Cilantro in Zone 8a & 8b
Coriandrum sativum
Yes, cilantro grows in zones 8a and 8b. Plant it outside Mar 25–Apr 1.
When to plant cilantro in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated harvest | May 14–May 21 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of cilantro in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilApr 8–Apr 15
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- DillMar 18–Mar 25
- RosemaryApr 8–Apr 15
- American GinsengMar 25–Apr 1
- AniseMar 25–Apr 1
Cilantro is a short-lived crop in most climates: it wants cool weather, grows fast, and bolts to flower the moment heat sets in, converting its leaves' flavor from bright and citrusy to soapy and thin almost overnight.
How cilantro fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Cilantro needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Cilantro planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 20–May 27 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 15–May 22 | Jul 4–Jul 11 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 10–May 17 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 14–Jun 21 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 30–Jun 6 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 14–May 21 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 6–Apr 13 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Jan | ~50 days after direct-sowing |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Spinach: Both are cool-season, non-competing companions.
Where to buy cilantro seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's cilantro seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Slow Bolt: Recommended for Santa Clara County by the UC Master Gardeners, based on their trials, taste tests and feedback from local growers. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
- Calypso: Johnny's own trials found Calypso three weeks slower to bolt than their Santo variety, the slowest-bolting cilantro they sell, on bulky plants that yield abundant leaves in 5-6 weeks. Buy: Burpee Full notes
- Santo: The standard slow-bolt cilantro most seed racks carry, and Calypso's own baseline comparison. Buy: Botanical Interests · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cilantro" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cilantro in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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