How to grow Coriander microgreens in your kitchen garden

To begin with, What are microgreens? Microgreens are just the tiny versions of their mature counterparts which taste the same and have a relatively shorter time of growth They are said to be packed with nutrients, containing as much as 5 times the amount of nutrition as compared to their mature counterparts, however, they taste the same. Turnip microgreens taste like turnips, coriander microgreens taste like coriander plants, and so on. Growing microgreens in your kitchen garden is very easy and relishing the taste of the fresh produce from your gardens gives a very good feeling too.

Health benefits of coriander

Coriander is more commonly known as dhaniya plant. Since time immemorial, has been an inseparable and crucial part of the traditional Indian diet. It finds its usage in a wide range of foods from north Indian to south Indian food to finding its use in some of the most loved plates of seafood as well. It is considered an ideal element for garnishing and is usually used in the terminal stages of preparing a delicacy. In fact, every vegetable or micro green has their own health benefits and one must include all types of vegetables in their meals.

Apart from working as a popular taste enhancer, it is infused with massive nutritional values such as:

1. Helps lower blood sugar levels
2. Rich in antioxidants
3. Benefits heart health
4. Promotes digestion and gut health
5. Fights infections
6. Antiseptic properties of the coriander plant help to cure mouth ulcers as well
7. Promotes better vision

How to use coriander in foods?

Coriander can be used for garnishing purposes and not to forget the lip-smacking power of the classic coriander chutney which is made by grinding coriander leaves along with salt and mustard oil. Ground coriander seeds are a major constituent of a variety of north Indian dishes.

Complete guide to growing coriander from seed at home

In India, coriander is sown from late March till early September. Now, growing coriander microgreens at home isn't as difficult as it seems. 

If you wish to grow coriander microgreens without soil, here are a few steps that are to be followed.

1. For better yield and successful germination of seeds, purchase good quality seeds from an agricultural grade store. Urja Seeds provide one of the best coriander seeds for planting
2. Crush the coriander seeds into 2 halves, this is followed to improve the germination rate when you are growing coriander from seed.
3. Take an opaque container and fill it with water.
4. Above the water-filled container, keep a net basket.
5. Now sprinkle the split seeds on this basket.
6. Refill the container with water to make sure that the coriander seeds do not turn dry
7. It takes about 7-8 days to germinate coriander seeds in this case.

Now if you are growing coriander plant in pot, the initial steps of dividing the seeds into halves remain the same. Cilantro or dhania plants grow easily in cooler temperatures.

Here are a few steps which are to be followed while growing coriander microgreens using soil at home 

1. Use good quality soil for growing coriander seeds for planting. The planting tray/pot needs tiny holes at the bottom so that water can be drawn up from below.
2. Using a spray bottle, just wet the soil surface 
3. For cilantro, you want about 7 or 8 seeds per square inch. That doesn't sound like many seeds for microgreens, but remember, cilantro is a slow-growing microgreen and it isn't harvested until the first true leaves are well-formed. So the plants need a bit more space than many microgreens.
4. Start sprinkling the seeds onto the soil in a concentric circle pattern
5. Spread the seeds evenly
6. Now, by using the spray bottle, just wet the seeds 
7. Place a light cover over the seeds
8. Coriander plant growing time is about 40-45 days.
9. One important and very pertinent thing to keep in mind in the procedure of coriander plant care is, providing it with ample water and making sure that you do not apply much pressure on the coriander seeds as they are tender.
10. Within 4-5 days, you will be able to observe coriander seedlings germinating.

Coriander growing conditions

Coriander is a versatile plant and can be grown around the year. However, the best time to grow coriander is in cool weather because if grown in hot weather, it will begin to bolt which would result in an unpleasant difference in the taste of coriander leaves. (However, coriander cultivation in summers is also profitable with a net duration of about 75-80 days in the summer season.)

{Bolting-when a plant prematurely grows flowers and starts producing seeds}

One should refrain from transplantation of the seeds instead, you should start from the seeds straight. This helps prevent bolting consequently preventing reduction of yield. Water appropriately as required.

About Urja Seeds

We, at Urja Seeds, adhere to our promise of providing some of the best quality seeds online for home gardens at an affordable price. We provide a wide range of vegetable seeds, flower seeds, exotic seeds and micro green seeds too starting from basil to red kale, and of course coriander microgreens as well. 

FAQs

Q1. What is the number of seeds I will be getting if I buy a packet of coriander microgreen seeds from Urja Seeds?

Ans: You will be getting around 500 seeds in one packet.

Q2. Are there any precautions to be kept in mind while sowing coriander seeds?

Ans: 

• Seeds should be sown at the proper depth
• Proper distance should be maintained
• Seeds should be clean and soil quality should also be good

Also Read

An Introduction to Micro Greens - The most nutritious microgreens to grow and eat.