When to Plant Coriander in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Also called cilantro, Chinese parsley.
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Coriander guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Jul
- Days to harvest
- 35 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 5 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
The most frustrating herb in Australia. Coriander bolts to seed at the first hint of warmth, making it a cool-season-only crop in most zones. Both the leaves (cilantro) and seeds (coriander spice) are useful.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D (likely to bolt)
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Amber = likely to bolt if sown this month, it matures into heat or long days.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Coriander in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with compost. Consistent moisture critical.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool weather. Part shade essential in warm zones to delay bolting.
- Spacing
- 5cm apart, 20cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep consistently moist at all times. Any drought stress triggers bolting. Mulch to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Cucumber, Carrot, Dill, Cabbage
- Keep away from
- Fennel
Tropical Growing Tips for Coriander
Recommended Varieties
- Slow Bolt
- Leisure (slow bolt variety)
- Santo
Key Challenges
- Bolts within weeks of germinating in warm weather
- Extremely narrow planting window
- Heat + humidity = rapid flowering
Pro Tips
- Accept that coriander is a cool-season crop only
- Sow thickly and harvest as microgreens/baby leaf
- Use Vietnamese coriander (Persicaria odorata) as a warm-season substitute. It tastes similar and thrives in tropical heat
Pests and problems for Coriander in Tropical
Harvesting Coriander
When ready: Harvest leaves once plants are 10-15cm tall. Harvest before any sign of central flower stem elongation.
How to harvest: Cut outer leaves at base, leaving central growing point. Or cut entire plant 3cm above soil for regrowth (one regrowth only). For seed: let plants bolt, flower, and set seed until brown.
Storing and preserving coriander
How to keep it
- Freezing in oil cubes. Chop leaves finely, pack into ice cube trays, cover with olive oil. Freeze. Best preservation method for coriander. Retains more flavour than drying. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
- Drying (seeds/spice). Dry mature seeds thoroughly in paper bags for 2 weeks. Store whole seeds and grind as needed. Toast lightly before grinding for best flavour. Keeps: 2-3 years for whole seeds.
- Coriander paste. Blend leaves, stems, garlic, green chilli, salt, and oil into paste. Freeze in ice cube trays or small jars with oil layer on top. Keeps: 6 months frozen, 2 weeks refrigerated.
What coriander costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Coriander
When do you plant coriander in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul Likely to bolt if sown in July.
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Aug Likely to bolt if sown in August.
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Feb to Jun, Aug to Nov Likely to bolt if sown in September, October and November.
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Feb to Mar, Aug to Nov Likely to bolt if sown in October and November.
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Aug Likely to bolt if sown in July and August.
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Sep
Can you grow coriander all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather. Likely to bolt if sown in July.
What else is coriander called?
Coriander is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it cilantro, Chinese parsley. Same plant, same growing advice.
When should I plant Coriander in Cairns?
Sow direct every two weeks in the dry season only; it bolts fast in warm weather. Try Vietnamese mint or culantro for a wet-season coriander flavour.
What soil temperature do Coriander need?
Coriander germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Coriander are ready to harvest?
Harvest leaves once plants are 10-15cm tall. Harvest before any sign of central flower stem elongation.
What are the best Coriander varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Slow Bolt, Leisure (slow bolt variety), Santo.
What grows well with Coriander?
Good companion plants for Coriander include: Lettuce, Cucumber, Carrot, Dill, Cabbage.
Are coriander salt tolerant?
Only a little. Coriander are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.