Coriander, commonly called dhania on the Indian subcontinent and cilantro or Chinese parsley in Europe and the Americas, originated from southern Europe and the Middle East.
Coriander is grown both as a spice and a herb. Technically speaking coriander is the seed and the cilantro leaves, the herb. Coriander leaves resemble flat-leafed Italian parsley and sometimes it is difficult to tell them apart.
Coriander is a small herb which is highly fragrant and rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In Chinese medicine it is used to treat all kind of stomach disorders while the leaves can be chewed to combat bad breath.
Coriander is an extremely popular herb and is used in Indian, Thai, American, southern European and Middle Eastern cuisine in curries, fresh salads, soups and breads, as well as for garnishing meat, fish and vegetable dishes. In Guyana and the Caribbean we have a local variety which has a very strong fragrance and is used in a sauce served with hot doubles. It also makes good green seasoning for seafood.
Coriander can be grown from seed in well-drained soil. It can grow to approximately 12 -15 inches in height. It likes to be moist, so do not allow it to dry out. Fertilize with Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food every two weeks.
Until next week, happy gardening!