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How to Prune Cilantro Download Article Reviewed by Ben Barkan
Last Updated: July 15, 2025 References
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Trimming Small Cilantro Plants
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Harvesting Large Amounts of Cilantro
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Growing Cilantro
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Expert Q&A
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This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 251,084 times.
Cilantro plants are easy to grow and harvest. Feel free to trim them whenever you want fresh cilantro, either from a small plant at home or from your garden. While cilantro plants can produce coriander seeds, pruning them regularly will delay this step and maintain your supply of the fresh herb. Carefully pinch or cut stems off of your plants to avoid damaging them. Freeze or dry cilantro to preserve it for future cooking adventures.
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Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Trimming Small Cilantro Plants
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1 Start trimming your cilantro plant once it is 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Cilantro should be pruned often to encourage new growth. Older, larger cilantro leaves also tend to be more bitter in flavor, making the herb less desirable if it is left to grow out. When your cilantro plant reaches 6 inches (15 cm), start trimming away stems to use as needed.
Add fresh cilantro to salads, soups, salsa, guacamole, and other dishes.
It will usually take 60-75 days after planting for your cilantro to be this height.
2 Pinch or cut cilantro stems off of your plant. Use your thumb and forefinger to grasp a stem at its outermost leaves. Trace downwards until your reach a new growth coming in underneath it. Pinch about 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) above the new growth to remove the stem and leaves above it. If you prefer, use scissors to cut the piece instead of pinching it.
Avoid pulling off stems, which could damage the remaining plant.
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3 Keep fresh cilantro in the fridge for a week. Wrap newly picked cilantro stems or leaves in a clean plastic bag. Store the bag in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Cilantro will stay fresh and flavorful for up to a week.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Harvesting Large Amounts of Cilantro
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1 Harvest cilantro often throughout the spring and fall. Cooler months during the springtime and fall are the best to time to pick cilantro from your garden. Cilantro plants will not grow properly in warmer weather as the heat causes them to seed. Harvest cilantro early and often to encourage it to keep growing.[1]XResearch source
Once cilantro plants start to flower and produce coriander seeds, they can no longer be harvested. These seeds can be dried and used as coriander in recipes, though.
Generally only the outer leaves of the plant should be removed, leaving the inner leaves to continue to grow
A cilantro plant should produce new foliage appropriate for harvesting approximately every week for the duration of its blooming.
2 Cut stems near the ground level. Using sharp scissors or garden shears, cut the largest leafy stems of your cilantro plants just above the ground. Stems of fully grown cilantro plants are generally between 6 inches (15 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Do not cut any stems that are smaller than 6 inches (15 cm).[2]XResearch source
3 Harvest no more than 1/3 of each plant. To make sure that cilantro plants retain their strength, trim no more than 1/3 of their mass when you harvest the herb. Losing any more of their structure would weaken the plants and possibly stunt their growth. Assess each plant visually and count the number of large stems growing from them before deciding how many to remove.[3]XResearch source
4 Freeze cilantro leaves and stems. To store large amount of cilantro leaves and stems, wash them and dry them thoroughly. Lay them flat and place them in a thin layer in a resealable freezer bag or airtight freezer safe container. Freeze cilantro and keep it for up to a year.[4]XResearch source
To use frozen cilantro, simply break off as much as you need and put the rest back in the freezer.
If you are cooking with cilantro, use it straight from frozen in your recipe.
To use the cilantro as a garnish, let it thaw in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
5 Dry cilantro. Another way of preserving cilantro is to dry it out. Tie clusters of full cilantro stems together with twist-ties and hang them in a warm, dry room. Leave them there for several days until they are completely dried out.[5]XResearch source
Once the stems are dry, you can remove the leaves and crumble them into a small spice jar.
You can also dry out cilantro leaves by placing them on a baking tray and heating them in the oven at the lowest possible temperature for 30 minutes.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Growing Cilantro
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1 Plant cilantro in the spring or early autumn. Cilantro thrives in spring and fall weather, so these two seasons are the best for planting it. Avoid planting cilantro in the summer, as the heat will cause your plants to flower prematurely. This will end your harvesting cycle of cilantro and leave you with bitter-tasting leaves.[6]XResearch source
2 Place cilantro in a sunny location with partial shade. Whether you grow cilantro indoors or outdoors, plants will need at least some direct sunlight to grow. They also need some shade, however, to keep from overheating. Too much sun and warmth will cause the plants to go to seed, ending their harvest.[7]XResearch source
3 Use soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 8.0. If you are planting cilantro in small quantities, purchase a potting soil with a neutral pH falling between 6.0 and 8.0. If you are planting cilantro in your garden, test the soil first with a soil pH test kit. If you need to neutralize your soil, rake compost into it before planting cilantro.
4 Plant seeds instead of seedlings. It is best to plant cilantro straight from seed, as seedlings are delicate and don’t fare well when they are transplanted. Sow the seeds approximately 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) into good quality soil. Seeds can be planted outdoors in rows or indoors in a medium-sized container. [8]XResearch source
Plants will take approximately 2-3 weeks to germinate.
