I hope to keepquite a few herbs going on the windowsil this winter, not that we get much frost here in Dartmouth - close to the sea.
A friend freezes herbs in ice cube trays with a drop of water which seems to work - not tried it myself but she says it works nicely