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How to Grow Cilantro Microgreens: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you love tacos, salsa, or a good bowl of pho, you already know what cilantro brings to a dish. Now imagine harvesting that same bright, citrusy flavor right off your kitchen counter in a couple of weeks. After 7+ years of growing microgreens commercially and at home, cilantro is one of the crops we get asked about most, and it is also one that gave us the most trouble early on. This guide walks you through exactly how we grow it now, including the two small changes that finally gave us full, even trays every time.

Close-up of cilantro microgreens with frilly true leaves and pink-tinted stems grown by On The Grow

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Quick Answer: How to Grow Cilantro Microgreens

Cilantro microgreens grow best in soil or coco coir, not on reusable mediums. Use 20 to 25 grams of split cilantro seed per 10x20 tray, plant it in two thin layers of medium, and keep it in a weighted blackout for about 6 days before moving it to light. From there, bottom water daily and harvest somewhere between day 13 and day 21, depending on how many true leaves you want. Expect a total grow time of around 14 to 21 days, which makes cilantro one of the slower, more patient crops we grow.

Why We Love Growing Cilantro Microgreens

Cilantro is a member of the Apiaceae family, the same group that includes carrots, celery, and parsley. As a microgreen it delivers that signature fresh, citrusy, herbal flavor, often a little brighter and cleaner than the mature herb. For a lot of growers it is also the crop that finally makes their microgreen lineup feel complete, because it pairs with so many cuisines.

It is worth being upfront: cilantro is not a beginner crop. If you are just getting started, we would point you toward something fast and forgiving first, like our radish microgreens guide or our broccoli microgreens guide. Once you have a few easy crops under your belt, cilantro is absolutely worth the patience.

The Nutrition Connection

Cilantro microgreens are not just a pretty garnish. The landmark 2012 study from the University of Maryland and USDA found that many microgreen varieties contained 4 to 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts. You can read the University of Maryland summary of the research here.

Cilantro stood out in that research. Of the 25 microgreen varieties tested, cilantro showed the highest concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that studies have linked to eye health. It also ranked second for beta-carotene, the compound your body converts to vitamin A, and the study reported roughly three times more beta-carotene in cilantro microgreens than in the mature leaves. Research has also identified cilantro microgreens as a strong source of vitamin E and vitamin K. As always, we share this as general nutrition information, not medical advice.

Full tray of lush green cilantro microgreens with frilly true leaves ready to harvest

Other Reasons We Love Cilantro

  • It solves the bolting problem. Mature cilantro is notorious for bolting the moment the weather warms up. Microgreens are harvested long before that ever becomes an issue.
  • Less of the soapy note. About 10 to 15 percent of people carry a gene variant (OR6A2) that makes cilantro taste like soap. Because microgreens are harvested young and lean more on floral, citrusy compounds, some people who dislike mature cilantro find the microgreen version easier to enjoy.
  • It is a premium crop. Specialty herbs like cilantro often sell for more than fast brassicas, which makes it a favorite for growers selling to chefs and farmers markets.
  • That smell. When you pull the blackout cover off a cilantro tray, the whole room fills with that fresh cilantro aroma. It is one of the best parts of growing this crop.

Choosing the Right Cilantro Seed

Cilantro seed is unique. Each round "seed" is actually a hollow husk that usually contains two seeds inside. That husk is part of why cilantro can be slow and uneven to germinate. You will see a few seed types sold for microgreens:

  • Split (or cracked) cilantro seed has the husk mechanically split, which exposes the seed inside and tends to give faster, more even germination. This is what we use and recommend.
  • Whole cilantro seed works, but germinates slower and less evenly.
  • Monogerm cilantro seed is bred to produce a single seedling per seed and is another option some growers prefer.

We grow the organic split cilantro from True Leaf Market. You can browse their microgreen seed selection here. As with every crop, quality seed makes a real difference. For more on that, see our guide on microgreen seed quality and why it matters.

The Best Medium for Cilantro Microgreens

Here is the honest answer, and it is one of the few crops where we steer you away from our own reusable products: cilantro grows best in soil or coco coir. We use coco coir for our cilantro and have had our best, most consistent results with it. Soil works just as well.

A question we get constantly is whether you can grow cilantro hydroponically on our reusable silicone grow medium. We want to be straight with you here: cilantro is a crop we are still testing on silicone, and we have not had a fully successful grow on it yet. The seed also tends to leave natural staining on the white silicone surface. That staining does not hurt the medium, but combined with the inconsistent results, we are not ready to recommend silicone for cilantro. For now, stick with coco coir or soil. If our testing changes, we will update this guide.

