Content
Growing cilantro from seeds at home on a windowsill is becoming more and more popular. This makes it possible in winter to have fresh greens and a whole range of nutrients necessary for the human body. Cilantro is a unique seasoning used in the culinary arts of different countries. Has several names. Among them are coriander, calyandra, hamem, Chinese parsley, chilantro. Latin - Coriandrum sativum. The only caveat is that the greens of the plant are called cilantro, and the seeds are called coriander.
Is it possible to grow cilantro on a windowsill
This popular type of greenery is traditionally grown by gardeners. However, any grower can easily grow cilantro from seeds on a windowsill. You just need to provide appropriate care and sow the culture correctly. The taste and aroma of cilantro greens will be the same as when sown outdoors. This is an annual crop, so the agricultural technology of growing greens on the windowsill cannot be called complicated.
A lush bush of spicy greens grown on a windowsill serves as a source of nutrients in winter
How to grow cilantro at home on a windowsill
There are two main methods to achieve the same result. Cilantro on the windowsill is grown in a pot. It is convenient and practical. You can collect ripe seeds or cut off the sprouts of greenery.
Cilantro is harvested in two ways:
- Sowing seeds. This is a variant of seedless technology. Cilantro seeds must be sown in a container and provide them with proper conditions. The process is longer, but more reliable. It is important to sow high-quality cilantro seeds, then comply with all agricultural requirements.
- Growing hydroponic plants. Planting material can be purchased in the retail network. The advantage of the method is time, and the disadvantage is the poor survival rate of greens, because cilantro reacts with a strong decrease in growth during transplantation.
Experienced farmers are advised to adhere to the order of sowing greens 1 time in 12-14 days. There are also the main stages and rules for growing cilantro on the windowsill.
Preparation of soil and planting capacity
In order for the culture to feel comfortable and develop well on the windowsill, attention must be paid to the choice of packaging. The root system of coriander is large and powerful. She takes up a lot of space and does not like transplants. This is due to the very small number of adventitious roots. Injury to the main root leads to the death of the plant. Therefore, a pot for growing greenery should be chosen with these nuances in mind. The capacity should be:
- Rectangular shape. The width of the flowerpot is no more than 25-30 cm, the depth is more than 40 cm. Such parameters will allow the gardener to place it on the windowsill with the most profitable use of space. The size of the pot depends on the amount of greenery being grown.
- From a certain substance. Another important requirement for capacity is the ability of the material to "breathe". Suitable ceramics, plastic, wood or clay without enamel.
- With the right equipment. The pot must be equipped with drainage holes to avoid moisture stagnation.
For sowing, it is allowed to use an ordinary flower pot with drainage holes
Now about the right choice of substrate. For cilantro, you will need a loamy or sandy loam soil of a loose structure. You can buy such a potting soil mixture at the store or prepare it yourself. It is enough to mix garden soil with compost or humus, peat and sand in equal amounts. Add 3 tablespoons of wood ash for each kilogram of the mixture. Warm up the soil in the oven or spill with a solution of potassium permanganate. Then use to grow cilantro greens on the windowsill.
Preparation of planting material
For sowing greens, you need to purchase only fresh cilantro seeds. This is due to the fact that they quickly lose their germination. Having sown the material three years ago, you can not wait for the sprouts to appear. It is better to buy it in specialized stores that sell high-quality seeds.
Spice shops sell heat-treated coriander seeds. If you decide to collect cilantro seeds yourself, then it is important to give them time to ripen well.
Sow dry cilantro seeds. Some farmers advise to soak the planting material for 15 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent diseases. To improve seedling quality, you can soak the cilantro seeds for 2 hours in plain water.
Before sowing cilantro seeds, it is better to sort out to leave the largest
Landing rules
The cilantro sowing algorithm from other crops is not fundamentally different. But it still has its own subtleties. The main stages of growing greenery on the windowsill:
- Lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
- Fill the cilantro container with prepared soil, which is slightly moistened. The distance from the edge of the pot to the surface should be at least 2-4 cm. This will allow you to add soil as needed.
- Lay cilantro seeds with a planting depth of 0.5-1.5 cm. There are several planting scheme options. You can put from 3 to 10 seeds in one pot with a distance of about 7-10 cm between them. It is very convenient to arrange them in a spiral. The second method is several cilantro seeds in one hole in the middle of the pot. You will get a lush bush of greenery. If you sow cilantro in a container or box, it is better in rows. The distance between the grooves is 5-7 cm, between the seeds is 1.5 cm. If necessary, cilantro seedlings can always be thinned out.
- Sprinkle on top with a thin layer of sifted peat and moisten.
- Cover the container with foil or glass, put in a dark place.
- Moisten the soil periodically.
- Open the foil to remove condensation and ventilate the mini-plate.
The first sprouts of cilantro will appear on the windowsill in 10-14 days. The film must be removed immediately and the containers must be transferred to the light.
