Cilantro thrives in moderately rich, light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.6, in full to partial sun. Seed is best sown where it will grow to maturity, as taproots are long and seedlings difficult to trans- plant successfully. In the mild Bay Area, seed may be sown in the fall. The seed may require soaking in warm water for several hours, cracking or scarcifying before planting. When 4 to 6 inches tall, thin plants to six to eight inches apart.
Plants are sensitive to heat, bolting to seed quickly in warm weather.
For continuous cropping, reseed every three weeks through cool weather. Harvest leaves once the plants are at least 8 inches tall by pulling the entire plant or cutting outer leaves. Dried leaves lose their fragrance, but can be frozen for use later. Harvest coriander seed when the plant is dried and crisp but before seed pods break open and scatter seed. Cut the whole plant, threshing it out for further drying or hanging to dry and gathering seed as it falls.