Growing Cilantro - Homesteading 101

One of the world's most popular spices with a zesty, citrus flavor. It’s a fast-growing and easy-to-grow tender herb from the carrot family. Cilantro is the actual leaves of the plant, while Coriander refers to the two Cilantro seeds that are actually encased in the husk. Cilantro has a short life cycle and bolts quickly to produce its seeds in hot weather, so succession sowing of 2-3 weeks is recommended for a continued supply.

Starting Cilantro from Seed

Seed Longevity:                               Five years.

Seed Sowing Depth:                        1/4” to 1/2” deep.

Best Soil Temp for Germination:      55 – 65 degrees.

Days to Germination                        7-10.

Seed Spacing:                                 At 2-3” tall thin to 5” apart.

Spring Sowing

Start seeds indoors 2 weeks before the last frost date to plant out after the danger of frost has passed.

Direct Sowing

After the threat of frost has passed and every three weeks until Fall.

Fall Sowing

In warmer areas, direct sow in summer for a fall harvest.

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat. This method is especially good for sowing herbs. Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of a milk jug in the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in the Spring.

For a detailed blog about Winter Sowing, click here.

Other Sowing Tips

• Cilantro reseeds easily, so give it a place in your garden to do so. 
• Cilantro will bolt quickly in hot weather.

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Growing Cilantro

Plant Size:                            Height 18-24"     Width to 18"

Soil Temperature:                 50 - 75 degrees.

Spacing in Beds:                  6-8"

Container Size:                    8-10" deep and 18" wide

Soil:                                     Well draining.

Watering:                            Dry soil causes the plant to bolt.

Light/Sun:                           For seeds, full sun. For leaves, light shade.

Fertilizer:                             Avoid fertilizer if growing for seed since that may actually delay 

                                           flowering.

Other Care Tips

• For a continuous supply, make succession sowings every three weeks.
• Snip off the top part of the main stem as soon as it develops flower buds or seed pods.

Harvesting Cilantro Leaves

Leaves can be cut at any time. Use the upper newly-cut leaves for cooking.

Harvesting Coriander Seeds

Harvest large seeds on a dry day. Cut off the top of stems when the seed pods begin to turn brown and crack if pressed. Place seed pods in a paper bag and let dry. Pods can be rolled around in between your fingers to release the seeds.

Storing Cilantro

Fresh
Bouquet Storage

This method works well for tender herbs with soft stems and leaves.

Clean and thoroughly dry the Cilantro. Trim the ends of the stems and remove any wilted or browned leaves. Place Cilantro in a Mason jar or clear glass with 1" of water like a bouquet of flowers. Loosely cover with a plastic bag or cling wrap. Label and store in the fridge.

Cilantro will stay fresh in the fridge with this method for up to 3 weeks.

Freezing

For best results, use frozen Cilantro within 1 to 2 years.  By freezing herbs, you will lose some of the herb's texture but preserve the flavor.

Here are some methods for freezing:

Tray Freeze

Spread the Cilantro onto a cookie sheet on a single layer. Freeze in the freezer, then transfer the herbs into a labeled freezer bag to store. Since the leaves are frozen separately, you can easily remove the amount you need.

Ice Cube Trays

Clean and thoroughly dry the Cilantro. Mince and firmly pack herbs into ice cube trays 3/4 full. Add water to fill and freeze. Transfer frozen cubes into a labeled freezer bag to store.

Flat Freezer Bag

Clean and thoroughly dry the Cilantro. Chop herbs into 1/2" pieces, place in a labeled freezer bag. Squeeze out the air, lay flat and freeze.

Drying

Cilantro does not dry well.

Using Cilantro

• In omelets.
• A staple in Latin and Asian cooking. The sweet stems are usually eaten raw.
• Use fresh whenever possible.
• Sprinkle raw Cilantro on salads or salsas.
• The seeds are mildly spicy. Good for casseroles and baked goods.
• Also adds a nice aroma to the kitchen!

Growing your own herbs is fun, easy, more healthy than the herbs shipped to grocery stores, and what's best, saves you tons of money!  Try it today.

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Zebra Finch

Choosing the Best Birdbath

We all prefer birdbaths that add beauty and whimsy to our yards, but the birds themselves may be looking for something else, things that were designed for them in mind.

You Have Winter Sown Seedlings! Now what?

Winter Sown Seeds Have Germinated!

Now what?

So you’ve tried the winter sowing method and found out that it’s easy and it works. Mother Nature woke the seeds out of their sleep and now you’re getting lots of little seedlings popping up in their snug, cozy containers.

Using Baking Soda in your Garden

Uses for Baking Soda in the Garden

We all know that Baking Soda is great for indoor use as a mild abrasive cleaner and also to neutralize those fridge odors, but what about its uses in the garden?