Caring for cilantro at home on the windowsill
As soon as tiny loops of sprouts appear, competent care is immediately required. It consists of:
- thinning;
- watering;
- weeding;
- loosening;
- top dressing;
- pruning.
It is important to create comfortable parameters for the growth and development of culture on the windowsill.
Optimal conditions for growing cilantro on the windowsill
Cilantro is able to grow on the windowsill all year round. To do this, you need to take care of a culturally appropriate setting. The main requirements, without which a good harvest of coriander cannot be obtained:
- Ambient temperature. For culture, the value should be maintained at least + 15 ° С. The top should not exceed + 30 ° C, otherwise the plant will begin to form peduncles very quickly. In this case, there will be almost no greenery. Room temperature is ideal for cilantro.
- Humidity. The average is the most optimal. In dry air, the plant looks depressed, slows down growth. High humidity leads to rotting and the appearance of fungal infections on cilantro seedlings. Therefore, you should not place the pot on the windowsill above the heating devices. It is also required to avoid places where there are drafts.
- Lighting. Diffused light is best, although cilantro withstands direct sunlight well.If the containers are on the windowsill of the south, east or west window, then there will be enough lighting. Plants are not recommended to be placed on the northern windows. Kinza needs light for 10-12 hours. Minimum 6-8 hours. In winter and on dimly lit windowsills, you will need additional cilantro lighting or lighting.
If the cilantro lacks light or moisture, then the bush will grow poorly.
Watering
For cilantro, a specific watering algorithm has been developed. From the moment the seeds are sown until the first leaf appears, it should be abundant. Then the intensity needs to be reduced and the soil should be moistened moderately for 1-1.5 weeks. As soon as the period of active growing season of cilantro begins, you can again go to abundant watering. If it is required that cilantro seeds ripen on the bush, then at the time of their ripening, reduce the amount of moisture again. It is important not to let the soil dry out and maintain the rhythm of watering. After 15 minutes after irrigation, it is advisable to drain the excess water in order to avoid the development of powdery mildew. On hot days with increased dryness of the air, you need to spray the leaves with warm water.
Top dressing
When growing cilantro on a windowsill, it is necessary to fertilize the soil. The regularity of feeding is 1 time per 14 days. It is optimal to use complex mineral compositions and prepare the solution strictly according to the instructions. You need to start feeding the sprouts after the formation of the outlet. You can replace chemical compounds with biocomplexes. In this case, it is imperative to combine any top dressing with watering. For active growth of greenery, complexes with a high N (nitrogen) content are required. When cilantro seeds ripen - phosphorus and potassium. Too zealous with eating cilantro on the windowsill is not recommended. Application of dressings once every 2-3 weeks is quite enough.
In addition to watering and nutrition, when growing cilantro from seeds on the windowsill, it is imperative to perform other important procedures:
- Thinning. It is not always possible to accurately calculate the number of plants per pot volume. To get lush green cilantro, you need to thin out the seedlings in a timely manner. Sowing too dense will lead to a lack of green mass and distillation of peduncles. Plants on the windowsill will have to compete for light, water and nutrition. The first thinning is necessary at the stage of 1-2 true leaves. Of the several cilantro seedlings growing nearby, one should be left the most developed and strong. For the normal development of one bush, 35 sq. m area.
- Weeding - one more necessary condition. There should be no weeds around the plant, which reduce the intensity of the growth of greenery. This exercise also reduces the occurrence of cilantro diseases and pests.
- Loosening prevents an increase in soil density. Cilantro loves loose soil, especially when grown on a windowsill.
- Topping peduncles are carried out if seeds are not needed. Then the cilantro greens will be much richer.
- Cut. You do not need to cut the stems at the root, just pick off the cilantro leaves and eat them.
In general, the process of caring for a plant on a windowsill is not considered difficult.
Thinning allows cilantro seedlings to get enough light and nutrition
Useful Tips
In addition to the generally accepted rules for growing cilantro on the windowsill, summer residents know some secrets and tricks. This allows you to get quality results faster and effortlessly. For instance:
- Cilantro should be sown constantly at intervals of one month. Thus, fresh herbs will be on the table all year round.
- You can reuse the soil by adding a little compost and disinfecting it in any convenient way.
- Do not dry cilantro greens. It will not please you with either taste or smell. It is best to dry the seeds and grind them into powder before using.
- Add coriander powder to food before the end of cooking so that it does not lose its flavor.
- At the time of flowering cilantro, the greens smell like bedbugs.Then this smell is replaced by citrus. You just have to wait.
- It is recommended to plant several varieties of cilantro at once. They behave differently under the same conditions. The taste will be more varied, you can choose the variety you like for further cultivation.
- Pinch the peduncles in time to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the leaves.
Another tip is not to sow cilantro in the same pot with other herbs. She doesn't like neighbors very much.
Cilantro should be grown separately from other herbs so as not to oppress the plant
Conclusion
Growing cilantro from seeds at home on a windowsill is available even for beginners. Following agrotechnical recommendations, you can have fresh spicy herbs with your favorite taste all year round.
