How To Grow Coriander

COMMON NAMES: Coriander, Cilantro, Dhaniya, Dhana, Kothmir, Phadigon, Chinese Parsley, Malli, Kottambari, Dhane, Kottimira, Phadigom

CORIANDER

Coriander herb(Botanical Name: Coriander sativum L.) is used in every household. Cultivating Coriander is not a difficult task. The best season to grow coriander is winter. Although it is an all-season crop during the scorching season, aftercare should be taken care of properly; otherwise, the plant leaves may burn because of high temperature. It thrives well in temperature between 17^o-27^oC. Coriander or dhania grows best in well-drained, moist soil.

The best location to grow the coriander plant is in full sun or under light shade.

HOW TO CULTIVATE CORIANDER

You can use the seeds that are meant for cooking or purchase them from the plant shop, which is specially meant for growing(these are treated seeds). The ones meant for cooking are slightly cheaper, and there is no such difference in plating any of these two seeds.

Now take the seeds, put them in a tissue paper or newspaper, and then slightly put pressure on them to crush them in such a way that they split into halves. This opens the outside covering in them to make it germinate.
To grow coriander, prepare the soil by adding some compost or organic matter to it. You can use any size of pot. Coriander plant does not transplant well, so choose a pot or container wisely that is big enough to grow as many plants as you wish.
A pot with 17-2inches in width and 9-12 inches in height would be ideal.
Make the soil moist(if it is dry)by watering it thoroughly. Wait for 7-mins to let the soil absorb all the water.
Now make lines or points one and a half inches deep with any gardening tool or using hand or sticks.
Sprinkle the seeds lightly in the lines or points and cover them with another one and a half inches of soil; after this, water them.
They need plenty of water or moisture to germinate, so water them frequently, about an inch of water per week.
As the plant starts growing, look for pests and diseases or checks if the plant is suffering from any deficiency and treat it immediately. Normally if proper care is taken, there is no need to treat them.
Coriander does not require much fertilizer, but you give them doses of cow manure or compost. You can also provide with nitrogen-rich fertilizers once a month for proper and faster growth.
The coriander seeds will germinate in about 7-9days.
During their germination period, make sure to provide them with a good amount of sunlight. During the afternoon in summer, put the plant in a shaded area to avoid any damage to the leaves.
After around 20-25 days, you can harvest fresh coriander. You can harvest them when they reach a height of 3-6inches.
In case the growth is not uniform, harvest the large leaves and let the small ones mature enough for harvesting for a few days.

BENEFITS OF CORIANDER

It lowers bad cholesterol and increases the level of good cholesterol.
It is good for the eyes. It promotes healthy vision.
It has antiseptic properties.
It contains a high amount of iron, which helps in curing anemia.
It has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in healing stomach ulcers.
It reduces blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
It provides relief from bloating.
It treats liver disinfection such as jaundice and bile disorders.