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You can get seeds from cilantro by letting the plant bolt and flower, then waiting for those flowers to turn into seed pods.
Once those pods dry out and turn brown, you can harvest them, and you’ll have what gardeners call coriander seeds.
If you’ve ever wondered how do you get seeds from cilantro, the answer is actually simpler than you think because cilantro is a dual-purpose plant.
You get the leaves for eating and the seeds for planting or spicing up your kitchen.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to get seeds from cilantro, when to harvest them, and how to store them so they stay viable for next season.
Let’s dig in.
How Do You Get Seeds From Cilantro?
Getting seeds from cilantro is a natural process you can encourage with a few simple steps.
Here’s how the whole thing works.
1. Let Your Cilantro Bolt
The first step in getting seeds from cilantro is letting the plant bolt, which is just a fancy word for going to seed.
Cilantro is a cool-weather herb, so once temperatures warm up, the plant sends up a tall stalk.
That stalk will produce delicate white or pinkish flowers.
If you keep harvesting the leaves aggressively, your cilantro never gets the chance to flower, so if seed production is your goal, ease up on the trimming.
2. Wait for the Flowers to Fade
After your cilantro flowers appear, they’ll fade and turn into tiny green seed pods.
These pods are where the seeds develop, and they’ll start out soft and green before slowly drying out.
This stage is crucial because picking too early means you’ll end up with immature seeds that won’t grow.
3. Watch for the Color Change
As the pods mature, they shift from green to a light tan and eventually a brown shade.
This color change is your signal that the seeds inside are ready.
When you get seeds from cilantro, always wait for that brown color because it means the seed is fully matured and viable.
4. Harvest the Seed Heads
Once most of the pods have turned brown, it’s time to snip off the seed heads.
Use a pair of clean scissors or pruning shears and cut the stalks just below the seed clusters.
Hold a paper bag or bowl underneath as you cut because the seeds can drop fast.
When to Harvest Cilantro Seeds
Timing is everything when you want to get seeds from cilantro, and picking at the right moment makes all the difference.
1. Mid to Late Summer
If you planted cilantro in spring, the seeds are usually ready by mid to late summer.
That’s when the plant has fully bolted, flowered, and produced mature seed heads.
2. Morning Is Best
Harvest your cilantro seeds in the morning after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day kicks in.
This is when the pods are dry and less likely to hold moisture that could cause mold.
3. Don’t Wait Too Long
If you leave the seed heads on the plant too long, they’ll split open and scatter seeds everywhere.
That means you’ll get seeds from cilantro the hard way by hunting for them in your garden bed instead of collecting them neatly.
How to Dry and Store Cilantro Seeds
Once you’ve harvested your seed heads, the work isn’t done yet because drying and storing properly keeps those seeds usable.
1. Hang Them to Dry
Tie the seed stalks together in small bundles and hang them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated spot.
Place a paper bag around the bundles to catch any seeds that drop as they dry.
After about one to two weeks, the seeds will be fully dry and ready.
2. Separate the Seeds
Once dried, rub the seed heads between your fingers or gently roll them on a tray to release the seeds.
Pick out any leftover stems or debris so you’re left with clean, round coriander seeds.
3. Store in an Airtight Container
Place your dried cilantro seeds in a glass jar or airtight container and keep it in a cool, dark spot.
Label the jar with the date so you know how fresh they are.
When stored this way, seeds you get from cilantro can stay viable for up to three years.
4. Use Them in the Kitchen or Garden
You can grind these seeds for cooking or save them to plant next season.
Either way, you’ve turned one cilantro plant into a never-ending supply.
So, How Do You Get Seeds From Cilantro?
You get seeds from cilantro by letting the plant bolt, flower, and produce seed pods that dry out and turn brown.
Once those pods are ready, you harvest them, dry them fully, and store the seeds in an airtight container.
It’s a simple process that rewards you with coriander seeds for cooking and planting.
So next time your cilantro bolts, don’t panic because that’s your chance to get seeds from cilantro and keep the cycle going.
Happy gardening.