When to plant cilantro
Cilantro is a cool-season crop that tolerates light frost and prefers to grow in cool weather. Cilantro bolts quickly in heat; sow small amounts often.
- Sow seeds outdoors 2 weeks before to 1 week after the last spring frost.
- For a fall crop, sow 5–8 weeks before the first fall frost.
About 45 days from planting to harvest.
Get exact dates for your garden
Planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2a | May 24 | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jul 12 – Aug 2 |
| 3b | May 17 | — | May 3 – May 24 | Jul 30 – Aug 20 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | Apr 28 – May 19 | Aug 3 – Aug 24 |
| 4b | May 8 | — | Apr 24 – May 15 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 |
| 5a | May 3 | — | Apr 19 – May 10 | Aug 10 – Aug 31 |
| 5b | May 1 | — | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
| 6a | Apr 29 | — | Apr 15 – May 6 | Aug 22 – Sep 12 |
| 6b | Apr 22 | — | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| 7a | Apr 16 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Aug 30 – Sep 20 |
| 7b | Apr 5 | — | Mar 22 – Apr 12 | Sep 6 – Sep 27 |
| 8a | Mar 29 | — | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Sep 12 – Oct 3 |
| 8b | Mar 16 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 23 | Sep 19 – Oct 10 |
| 9a | Mar 3 | — | Feb 17 – Mar 10 | Sep 30 – Oct 21 |
| 9b | Feb 20 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | Oct 10 – Oct 31 |
| 10a | Mar 2 | — | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Oct 6 – Oct 27 |
Zone rows use the median frost dates of all ZIP codes in that zone. Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so two places in the same zone can have frost dates weeks apart — use your ZIP code for real dates.
When to plant cilantro in major cities
| City | Median last frost | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | Mar 13 | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Sep 22 – Oct 13 |
| Portland, OR | Feb 25 | Feb 11 – Mar 4 | Oct 6 – Oct 27 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 25 | Apr 11 – May 2 | Aug 23 – Sep 13 |
| Denver, CO | Apr 30 | Apr 16 – May 7 | Aug 17 – Sep 7 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Aug 21 – Sep 11 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 10 | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Sep 10 – Oct 1 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 27 | Apr 13 – May 4 | Aug 30 – Sep 20 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Sep 7 – Sep 28 |
| Columbus, OH | Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Aug 29 – Sep 19 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Sep 14 – Oct 5 |
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Sep 25 – Oct 16 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Sep 22 – Oct 13 |
| Washington, DC | Mar 29 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Sep 13 – Oct 4 |
| Charlotte, NC | Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Sep 8 – Sep 29 |
| Nashville, TN | Apr 1 | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Sep 5 – Sep 26 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 25 | Mar 11 – Apr 1 | Sep 14 – Oct 5 |
| Dallas, TX | Mar 2 | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Oct 4 – Oct 25 |
Growing cilantro: quick facts
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy: tolerates light frost (about 28–32°F) |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | at least 40°F to germinate; 55–70°F is ideal |
| Planting depth | ¼–½ in |
| Spacing | 6–8 in |
| Germination | 7–14 days |
| Days to harvest | about 45 days from planting |
Typical figures from university extension planting guides. Seed packets give the best numbers for a specific variety.