Rainline Garden

When to plant cilantro in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Plant cilantro from seed, directly in the garden, Mar 1 – Apr 19. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 27 – Sep 10. In Bend: Apr 28 – Jun 16. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun; afternoon shade in summer
Spacing
4 inches apart
Planting depth
¼ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 50 days after planting

Bolts fast in summer heat. Sow a short row every three weeks in spring, and again in late summer for fall.

Cilantro planting dates by city

CityPlant in the gardenPlant again for fall
Astoria, ORMar 25 – May 13Aug 27 – Sep 10
Baker City, ORApr 20 – Jun 8Jul 28 – Aug 11
Bend and Redmond, ORApr 28 – Jun 16Jul 27 – Aug 10
Burns, ORApr 30 – Jun 18Jul 19 – Aug 2
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORMar 25 – May 13Aug 27 – Sep 10
Eugene, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Gresham, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Klamath Falls, ORApr 28 – Jun 16Jul 31 – Aug 14
Medford, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Pendleton, ORMar 20 – May 8Aug 27 – Sep 10
Portland, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Roseburg, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Salem, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
The Dalles, ORMar 20 – May 8Aug 27 – Sep 10
Wilsonville and Canby, ORMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAMar 25 – May 13Aug 27 – Sep 10
Bellingham, WAMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Ellensburg, WAApr 1 – May 20Aug 19 – Sep 2
Everett, WAMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Forks, WAMar 25 – May 13Aug 27 – Sep 10
Moses Lake, WAMar 20 – May 8Aug 20 – Sep 3
Olympia, WAMar 18 – May 6Aug 26 – Sep 9
Omak and Okanogan, WAApr 1 – May 20Aug 19 – Sep 2
Seattle and Tacoma, WAMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Spokane, WAApr 1 – May 20Aug 24 – Sep 7
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAMar 20 – May 8Aug 23 – Sep 6
Vancouver, WAMar 1 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10
Walla Walla, WAMar 20 – May 8Aug 27 – Sep 10
Wenatchee, WAMar 20 – May 8Aug 27 – Sep 10
Yakima, WAMar 27 – May 15Aug 16–30

How to grow cilantro

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds on your city's dates, ¼ inch deep, 4 inches apart.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
  5. Harvest: Cut leaves once plants are about 6 inches tall. If it bolts, let it go to seed and harvest the coriander.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Bolting in warm weather. Look for slow-bolt varieties and sow little and often.

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