I’m a huge fan of Mexican food, and the more cilantro the better! Not only do I cook with it, I make tons of salsa during the summer, so growing cilantro is a must in my garden. Cilantro seeds are one of the many types of seeds I collect from my garden every year.
If you’re interested in collecting cilantro seeds from your garden, don’t pull the whole plant when you harvest cilantro. Simply snip off the leaves that you want to use. You can make several harvests off one plant this way.
Cilantro Seeds Forming On The Plant
How To Collect Cilantro Seeds
Cilantro must bolt (i.e.: flower) before it will set seed. The flowers are tiny and barely noticeable. Cilantro flowers will then form small green balls which will become the seeds.
Once cilantro seeds turn brown, they are ready to be collected. Allow cilantro seeds to dry on the plant before collecting them.
Cilantro seeds are very easy to collect – simply pinch the seeds off the plant, and drop them into a container or a paper bag.
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Collecting Cilantro Seeds From The Garden
Cilantro seeds are round, brown and very light weight. They don’t look like they’d be viable, they look dried out and dead.
Once you’ve collected cilantro seeds from the garden, allow them to dry completely before storing seeds.
You could store cilantro seeds in a plastic container, paper bag or small envelope until spring. Learn how to make your own seed envelopes here.
Storing Cilantro Seeds From The Garden
Tips For Growing Cilantro Seeds
Cilantro seeds can be started using the winter sowing method, they can be sown directly in the garden, or started indoors.
Even if you collect all the seeds from your cilantro plants, you will probably find some self sowers. Don’t worry, volunteer plants are easy to pull out if they become a nuisance.
If you collect and sow your own seeds, you’ll always be able to grow tons of fresh cilantro in the garden. Plus cilantro seeds are great for trading or sharing with friends.
If you don’t have cilantro growing in your garden, here are some great, quality seeds you can buy to get started… Cilantro Seeds. You can also learn exactly how to grow cilantro here.
Do you grow cilantro in your garden?
Joan says
Some are green and some brown. I pulled the plants. Can I dry in my basement. Will the green ones turn brown?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Green cilantro seeds may turn brown when dried, I’m not sure, I’ve never tried it. However, they are not likely to be viable since they were removed from the plant before they had time to mature. So just keep that in mind when you go to plant them.
rosemary Messina phillips says
I live in South Florida. Once the cilantro seeds turn brown and are dried, can I pull them and plant them immediately?
Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes! Once the cilantro seeds turn brown, you can plant them right away.
Heather says
So do you continue to water the plant, even though those top branches and seeds turn brown and dry?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Nope, you can stop watering your cilantro plant once it’s set seed. Then you can just pull the whole plant and collect the seeds, because it won’t regrow after that.
Jen-Jen says
Hi,
I was wondering if the cilantro seeds that are green and on the plant can be directly planted into the soil? Or do I need to wait for them to dry out? (I have an indoor window herb garden)
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wait for your cilantro seeds to dry out and turn brown on the plant. If they’re still green, they probably won’t grow.
Candy Keane says
This is my first year having any success with cilantro. I’ll know to plant more next year! I only did 3 plants and it wasn’t enough. Hoping to get lots of seeds off it for next year 😁
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, yes, three cilantro plants wouldn’t be enough for us either. Good luck with the seeds!