When to Plant Coriander in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow April to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is April.

Also called cilantro, Chinese parsley.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

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.

Coriander

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Understanding its biology is the key to managing bolting. This is NOT a herb that grows like parsley. It is a rapid-lifecycle annual that wants to flower and die as fast as possible.

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D T - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Coriander sowing time in Cairns?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Coriander included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Coriander in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Dry season ONLY: April-July. Will bolt within 3-4 weeks in warm months. Sow direct every 2 weeks.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with compost. Consistent moisture critical.
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.

Companion plants: Dill, Chervil, Parsley, Lettuce

Avoid planting near: 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

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.

Where to next

What coriander costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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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:

Does coriander grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

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.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.