If you want to understand how different mediums stack up across crops, our breakdown of the best hydroponic grow mediums for microgreens and our coco coir vs. reusable medium case study are both good reads. Note that On The Grow no longer sells coco coir, so for that we point readers to coco coir on Amazon.

Hands spreading split cilantro seed over coco coir in a green 1020 tray at On The Grow

Step-by-Step: How to Grow Cilantro Microgreens

This is the exact method from our most popular cilantro video, refined over years of growing. Watch the full walk-through below, then follow along step by step.

Step 1: Prep Your Trays

You will need three trays: a solid no-hole 1020 bottom tray to hold water, a 1020 tray with drainage slits or mesh for your crop, and a second no-hole tray to use as a blackout cover. If you are growing smaller batches, the same logic applies to our 7x14 Microgreen Tray Kit or 10x10 trays. Add a layer of coco coir or soil to your growing tray, then level it off so there are no big high or low spots. You do not need it perfect, just even.

Step 2: Soak and Split, Then Seed in Two Layers

This is where the two tips that changed everything come in. First, use split seed and give it a soak of 4 to 8 hours before planting. Second, plant cilantro in two layers. Spread your 20 to 25 grams of seed across the leveled medium, trying to avoid heavy clumps that can trap moisture and cause mold. Then add a thin top layer of coco coir or soil over the seed until you can no longer see it, keeping the medium just below the rim of the tray. Lightly pat it and mist it well.

For exact seeding rates by tray size, grab our Free Tray-Specific Microgreen Seeding Guide.

Thin top layer of coco coir covering cilantro seed in a green tray using the two-layer method

Step 3: Blackout and Weight

Stack your seeded tray with a cover tray on top and add weight, around 10 to 15 pounds, to encourage strong, even rooting. Keep it in blackout and mist lightly once in the morning and once at night. Cilantro actually prefers slightly cooler conditions to germinate, so you do not need a heat mat. If you are new to the blackout phase, our guide on why microgreens need weight during germination explains the reasoning.

Step 4: Move to Light

Around day 6, when you can see the seedlings pushing up and the first little yellow leaves emerging, it is time for light. Unlike most crops, we do not do a tall blackout stretch with cilantro. It grows tall on its own, and too long in the dark just makes it leggy and prone to falling over. For lighting, full-spectrum white LEDs work great. See our complete microgreen lighting guide for what we use after years of testing.

Mandi Vaughn checking a seeded cilantro microgreen tray in the On The Grow grow trailer

Step 5: Bottom Water Daily

Once your cilantro is under light, switch to bottom watering. Pour water into the solid bottom tray and let the crop drink it up from below. We give ours about half a cup of Ocean Solution 2-0-3 water when growing on coco coir, watering once in the morning and once at night. One important note: if you are growing in soil, you do not need to add fertilizer. Quality soil mixes already carry their own nutrients, so plain water is all you need. For coco coir and other inert mediums, a diluted fertilizer helps. Our complete watering guide covers volumes and timing in detail.

Step 6: Harvest

Cilantro can be harvested anywhere from day 13 to day 21. Harvest around day 13 for a quicker turnaround, or wait closer to day 17 to 21 for more of those beautiful frilly true leaves that chefs love. We usually wait, because the extra true leaves make the tray prettier and add a little more flavor. To harvest, hold a small section gently and cut with a clean, sharp knife or scissors, staying high enough to avoid pulling roots or catching the medium. For a full comparison of harvest tools, see what works best for harvesting microgreens.

Cutting cilantro microgreens with a knife, showing clean roots and few leftover seed hulls

Pro Tips for Growing Cilantro Microgreens

  • Mold is the number one cilantro killer. The longer grow time and the seed husks make cilantro more mold-prone than fast brassicas. Keep humidity in check and air moving. Our complete mold guide is essential reading for this crop.
  • Avoid clumping your seed. Tight clusters of seed trap moisture and cut off airflow, which is exactly what mold wants. Spread evenly.
  • Do not rush the blackout. Cilantro is slow. Pulling the cover too early gives you uneven, patchy germination.
  • Skip the heat mat. Cilantro germinates better in cooler conditions. Extra heat works against you here.
  • Aim to eliminate seed hulls. A clean tray with no seed husks stuck to the greens is the goal. The two-layer planting method and even watering both help with this.
  • Be patient with the soapy crowd. If someone in your house dislikes cilantro, have them try the microgreens. They are often surprised.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Cilantro tends to show the same handful of issues. Here is how we troubleshoot them:

  • Mold: Usually too much humidity and not enough airflow. Lower the humidity, add a fan, and avoid overwatering. Learn to tell mold from harmless root hairs before you panic.
  • Poor or uneven germination: Most often caused by whole (unsplit) seed, old seed, or uneven watering. Use fresh split seed and keep moisture consistent.
  • Leggy, falling-over stems: Too long in the dark or light too far away. Move to light around day 6 and keep your lamps close enough.
  • Damping off: Seedlings collapsing at the base. See our guide on what damping off is and how to prevent it.
  • Lots of seed hulls: Often a sign of too little moisture during germination. The two-layer planting method helps the greens shed their husks.

