Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Slow-bolt Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum 'Slow Bolt')— schedule & NPK
Also called Slow-bolt Cilantro, Coriander, Chinese Parsley.
More about slow-bolt cilantro
About Slow-bolt Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum 'Slow Bolt' · also called Slow-bolt Cilantro, Coriander · herb
A cool-season annual herb bred to delay flowering, giving growers significantly more time to harvest aromatic leaves before the plant sets seed. Thrives in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, fertile soil. Succession-sow every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply. Bolt-resistance makes it ideal for warmer springs.
Growth habit: Upright annual; rosette of broad, lobed lower leaves maturing to feathery, pinnate upper leaves
What fertiliser slow-bolt cilantro actually wants — and why
Slow-bolt Cilantro is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.
A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for slow-bolt cilantro: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed slow-bolt cilantro, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For slow-bolt cilantro:
Apply a balanced, low-nitrogen fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10) at sowing time. Excess nitrogen encourages leafy growth but also faster bolting. Avoid heavy feeding once flower buds appear. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when slow-bolt cilantro is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for slow-bolt cilantro
Half strength is a sensible default for slow-bolt cilantro — enough to fuel regrowth after cutting, gentle enough that the leaves stay aromatic rather than watery.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water slow-bolt cilantro first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the slow-bolt cilantro watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding slow-bolt cilantro
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for slow-bolt cilantro:
- Fast, soft, pale growth with diluted, less aromatic flavour.
- Early bolting (running to flower) and a bitter edge.
- Salt crust and scorched tips on container plants.
Signs you are under-feeding slow-bolt cilantro
- Pale, slow regrowth after cutting and small leaves.
- A tired, stalled plant that cannot keep up with harvesting.
- Yellowing older leaves in a long-spent pot.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full slow-bolt cilantro care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Pot-grown slow-bolt cilantro builds up feed salts quickly — water until it drains each time and flush the pot with plain water every few weeks, especially on a sunny windowsill.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for slow-bolt cilantro
Organic options
A diluted seaweed feed or worm-casting tea keeps soft growth coming without overdoing it. UK: dilute seaweed or Westland; US: Espoma Garden-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Gentle, hard to overdo, flavour-friendly.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A balanced liquid feed at half strength through harvesting — UK: Phostrogen, Baby Bio or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro all-purpose at half strength. Fast regrowth; just do not overdo the nitrogen.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising slow-bolt cilantro — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does slow-bolt cilantro need?
A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed. Slow-bolt Cilantro is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.
How often should I feed slow-bolt cilantro?
Apply a balanced, low-nitrogen fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10) at sowing time. Excess nitrogen encourages leafy growth but also faster bolting. Avoid heavy feeding once flower buds appear. Apply a balanced, low-nitrogen fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10) at sowing time. Excess nitrogen encourages leafy growth but also faster bolting. Avoid heavy feeding once flower buds appear. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.
What strength of feed for slow-bolt cilantro?
Half strength is a sensible default for slow-bolt cilantro — enough to fuel regrowth after cutting, gentle enough that the leaves stay aromatic rather than watery.
What does over-feeding slow-bolt cilantro look like?
Fast, soft, pale growth with diluted, less aromatic flavour. Early bolting (running to flower) and a bitter edge. Salt crust and scorched tips on container plants. Over-feeding slow-bolt cilantro with strong nitrogen is the usual mistake — it grows fast and lush but the leaves turn bland and it bolts to flower sooner, ending the useful harvest early.
Should I flush the soil of slow-bolt cilantro?
Pot-grown slow-bolt cilantro builds up feed salts quickly — water until it drains each time and flush the pot with plain water every few weeks, especially on a sunny windowsill.
Keep reading
- Slow-bolt Cilantro care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water slow-bolt cilantro — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise pelargonium x asperum
- How to fertilise coconut thyme
- How to fertilise banana mint
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library