My Cilantro Bolted in 3 Weeks
My cilantro bolted in 3 weeks. I tried 3 things to slow it. Here’s what worked and what didn’t.
What Happened
I planted cilantro in May. It sprouted in 8 days. By day 21, it had a flower stalk.
What I Tried
- Moved to shade. Didn’t help — the plant had already switched.
- Watered more. Didn’t help.
- Cut the flower stalk. It grew back in 3 days.
What I Learned
Once cilantro bolts, you can’t reverse it. You can only:
- Harvest the leaves (bitter)
- Harvest the seeds (coriander)
- Start over
What I Do Now
- Plant in cool weather. Spring or fall.
- Succession plant. Every 2-3 weeks.
- Grow slow-bolt varieties.
- Accept that bolting is inevitable in summer.