For a broader look at what trips growers up, our roundup of top microgreen growing mistakes is worth a read.

How to Store Cilantro Microgreens After Harvest

Do not rinse cilantro microgreens before storing. Moisture is the enemy of shelf life. Instead, harvest dry, place them in a breathable container or a bag lined with a dry paper towel, and keep them in the refrigerator. Rinse only right before you eat them. Stored this way, cilantro microgreens usually keep well for about a week to ten days.

Ways to Use Cilantro Microgreens

This is where cilantro earns its keep. That bright flavor works across so many dishes:

  • Tacos, burritos, and bowls: Sprinkle on top right before serving for fresh, citrusy lift.
  • Salsa and guacamole: Fold them in for a cleaner, brighter cilantro note.
  • Soups and curries: Use as a finishing garnish at the table, not during cooking. Residual heat softens them without wilting.
  • Eggs and avocado toast: A scatter on scrambled eggs or toast adds flavor and color.
  • Asian, Caribbean, Indian, and Mexican dishes: Cilantro pairs naturally with all of them.

The golden rule with any microgreen is to add it fresh at the end, never cook it directly. For more ideas, see our guide on 25+ easy ways to use microgreens and the many ways you can use microgreens.

Handful of freshly harvested cilantro microgreens held above the tray at On The Grow

Frequently Asked Questions About Cilantro Microgreens

How long do cilantro microgreens take to grow?

Cilantro microgreens typically take 14 to 21 days from seed to harvest. You can harvest as early as day 13 for a quicker turnaround, or wait closer to day 21 for fuller true leaves. It is one of the slower microgreens, which is why we recommend it after you have grown a few faster crops.

Do cilantro microgreens taste like cilantro?

Yes. Cilantro microgreens carry that same bright, citrusy, herbal cilantro flavor, often a little cleaner and more floral than the mature herb. Because they are harvested young, some people who find mature cilantro soapy enjoy the microgreens more.

Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?

Roughly 10 to 15 percent of people carry a gene variant (OR6A2) that makes them more sensitive to certain aldehyde compounds in cilantro, which read as soapy. Cilantro microgreens lean more on floral, citrus compounds, so they can be more palatable for some of those folks, though results vary by person.

Can you grow cilantro microgreens on a reusable silicone grow medium?

It is a crop we are still testing on silicone, and we have not had a fully successful grow on it yet. Cilantro seed can also stain the white silicone naturally. For now we recommend coco coir or soil for cilantro. We will update this guide if our testing changes.

Should you soak cilantro seeds before planting?

We soak our split cilantro seed for 4 to 8 hours before planting and have had good results. Soaking can help speed and even out germination. Some growers skip it and still do fine, so it comes down to your setup.

Do cilantro microgreens regrow after harvest?

No. Like most microgreens, cilantro is a single-harvest crop. Once you cut it, that tray is done. For more on which crops can regrow, see our guide on whether microgreens regrow after harvesting.

Why does my cilantro keep molding?

Cilantro is more mold-prone than fast brassicas because of its longer grow time and seed husks. The usual culprits are high humidity, poor airflow, and clumped seed. Lower your humidity, add a fan, and spread your seed evenly.

Is cilantro a good microgreen for beginners?

Not really. Cilantro is slower and more finicky than crops like radish, broccoli, or peas. We suggest getting comfortable with a few easy crops first, then adding cilantro once you have the basics down.

Final Thoughts

Cilantro took us a while to figure out, and that is exactly why it is so satisfying to grow well. Use split seed, plant in two layers, keep your humidity in check, and be patient through that longer grow window. Do that, and you will be pulling gorgeous, fragrant trays of cilantro microgreens that taste better than anything in the produce aisle.

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Nutritional information shared throughout this blog is based on commonly available research, peer-reviewed studies, and public health sources. We are not nutritionists, dietitians, or medical professionals, and nothing in this post should be taken as medical or nutritional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal dietary guidance.

The results and opinions shared in this post are based on our own first-hand testing in our specific, controlled grow space. Any mention of a brand or product reflects our own experience, not a sponsored or definitive review. Your climate, water, seed, and setup are different from ours, so your results can vary. We always encourage you to run your own experiments and see what works best for you.

— On The Grow®, LLC

Happy growing!

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