gsaxon
AGA Sprout
Outdoor gardener forever, recent Aerogarden addict!
Posts: 225
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Post by gsaxon on Mar 21, 2020 16:09:36 GMT -5
I have tried to start my own cilantro using both the AG provided seed sponge and park seed sponge. I tried a variety of different seeds as well. However, none of the seeds have sprouted in my AG. Everything else I have planted, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, basil, have all done great. Has anyone else had any success or any tips for successfully growing cilantro in an AG?
Thanks!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267 
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Post by Shawn on Mar 21, 2020 16:18:39 GMT -5
Cilantro is one of those hard seeds to germinate. I find these the hardest equal to Rosemary. I have hit or miss with them. I actually find that Burpee Cilantro then Park Seed seems to germinate the best.
I have placed them in the pods and waited and waited for a couple of weeks for them to come up. I have also placed them in a damp paper towel then the paper towel in a zip loc baggie. I wait for them to sprout a root and then carefully place them in a cut open pod.
I actually have some wonderfully full and thick cilantro growing now.
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gsaxon
AGA Sprout
Outdoor gardener forever, recent Aerogarden addict!
Posts: 225
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Post by gsaxon on Mar 21, 2020 16:24:22 GMT -5
I am so jealous. Cilantro is my favorite herb. I will try the paper towel method to see if I can get them started. I never have any issues when planting cilantro outside, but this is a challenge that I will not give up on!
Thanks for the advice Shawn.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 16:26:06 GMT -5
over the years I have heard so many bemoan the fact that they could NEVER get cilantro to germinate. I think Shawn found AG Gold when she discovered Burpee and Park brands of that seed!!! Either that, or it is those green thumbs of hers...perhaps a combo of both  |
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hakaku
AGA Sprout
Never enough plants!
Posts: 121 
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Cilantro
Mar 22, 2020 9:53:25 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by hakaku on Mar 22, 2020 9:53:25 GMT -5
I love cilantro as well, but I also ran into issues with it. I've been able to get 3 out of 4 cilantro pods to successfully germinate in my Aerogarden Harvest unit (they take forever to start sprouting; patience is key), however the plants stayed tiny and didn't grow well at all.
I read that cilantro can have problems growing when there's an excess of water/humidity or heat. So as a test I put some seeds in rockwool inside a pot filled with hydroton and occasionally watered them. They grew a lot better than in my AG.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 22, 2020 10:17:34 GMT -5
I myself have grown cilantro for the past three years. I have grown it in a Harvest most of the time and recently both Harvest and tall machine. They have been in both a dry climate and those that are very humid (which is my current one) and I have not had any issues. Ok I did have a few fails but that is expected from time to time.
I did a test a while ago using four different vendor seeds. I found that one did not germinate at all, the other did but not well. However I have had tremendous success with the Burpee.
I have also placed seeds just in a pod but also carefully press them to break open. Some broke in half while others stayed whole but I hear that tiny snap.
Everyone has their own growing experiences and tricks they use. I guess I have been super lucky with mine.
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gsaxon
AGA Sprout
Outdoor gardener forever, recent Aerogarden addict!
Posts: 225
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Post by gsaxon on Mar 22, 2020 19:04:59 GMT -5
You are certainly super lucky. I am going to give Burpee a try! I am also going to try to start them in a paper towel. I haven't heard of many people giving their cilantro success stories.  |
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Post by snuffaluffalee on Mar 24, 2020 8:05:50 GMT -5
I've had moderate success with cilantro germinating, but it never gets to the point where I get a good harvest...
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 24, 2020 8:25:32 GMT -5
Here is my Cilantro now. I am in the middle harvesting some. I took a lot off before I finished. This is about 2/3 of the way thru.
That is one pod. I have pictures in a couple of my older threads in my garden if you want to see them.
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Mar 24, 2020 8:43:24 GMT -5
Wow!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2020 8:45:59 GMT -5
I only hope my parsley grows like that!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 24, 2020 9:03:56 GMT -5
Cilantro on the left, Ferry Morse Parsley on the right
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hakaku
AGA Sprout
Never enough plants!
Posts: 121
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Post by hakaku on Mar 24, 2020 12:30:27 GMT -5
Wow those are looking great, I'm jealous!
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Post by snuffaluffalee on Mar 25, 2020 13:55:15 GMT -5
That is amazing Shawn! How do you find the flavour? The paltry one I've grown through the seeds kits were not very flavourful.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 25, 2020 15:15:59 GMT -5
That is amazing Shawn! How do you find the flavour? The paltry one I've grown through the seeds kits were not very flavourful.
Very nice flavor. I have made a cilantro and a cilantro lime crema using just minced cilantro and it was so flavorful. I also just add a few springs to my chili and you can really taste it.
I hope that helps/
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gsaxon
AGA Sprout
Outdoor gardener forever, recent Aerogarden addict!
Posts: 225
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Post by gsaxon on Mar 25, 2020 23:00:51 GMT -5
Wow! That is unbelievable. I am so impressed!
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Post by snuffaluffalee on Mar 26, 2020 21:45:57 GMT -5
I love cilantro! I'm willing to try this again, especially having seen how well yours grow. Maybe I need to put some more seeds in the pod.
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Post by craters on May 9, 2020 14:41:00 GMT -5
Hi, Everybody --
This is my first post here. I've been following things from behind the bushes (!) for a while. There's so much good information here that I figure if you folks can't help, my situation is hopeless.
Anyway, I'm asking a question here and then another in the oregano thread, if you could use the entertainment.
After three tries, I finally got a cilantro seed to sprout, which in itself was a cause to celebrate. Unfortunately, after a few weeks of (slow) growth, it looks like some kind of mutant from Arcturus or something: (Hopefully, I inserted that picture correctly...) The cilantro is in the foreground. Behind it is mitsuba parsley and way back there, behind that, is some Italian parsley. You'll notice that the cilantro's leaves are deformed, particularly at the tips. The one to the right is just about shriveled away, while the tallest one to the left is just about gone.
There are no bugs that I can see, I'm using the standard AG liquid plant food as directed, and I check the water level religiously. From what I can tell through the watering hole, the roots look real good .
Any idea what the problem might be? I saw Shawn's picture of that cilantro jungle, so I know it can grow in an AG -- just not in mine very well.
Thanks!
Mark
P.S. -- While you're looking at the picture, you'll also notice that the tips of most of the mitsuba leaves are brown. Is that maybe because the mitsuba isn't happy with so much water, or could it be something else?
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on May 9, 2020 14:57:28 GMT -5
Hello and Welcome craters . Let me see if I can help a little from what I myself have learned. From looking at the cilantro, it looks fine to me. Yes when so much is growing together I too have had leaves that looked funny. What I do is try to select some of the mature inner stems to pluck out to give the others room. However it will grow faster from there and get full again. I also find that if you use the amount of nutes AG suggests for some herbs (cilantro is one) that I get some brown leaves. I just pick those tips off and let them grow. This too can be caused (from what I have read) from lack of circulation since they are full and dense. Herbs love colder water. If it feels warm put some ice cubes in the water to cool it off. I would not worry too much. If it smells good and tastes good use it. Now if it was mushy and smelled bad then I would say try again. Lastly, cilantro can be a bear to germinate. If you fail, just keep trying. At least that is what I do  Other may chime in as well. |
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Post by kay on Sept 20, 2020 21:02:01 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the tip about using Burpee cilantro seeds. I have never gotten more than half my cilantro pods to sprout otherwise, but now using Burpee seeds I have 100% sprouted and looking good so far!
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Other may chime in as well.