Organic Herb Coriander

Description

Organic Herb Coriander. Coriandrum sativum.

Traditional coriander.

How to grow:
Sow direct as it doesn’t really like being transplanted even when you’re careful. Keeping well watered helps with reducing bolting. Grows better in a polytunnel this far north, or a sheltered sunny spot. Or just sow and grow in pots or a window box.  Sow successionally inside from April and outside from May. Let a few flowers go to seed for next year’s growing.

Problem solving:
Another herb that has few pest problems, just keep it from drying out.

Favourite ways to eat them:
As a fresh herb it’s wonderful in curries or chopped as salad garnish. Some people are genetially predisposed to taste corriander as soapy, so you’ll either love it or hate it. The seeds are ground for winter storage. The fresh herb is encouraged in alternative medicine as a method of clearing mercury and other heavy metals out of the body.

Cultural history:
Cultivated for around 4,000 years in Greece. Found in the tomb of an Egyptian Pharoh but not thought native in Egypt this suggests a trade route, but as it’s origins are uncertain we can’t tell from where.

Seed weight:  120 seeds per gram.