Baking Soda is made up entirely of sodium bicarbonate which is a highly alkaline substance making it great for the following uses in the garden:

Seven Best Annuals for a Veggie Garden

Seven Best Annuals for Veggie Gardens

Gardens can tend to look rather bland and can be more practical than beautiful. The addition of beautiful flowering plants can bring back the beauty that every garden deserves. Using the right annual plants strategically will not only bring the garden back to life visually but can help your veggies stay healthy and pest free.

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Growing Dill - Homesteading 101

Dill is a warm-season annual herb that has feathery leaves on fronds that add a pleasant anise-like flavor to kinds of seafood, soups, salads, and sauces.  Its subtle taste complements fish and shellfish. In addition to providing aromatic seeds and foliage, Dill will brighten your garden with its yellow-green flowers in the spring and fall.

Types of Dill

Bouquet is the most popular Dill grown for its fragrance of leaves and seeds.  Used for both pickling and cooking.

Taller Varieties include Mammoth and Long Island and may need to be staked.

Fernleaf Dill Weed (aka the Fish Dill) is popular for its use in fish.

Starting Dill from Seed

Seed Longevity:                                     3 years.

Seed Dowing Depth:                              ¼”.

Best Soil Temp for Germination:            60-70 degrees.

Days to Germination:                             7-10 days.

Spring Sowing:                                       Direct sow after last frost.

Sow Indoors - Not recommended; does not transplant easily.

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat.  This method is especially good for sowing herbs.  Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of clear milk jugs in the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until they germinate in the Spring.

For our article containing detailed information about Winter Sowing, click here.

Herb Scissors


Herb Mincer

Growing Dill

Plant size:                                          Generally grows 2-3’.

Growing Soil Temperature:                60– 70 degrees.

Spacing:                                             12-15”.

Container Size:                                  20 seeds per 18” pot.

Soil:                                                    Well-drained, moderately rich and loose.

Watering:                                            Loves moist soil.

Light/Sun:                                           Full sun  6-8 hours.

Fertilizer:                                            Light to none.

Good Companions:                            Cabbage, onions.

Bad Companions:                              Carrots.

Other Care Tips                   

• Shelter from strong winds.
• It doesn’t transplant well.
• Successive planting every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply.
• Attracts beneficial insects such as wasps and other predatory insects.
• Attracts bees and butterflies.
• Tall Dill plants may need staking.
• Create a permanent Dill weed patch by allowing seeds to fall and self sow the next season.

Dill Cuttings

By placing Dill cuttings of 4-5” in length into water, the cuttings will grow roots in 3-4 weeks.

Harvesting Dill Leaves

As soon as the plant has 4-5 leaves, you can start to harvest.  Pick off remaining leaves just before the flowers open or let seeds develop for harvesting.   You can always pinch off leaves as needed.

Harvesting Dill Seeds

After the Dill plant flowers, allow the seed heads to dry on the plant.  Cut the entire seed head when seeds are a pale brown.  Thoroughly dry seeds and store in an airtight container.

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Storing Dill

Fresh
Bouquet Storage

This method works well for tender herbs with soft stems and leaves.

Clean and thoroughly dry the Dill.  Trim the end of the stems and remove any wilted or browned leaves.  Place the Dill into a Mason jar or clear glass with 1" of water like a bouquet of flowers.  Loosely cover with a plastic bag or cling wrap.  Label and store in the fridge.

Dill will stay fresh in the fridge with this method for up to 3 weeks.

Freezing

For best results, use frozen Dill within 1-2 years.

By freezing herbs, you will lose some of the herb's texture but preserve the flavor.

Here are some suggestions for freezing Dill.

Tray Freeze

Spread the Dill onto a cookie sheet on a single layer. Freeze in the freezer, then transfer the herbs into a labeled freezer bag to store.  Since the leaves are frozen separately, you can easily remove the amount you need.

Ice Cube Trays

Clean and thoroughly dry the Dill.  Mince and firmly pack herbs into ice cube trays 3/4 full.  Add water to fill and freeze.  Transfer frozen cubes into a labeled freezer bag to store.

Flat Freezer Bag

Clean and thoroughly dry the Dill.  Chop herb into 1/2" pieces, place in a labeled freezer bag. Squeeze out the air, lay flat and freeze.

Drying

Dill does not dry well.

Using Dill

• Brings a great tang to potato recipes.
• A small amount can go a long way, so use sparingly at first.
• Use in salads and salad dressings and of course to pickle cucumbers.
• Delicious accent to eggs, cheese, vegetables, and fish.

Growing your own herbs is fun, easy, more healthy than the herbs shipped to grocery stores, and what's best, saves you tons of money! Try it today.

Where to go next!

Great Garden Articles -- Full List!
Follow us on Pinterest!
Back to Our Blog Homepage!

This post may contain some Amazon Associate links meaning that I will get a small compensation at no expense to you if you purchase something from this blog.

Draw in Beneficial Insects

Attracting beneficial insects to your garden can be as easy as planting the right plants or flowers or a combination of them.