5 Keep the soil moist. Avoid overwatering cilantro plants, which can overwhelm them. Give plants about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, or just enough to keep the soil moist at all times. Watch the soil and give the plants more water if it looks dry.[9]XResearch source
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Question How often do you have to water cilantro? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer Water the plant once the soil is dry to the touch. Continue watering until water begins to drain out of the holes in the bottom of the pot, if there is one. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question How tall should cilantro be before harvesting? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer It is best to harvest cilantro when the plants reach 4-6 inches in length. This ensures the leaves will have the best flavor. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
Question Can you use cilantro after it flowers? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer It isn't suggested as the leaves lose their flavor. Once the flower seeds, however, you can use the seeds as spices for Asian, Indian, and Mexican recipes. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 251,084 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10Updated: July 15, 2025 Views: 251,084 Categories: Gardening | Planting and GrowingArticle SummaryX
If you want to prune a small cilantro plant, wait until it reaches 5 inches tall, which will most likely take about 60-75 days after planting. Once your cilantro plant is tall enough, use your thumb and forefinger to grasp a stem near the outermost leaves, then trace downwards until you reach a new growth. From here, pinch your fingers about 1 centimeter above the new growth, removing the stem and leaves above it. Because pulling off stems could damage the remaining plant, you may want to consider using scissors instead of your fingers for a more precise cut. Finally, keep your trimmed cilantro fresh by sealing it in a clean plastic bag and storing it in your fridge, where it'll last for up to a week. For more advice from our Gardening co-author, like how to harvest large amounts of cilantro, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 251,084 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10 Updated: July 15, 2025 Views: 251,084 Categories: Gardening | Planting and Growing Article SummaryX
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1 Start trimming your cilantro plant once it is 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Cilantro should be pruned often to encourage new growth. Older, larger cilantro leaves also tend to be more bitter in flavor, making the herb less desirable if it is left to grow out. When your cilantro plant reaches 6 inches (15 cm), start trimming away stems to use as needed. 
2 Pinch or cut cilantro stems off of your plant. Use your thumb and forefinger to grasp a stem at its outermost leaves. Trace downwards until your reach a new growth coming in underneath it. Pinch about 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) above the new growth to remove the stem and leaves above it. If you prefer, use scissors to cut the piece instead of pinching it. 
3 Keep fresh cilantro in the fridge for a week. Wrap newly picked cilantro stems or leaves in a clean plastic bag. Store the bag in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Cilantro will stay fresh and flavorful for up to a week. Advertisement 
1 Harvest cilantro often throughout the spring and fall. Cooler months during the springtime and fall are the best to time to pick cilantro from your garden. Cilantro plants will not grow properly in warmer weather as the heat causes them to seed. Harvest cilantro early and often to encourage it to keep growing.[1] 
2 Cut stems near the ground level. Using sharp scissors or garden shears, cut the largest leafy stems of your cilantro plants just above the ground. Stems of fully grown cilantro plants are generally between 6 inches (15 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Do not cut any stems that are smaller than 6 inches (15 cm).[2] 
3 Harvest no more than 1/3 of each plant. To make sure that cilantro plants retain their strength, trim no more than 1/3 of their mass when you harvest the herb. Losing any more of their structure would weaken the plants and possibly stunt their growth. Assess each plant visually and count the number of large stems growing from them before deciding how many to remove.[3] 
4 Freeze cilantro leaves and stems. To store large amount of cilantro leaves and stems, wash them and dry them thoroughly. Lay them flat and place them in a thin layer in a resealable freezer bag or airtight freezer safe container. Freeze cilantro and keep it for up to a year.[4] 
5 Dry cilantro. Another way of preserving cilantro is to dry it out. Tie clusters of full cilantro stems together with twist-ties and hang them in a warm, dry room. Leave them there for several days until they are completely dried out.[5] 
1 Plant cilantro in the spring or early autumn. Cilantro thrives in spring and fall weather, so these two seasons are the best for planting it. Avoid planting cilantro in the summer, as the heat will cause your plants to flower prematurely. This will end your harvesting cycle of cilantro and leave you with bitter-tasting leaves.[6] 
2 Place cilantro in a sunny location with partial shade. Whether you grow cilantro indoors or outdoors, plants will need at least some direct sunlight to grow. They also need some shade, however, to keep from overheating. Too much sun and warmth will cause the plants to go to seed, ending their harvest.[7] 
3 Use soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 8.0. If you are planting cilantro in small quantities, purchase a potting soil with a neutral pH falling between 6.0 and 8.0. If you are planting cilantro in your garden, test the soil first with a soil pH test kit. If you need to neutralize your soil, rake compost into it before planting cilantro. 
4 Plant seeds instead of seedlings. It is best to plant cilantro straight from seed, as seedlings are delicate and don’t fare well when they are transplanted. Sow the seeds approximately 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) into good quality soil. Seeds can be planted outdoors in rows or indoors in a medium-sized container. [8] 
5 Keep the soil moist. Avoid overwatering cilantro plants, which can overwhelm them. Give plants about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, or just enough to keep the soil moist at all times. Watch the soil and give the plants more water if it looks dry.[9] Advertisement 
Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.