Growing Culantro vs Cilantro in small spaces: A Guide to these Similar-Tasting Herbs
Culantro vs Cilantro
Growing culantro vs cilantro just might change your life! Okay, maybe not change your entire life but it certainly could make your life better! Why? If you love cilantro, and if you want to grow your own fresh cilantro at home, it can be difficult. It’s a tricky herb to grow in most climates.
Did you know? CULANTRO TASTES LIKE CILANTRO AND IS OFTEN MUCH EASIER TO GROW AT HOME!
Understanding Culantro
Culantro tastes like cilantro! It’s a more robust, stronger flavor but it can be used in most any recipe that calls for cilantro. What does this mean? If you have trouble growing cilantro in your small garden, CULANTRO IS YOUR PERFECT ALTERNATIVE! And if you’ve ever tried to grow cilantro, you understand: it can be finicky, tricky to grow and doesn’t often survive long in southern climates.
Culantro, also known as fitweed, recao, Mexican coriander and Chinese parsley, is a tropical herb commonly used in Asian, Latin American and Caribbean cooking. It is most often used in soups, stews and marinades, and particularly popular in Puerto Rican and Dominican cuisine. It’s a member of the Apiaceae family and native to the Caribbean, Mexico, South and Central America.
Growing Culantro
This hardy herb can be grown in a variety of climates, but grows best where it’s warm and humid. In sub-tropical and tropical conditions with temperatures between 70 – 90 degrees, this plant acts as a perennial. In other climates, it will act as a one-and-done annual.
Culantro grows well in small space container gardens as long as you provide it with the right conditions. It’s a resilient herb, and loves filtered sun/partial shade. Use a healthy well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist for best results.
Don’t live in a southern climate? Culantro is a perfect plant to grow indoors with a full-spectrum grow light. Here’s a recent post I wrote about the best LED lights to grow food indoors.
Plant Specs
Grows best in zones 10-11, growing as a perennial.
Can also grow in zones 4-9 when temperatures are within 70-90 degrees outside, in which case plants will act as a one-and-done annual.
8″ – 18″ tall, 12″ – 16″ wide
Culantro grows taller in shade, especially when planted among taller plants. It grows taller as it reaches for more sun.
Germination can be slow, taking as much as 30 days. Best to start seeds indoors, and transplant at about 6 weeks, careful not to disturb roots. Harden seedlings as they will die in full direct sun.
Grow one culantro plant per one gallon container or grow bag.
Grow up to 3 culantro plants per 5 gallon container or grow bag.
Harvesting culantro leaves can done at any time, most commonly at about 45 days after germination and beyond. Cut off leaves and new ones will grow back, or cut the whole plant off at the crown.
In highest temperatures, the plant will bolt and produce a flower in the center which will give seeds.
Choose whether you want leaves OR seed! Leaves that are exposed to high temperatures and are older will be very pungent and not as good to use for cooking. At that point, choose to let it flower and produce seeds. Keep seeds to plant more culantro!
Flavor and Appearance of Culantro
Culantro has dark green long, serrated leaves with a slightly hairy texture. The flavor is pungent and slightly bitter aftertaste, more robust and fragrant than cilantro. So while the flavor can be used interchangeably for cooking, make sure to lessen portions of culantro when substituting for cilantro!
Understanding Cilantro
Cilantro, the leaves and plant of the popular coriander spice, is an herb that is widely used in cooking around the world. It is native to the Mediterranean, Central Asia and Iran but can be grown in many regions with a temperate climate. Just like culantro, cilantro is a member of the Apiaceae family
It’s most notably used in Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cuisine. It’s an essential ingredient in salsas, guacamole, many marinades, curries and chutneys. It’s also used as a garnish for soups, salads and other dishes because of it’s fresh, clean taste.
Growing Cilantro
The cilantro plant is delicate and soft. It’s a pretty, bright green plant that prefers to be grown in cooler temperatures. It grows fast, producing tasty leaves in just about a month. Growing cilantro successfully in hotter temperatures requires more effort, and it’s recommended to plant “slow bolt” varieties.
Plant Specs
Grows in zones 3-11 as an annual, best in zones 8-11 during fall.
Prefers partial sun, or full sun in cooler temperatures.
Will bolt in heat…. it does NOT like hot weather.
When growing in hotter zones like 9-11, look for “slow bolt” varieties like Marino and Calypso.
12″ – 20″ tall, 12″ – 18″ wide
Cilantro stems are very thin with feathery delicate leaves. Makes a great companion plant and benefits from the partial sun/shade when grown with tomatoes, peppers.
Seeds are hard, round coriander. For best results, soak seeds in water for 2-3 days to soften the hard shell. Some gardeners suggest running a rolling pin over top to crush the seeds, then soak for 24 hours before planting.
Seeds normally germinate within 7-10 days.
Grow one culantro plant per one gallon container or grow bag.
Grow up to 3 cilantro plants per 5 gallon container or grow bag.
Harvesting leaves can begin in about 25-30 days (ready whenever they are big enough to use!). Cut off leaves as needed (recommended 25-50% at a time), more will grow. Note: cilantro is a fast grower but it’s an annual, so it only lasts one growing season. Plant multiples for a bigger harvests.
Cilantro is ‘one-and-done’, so once you cut all the leaves off and growing season is over, the plant is done. Plant multiples in succession during the season for the best supply.
In heat, the plant will bolt and produce seeds.
Flavor and Appearance
Cilantro has a very unique pungent, lemony and fresh flavor, though very similar to culantro. Because cilantro can be difficult to grow in southern areas where it’s leaves are especially used for cooking, culantro is often used as a substitute.
The cilantro plant, when healthy, is bright green and feathery in appearance. It’s a delicate plant and very pretty in container and hanging gardens. It also makes a great companion plant filling in otherwise unused spaces in raised beds and large container gardens.
Culantro vs Cilantro: Differences
The biggest differences between culantro vs cilantro are:
- Hardiness Zones: Culantro is easier to grow in warmer, hotter zones while cilantro grows best in cooler zones
- Flavor: Culantro has a stronger and more pungent flavor compared to cilantro, while cilantro has a fresh citrusy flavor though also pungent
- Appearance: Culantro has long, serrated leaves that are dark green while cilantro has feathery, delicate leaves and very thin stems
- Cooking: Culantro is commonly used in Caribbean. Latin American and Asian cooking while cilantro is used in Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean
- Seeds: Culantro seeds are not used in cooking, while cilantro seeds are widely used in their ground spice form (Coriander).
In conclusion, culantro and cilantro are both popular herbs that are used in a wide variety of cuisines around the world. While they look similar and belong to the same family, they have distinct differences in terms of flavor, appearance, use in cooking, and hardiness. Culantro has a stronger and more pungent flavor than cilantro, while cilantro has a fresh and citrusy flavor. Culantro is a hardy herb that can tolerate a wide range of conditions, while cilantro is a bit more delicate and prefers cooler temperatures.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the differences between culantro and cilantro. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, growing culantro and cilantro in small spaces is a great way to enjoy fresh herbs year-round. Remember that it is important to provide them with the right conditions, and to keep an eye on them to ensure they are happy. Keep growing!