Growing Rosemary - Homesteading 101

Rosemary is a hardy evergreen shrub that is a staple in any herb garden.  Perennial in Zones 7 – 10 (and borderline Zone 6), Rosemary is one of the most aromatic and pungent of all of the woody herbs.  The leaves have a lemony flavor that pairs well with lamb, garlic and olive oil.  The flowers can be blue, pink, purple or white.

Starting Rosemary from Seed

Rosemary can be difficult to grow from seed and often does not grow true to their parent plant.  Taking cuttings is recommended as opposed to seed sowing, but here's the information in case you prefer to try.

Seed Longevity:                               1 year.

Seed Sowing Depth:                        Just cover.  Needs some light to germinate.

Best Soil Temp for Germination:      70 degrees.  Heat mat will help.

Days to Germination:                       14-21+ days.

Spring Sowing

Sow indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date to plant out after the last frost date.

Don't transplant seedlings until they're well established.

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat.  This method is especially good for sowing herbs.  Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of milk jugs in the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in the Spring.

For our article containing detailed information about Winter Sowing, click here.

Herb Scissors


Herb Mincer

Growing Rosemary

Plant Size:                              Height 1-8’  Width 2-4’.

Spacing:                                 Up to 3'.

Container Size:                       12” Deep  12” Wide.

Soil:                                         Sandy, well-drained.

Light/Sun:                                Full sun, 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.

Fertilizer:                                  5-10-5 in Spring.

Other Care Tips

Watering:                                                     

It needs excellent drainage.  Relatively drought tolerant.  Let the soil dry out between waterings.

                                  

Will grow back after extensive pruning.

Dividing Rosemary

Rosemary is a small woody shrub that should not be divided.  However, since Rosemary has rooted layers, the layers (branches that have developed roots while touching the soil) can be cut off the parent plant, dug up and replanted as though they were a division.

Rosemary Cuttings

Take a 4” cutting from the tip of the stem.  Remove leaves 1” from the base.  Put cutting in peat moss and vermiculite medium.  The cutting will root in 3-4 weeks.  Transfer to a 4” pot to let the root ball form, then transfer into larger pot or garden.

Harvesting Rosemary

Snip off sprigs of Rosemary all summer and into the fall and winter as needed.  It is possible to bring small plants inside.

Harvesting Rosemary Seed

The seed pods are very small.  Let them dry out on the plant, then remove them by pinching them off with your fingers.  Dry pods thoroughly in a paper bag for two weeks.  After they’re dry, rub pods to release the seeds.  Store in an airtight container.

Storing Rosemary

Fresh
Damp Paper Towel

This method works well for hardy herbs that have woody stems as well as a few soft-stemmed herbs.

Clean and thoroughly dry the Rosemary.  Arrange lengthwise in a single layer on a slightly damp paper towel.  Loosely roll up the herb and transfer to a plastic bag or plastic wrap.  Label and store in the fridge.   Rosemary will stay fresh in the fridge using this method for up to 3 weeks.

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Freezing

For best results, use frozen Rosemary within 1-2 years.

By freezing herbs, you will lose some of the herb's texture but preserve the flavor.

Here are some freezing methods to consider:

Tray Freeze

Spread the Rosemary onto a cookie sheet on a single layer. Freeze in the freezer, then transfer the Rosemary into a labeled freezer bag to store.  Since the leaves are frozen separately, you can easily remove the amount you need.

Ice Cube Trays with Oil

This method works well for hard-stemmed herbs that would probably be cooked when adding to a dish.  The oil reduces some of the browning and freezer burn.

Clean and thoroughly dry the Rosemary.  Mince and firmly pack herbs into an ice cube tray 3/4 full.  Add Olive Oil to fill and freeze.  Transfer frozen cubes into labeled freezer bags to store.

Flat Freezer Bag

Trim off the stems and place them in a labeled freezer bag.  Squeeze out the air, flatten the freezer bag, label and store.

Drying Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the best herbs to dry.  For best results, use dried Rosemary within 1-2 years.

Hang to Dry

Pick your Rosemary in bunches right before you intend to store them.  Tie the bottom of the bunch together with twine and hang upside down to dry in a dry, low humidity area. For added protection against dust, you can put the bundles inside paper bags with plenty of holes for ventilation.  When the herbs are dry, the leaves will crumble easily between your fingers.  Store in an airtight container.

Using Rosemary

• Great when used with pork, chicken, and potatoes.
• Rosemary’s spiky leaves can be used fresh or dried for long cooking in soups, meats, stews, and sauces.  
• Because the flavor is so strong, it’s best to add Rosemary sparingly at first adding more if needed.

Growing your own herbs is fun, easy, more healthy than the herbs shipped to grocery stores, and what's best, saves you tons of money! Try it today.

Where to go next!

Great Garden Articles -- Full List!
Follow us on Pinterest!
Back to Our Blog Homepage!

This post may contain some Amazon Associate links meaning that I will get a small compensation at no expense to you if you purchase something from this blog.