Kitasel, I don't know where you are, but here in Texas cilantro is practically a weed. It likes heat and moderate water.

If you are in a cool climate, try putting it next to a wall that gets sunshine and therefore heat. If you are in a warmer climate, just plant it in the soil and don't over water.

It is an annual, so harvest as much as you like,

Thank you Im in New York and somehow got the idea it liked shade, like lettuces. I will try my sunniest and driest position next.

Actually, the plant dislikes high heat and will bolt more easily in hot weather. Prefers the cooler temps of both spring and fall but even in more temperate conditions will bolt in just a couple of weeks, so succession planting every 2 weeks is suggested.

And never let it dry out!!

Im feeling whipsawed but back to my original thought.. So why is it so hard to grow here

What part of the growing is hard? Getting seedlings to go, plants growing slow, keeping mature plants from bolting, you are getting the fades- like the leaves want to fade to paper fast or yellow out fast. How are you growing- in pots, in ground, on a balcony, ect. I find cilantro is fairly easy, but it can be a bit more fussy compared to some of the other garden herbs. Sometimes it wants to bolt too much, or fade too quick- usually during the hottest and dryest part of summer. I grow it in pots and sometimes just don't keep it right, heh.

I think it is easy too...but have to do numerous sowings throughout summer because it just doesn't want to hang around. So obviously, I manage to do about 3 at a coupla weeks apart then forget...I don't do much to it mind, iI sow it directly in late April/Mayish. It gets watered into a drill and pretty much ignored. I have never managed to get any different results though, even if faffed and fussed over, assiduously weeded and watered - still runs to seed or just carks.

What do you find difficult about growing it? Other than an inclination to bolt (go to flower and set seed) very quickly and a propensity to develop powdery mildew easily, it is fast to germinate in cooler weather, likes a loose, rich but well draining soil and can tolerate part shade. And don't let it dry out but do not overwater.

btw, there are "low bolt" varieties available. Sow seeds before soil temps exceed 65-70F or after they cool down to that point.

I just did the float and sink test to test the viability of sone of my seeds Duds! I didnt realize they have a short shelf life I have grown a slow bolt variety back whn Sample Seeds was around.

I find it easy to grow -- I direct sow outside after the soil has warmed, never have any difficulty with germination. I do succession sow, though, because it bolts. Fast.

i did'nt knew about this thankyou

I'll second gardengal here - I find it grows better in the cooler temps of spring and fall. It does bolt very quickly for me so I succession sow it, at least a second time, in spring. I'm not a fan myself so I grow a bit for my husband in spring and that's it.

:)

Dee