Culantro / Mexican coriander

Plant family

Umbellifers (Apiaceae)

Also known as

Recao, Chadon Beni, Bandhaniya, Long Coriander, Burmese Coriander, Sawtooth Coriander, Ngò Gai

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Seeding distance

15 cm

Row spacing

20 cm

Seeding depth

0Not specified

Instructions

Description

Long coriander, also called Mexican coriander, Culantro, or Recao, it belongs to the umbelliferae family. It grows as a biennial herbaceous plant and forms long lanceolate leaves that grow in a rosette and a thin taproot. In the second year, a branched inflorescence is formed. All parts of the plant, especially the leaves, emit an intense odor reminiscent of fresh coriander leaves. This plant is also known in Vietnam as ngo gai. In Puerto Rico, it is used as a key ingredient in many traditional dishes. It can be boiled into beans, soups and added to rice for aromatic and flavorful enhancements. It is not recommended to eat raw.

Growing tips

Culantro seeds need a higher temperature of about 25-30 °C to germinate. The plants are not hardy and must be overwintered in the warm if you want them to flower the following year.