Cilantro

[b54red]

I love Cilantro in homemade salsa but for the life of me can never get the stuff to grow at the same time that fresh tomatoes are coming in. I've tried planting it almost every month of the year and have had my best results in the cool winter and even late fall months. As soon as I get the first good hot spring days down here it goes to seed. I have even tried planting in shade but all that gives me is smaller plants going to seed. Has anyone had any luck getting a good crop of cilantro during tomato season in the deep south?

[OkieJason]

I to would love to learn how to get a good crop in the heat. My experience has been similar to yours b54red. The plants I do manage to get have been to sorry to have been worth the trouble lol

Jason

[DeanRIowa]

Cilantro really like cooler weather.

This year I am trying Papalo, and Culantro as approximate subsitutes and which supposedly handle the heat better.

Dean

[VORTREKER]

Cilantro bolts as soon as soil temps hit 75F.
"Slo-Bolt" is just another marketing gimmick.
It is impossible to get it to grow when summer tomatoes are maturing.
The flavor is lost when drying it but you can freeze it and preserve the flavor.

It should be able to be timed to grow with fall toms.

[VORTREKER]

Culantro did well in 50% shade in S. Alabama but I found that only the very young plants resembled the flavor of Cilantro.
Rau-Ram was closer in flavor to me and grew well.

[riceke]

Mine already bolted as well. Question: "How does it grow so well in Mexico?"

[VORTREKER]

Papalo bears no resemblance in flavor.

[VORTREKER]

Riceke--it grows at higher (cooler) elevations in the mountains

[mgk65]

I thought about growing cilantro because we use quite a bit throughout the week, but it just isn't worth the time or space. We buy it at Walmart for about $0.75 a bunch. That same bunch would take 2-3 square feet and 3-5 weeks to grow.

[VORTREKER]

I was mistaken--Papalo does resemble Cilantro flavor--I was thinking about Epazote. Sorry.
And Papalo did grow very well in the full sun of S. Alabama

[tjg911]

this is why i stopped growing it - it bolts fast! it tastes great but i never could get it to grow beyond a picking apparently it was the heat. i see in mexico it is grown in the mountains where it is cooler because i used to question how this is so popular in climates that are much hotter than where i am.

did you ever try successive starts inside 7 days apart and putting them out hoping to get some growth while you have tomatoes? you could try this in later august or september when it cools off, well here maybe not wherever you are.

[riceke]

Originally Posted by VORTREKER

Riceke--it grows at higher (cooler) elevations in the mountains

That explains it. I started mine in February and it did alright until we had 85+ temps. After that it was all downhill. Every year it's the same no matter what variety. I never tried it for fall planting. I wonder if it's any better then or not?

[OkieJason]

I've never even heard of papalo before but will give it a try. Thanks for the info Vortreker

[VORTREKER]

riceke--in Snellville try a fall planting Aug 31, Sept 7 and Sept 15. You should have fresh Cilantro until first frost.

[riceke]

Originally Posted by VORTREKER

riceke--in Snellville try a fall planting Aug 31, Sept 7 and Sept 15. You should have fresh Cilantro until first frost.

Thanks Vort...will give it a try.