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To transplant cilantro, you basically move young seedlings from one spot to another so they can settle in and keep growing without a hitch.
If you’ve ever wondered how to transplant cilantro without killing it, the short answer is that you can transplant cilantro successfully as long as you’re gentle with the roots and time it right.
Cilantro is a fast-growing herb, and transplanting cilantro works best when the plant is still small and the weather is cool.
The trick to how to transplant cilantro is all about timing, soil, and handling those delicate roots with care.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to transplant cilantro step by step, plus the best time to do it and the mistakes that trip most people up.
Let’s dig in.
How to Transplant Cilantro Successfully
Learning how to transplant cilantro comes down to a few key moves that keep the plant from going into shock.
Here’s how to transplant cilantro the right way.
1. Start With Healthy Seedlings
You can transplant cilantro only if you’ve got strong seedlings to begin with.
Cilantro grows a deep taproot, so it hates being disturbed once it’s established.
That’s why you should transplant cilantro when the seedlings are young, ideally two to three inches tall with a couple of true leaves.
If you started seeds indoors, use biodegradable pots so you can transplant cilantro without ripping the roots apart.
Healthy seedlings mean the transplant cilantro process goes way smoother.
2. Harden Off Before You Transplant Cilantro
Before you transplant cilantro outdoors, get it used to the real world.
This is called hardening off, and it’s a step most people skip when they transplant cilantro.
Set your cilantro seedlings outside for a few hours a day, adding an hour or so each time over about a week.
If you transplant cilantro straight from a cozy indoor setup to the garden, the shock can stunt it or kill it.
So always harden off before you transplant cilantro.
3. Pick the Right Spot and Soil
When you transplant cilantro, choose a spot with partial sun and well-draining soil.
Cilantro bolts fast in heat, so a little afternoon shade helps when you transplant cilantro in warmer climates.
Loosen the soil and mix in some compost before you transplant cilantro.
Good soil means the roots can spread quickly after you transplant cilantro, which is exactly what you want.
4. Plant at the Right Depth
How deep should you transplant cilantro?
Plant it at the same depth it was growing before.
If you bury the stem too deep when you transplant cilantro, the plant can rot.
Dig a hole big enough for the root ball, set the seedling in, and backfill gently.
Then press the soil down and water well right after you transplant cilantro.
5. Water and Mulch After You Transplant Cilantro
Water is your best friend when you transplant cilantro.
Give it a good soak right after planting and keep the soil consistently moist for the first week.
A layer of mulch helps retain moisture after you transplant cilantro and keeps the roots cool.
Just don’t drown it, because soggy soil can rot the roots when you transplant cilantro.
Best Time to Transplant Cilantro
The best time to transplant cilantro is when the weather is cool, usually in early spring or early fall.
Cilantro loves temperatures between 50°F and 70°F, so that’s the sweet spot for how to transplant cilantro.
If you transplant cilantro in the heat of summer, it’ll likely bolt and go to seed right away.
Evening or a cloudy day is ideal when you transplant cilantro because it gives the plant time to settle before the sun hits.
If you’re wondering when to transplant cilantro in a hot climate, aim for fall when the temperatures drop.
Common Mistakes When You Transplant Cilantro
A lot of people struggle with how to transplant cilantro because of a few common slip-ups.
First, don’t wait too long, since older cilantro seedlings transplant poorly.
Second, never let the roots dry out when you transplant cilantro.
Third, avoid disturbing the taproot, because cilantro doesn’t forgive rough handling.
And finally, don’t transplant cilantro into compacted or poor soil, since it needs drainage to thrive.
So, How Do You Transplant Cilantro?
To transplant cilantro, you start with young, healthy seedlings, harden them off, and move them carefully into cool, well-draining soil at the same depth they were growing before.
Then you water them in and keep the soil moist while they settle.
The whole point of how to transplant cilantro is to minimize shock so the plant barely notices the move.
Do that, and you’ll transplant cilantro like a pro and enjoy fresh leaves all season.