Cilantro, also referred to as coriander, produces an abundance of umbrella formed inflorescences lined in tiny blooms that entice pollinators and different useful bugs.
Actually, its means to draw useful bugs is what makes it one of the vital highly effective companion crops within the natural vegetable backyard!
There are actually numerous cilantro companion plant mixtures you can also make within the backyard.
We hyperlink to distributors that will help you discover related merchandise. Should you purchase from one in every of our hyperlinks, we could earn a fee.
However rising cilantro as a companion plant takes some forethought and planning, since it is a cool season herb that blooms when temperatures start to heat up.
On this article you’ll study a few of the finest cilantro companion plant mixtures that you should use in your personal backyard.
You’ll learn the way these partnerships work intimately, however let’s begin off with a fast view of our record:
11 of the Finest Companion Crops for Cilantro
Companion planting permits gardeners to create gorgeous visible results within the vegetable patch however primarily contributes to more healthy crops and larger yields in an natural meals rising system.
There are quite a few advantages that come from this gardening strategy, and also you’ll study a lot of them on this article.
If it is a topic you’d wish to be taught extra about, make sure to additionally learn our information to the scientifically-backed advantages of companion planting.
On this article we’ll concentrate on cilantro companion crops.
May you employ a number of ideas for rising this herb? Our information to rising cilantro has you lined.
1. Arugula
As talked about, the principle advantage of utilizing cilantro as a companion plant is its means to draw useful bugs with its flowers – making it protecting for crops equivalent to arugula!
The hoverflies drawn to cilantro’s nectar wealthy flowers act as pure enemies to armyworms, that are widespread arugula pests.
Why not attempt wild arugula, a warmth and chilly resistant salad inexperienced filled with pungent taste!
Wild Arugula Seeds
You should buy natural wild arugula seeds in a wide selection of packet sizes from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
And take a look at our information to rising arugula for extra data!
2. Beans
Cilantro and beans make nice companion crops, not simply due to the pest safety provided by the herb.
Along with offering companies as an insectary plant in companion planting, in a single research coriander was proven to additionally enhance the macronutrient content material of beans equivalent to favas.
There are such a lot of various kinds of beans you would possibly think about rising on this partnership.
One in every of my favourite kinds of pole beans is ‘Northeaster,’ a Romano sort that produces scrumptious, seven- to eight-inch lengthy, flat, inexperienced pods in simply 56 days.
‘Northeaster’ Pole Beans
You will discover ‘Northeaster’ pole bean seeds in your selection of packet sizes from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Study extra about rising inexperienced beans right here.
3. Cabbage
One of many sights I most take pleasure in as I put together my spring backyard is a parasitoid wasp dragging a cabbage looper throughout the soil to its den.
Whereas that is certainly grotesque for the caterpillar, this prey is each host and meals for the wasp’s infants.
As child wasps feed on these cabbage pests, the adults want nectar to outlive, and cilantro is one in every of their favourite crops!
Cabbage is a cool-season brassica and there are a selection of various varieties to select from.
‘Caraflex’ produces petite heads that weigh in at one and a half to 2 kilos, and are prepared to reap in 75 days.
‘Caraflex’ Cabbage
You will discover ‘Caraflex’ cabbage seeds in packets of 140 accessible from Botanical Pursuits.
Then learn our information to rising cabbage for extra data.
4. Carrots
On this article we’re wanting primarily at mixtures the place cilantro is the helper – however within the case of carrots the tables have turned.
Rising carrots with coriander at a one to 1 ratio really will increase the yield of the herb. It’s additionally an environment friendly use of backyard house, because the carrots are maturing underground.
There are such a lot of fantastic forms of carrots on the market that it may be exhausting to decide on only one.
‘Crimson Cored Chantenay’ is a chantenay carrot cultivar that has quick, thick roots, making it good for every type of soils, and even the raised beds utilized in sq. foot gardens.
‘Crimson Cored Chantenay’ Carrot
Seize some ‘Crimson Cored Chantenay’ carrot seeds in an assortment of packet sizes from True Leaf Market.
Study extra about rising carrots right here.
5. Eggplant
Research present that interplanting eggplant with cilantro or dill may also help management Colorado potato beetle populations, as each herbs entice the pest’s pure predators.
Ladybugs are one in every of these useful bugs that take pleasure in cilantro pollen.
In addition they take pleasure in feasting on Colorado potato beetle eggs, serving to to cut back the chance of those pests attacking not solely your eggplant, but additionally potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and floor cherries!
‘Ping Tung Lengthy’ is an heirloom eggplant selection that bears an considerable crop of skinny fruits reaching over a foot lengthy. They’re prepared to reap after 70 days from transplanting.
‘Ping Tung Lengthy’ Eggplant
You will discover ‘Ping Tung Lengthy’ seeds accessible in quite a lot of packet sizes from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Study extra about cultivating eggplant right here.
6. Scorching Peppers
Coriander crops additionally help in defending sizzling peppers from pests.
One research discovered that when rising these two crops collectively, the recent peppers sustained much less injury from thrips, caterpillars, and fruit flies.
Sow the cilantro early in spring, and transplant your sizzling peppers after the final common frost in order that the coriander blooms simply because the peppers have gotten established.
When your sizzling peppers are nearing harvest, it will likely be time to resow some fall cilantro seeds, providing you with the homegrown makings of many taste packed meals. Simply add avocado!
‘Ring-O-Fireplace’ is an early-maturing sort of cayenne pepper with fruits that register 30,000 on the Scoville scale, making them hotter than jalapenos, however nowhere close to as sizzling as ghost peppers!
‘Ring-O-Fireplace’ Cayenne Pepper
You will discover ‘Ring-O-Fireplace’ seeds accessible from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
You may be taught extra about rising sizzling peppers right here.
7. Kale
Kale isn’t so scrumptious as when it’s harvested contemporary from the backyard – however aphids can throw a wrench into our plans for nutritious kale salads.
Cilantro to the rescue, but once more!
Analysis exhibits that rising kale with coriander crops will increase kale harvests due to the rise in aphid predators drawn to the cilantro.
‘Dazzling Blue’ is a sort of lacinato kale that has eye-catchingly brilliant leaves, bringing sudden, icy blue magnificence to the backyard patch.
‘Dazzling Blue’ Kale
Natural ‘Dazzling Blue’ kale seeds can be found at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds in an array of packet sizes.
Study extra about rising kale right here.
8. Lettuce
Did you ever think about that along with ladybugs and lacewings, spiders may very well be useful to your backyard?
Plant some coriander along with your lettuce crops, and these useful arachnids will flourish, offering yet one more technique of controlling insect pests.
Simply be certain to plant low-growing crops like lettuce to the south facet of the taller herb, in order that the shorter crop doesn’t find yourself within the shade when the cilantro flowers.
There are a lot of various kinds of lettuce – however when you’re on the lookout for one that may stay edible going into summer season, select a warmth tolerant selection equivalent to ‘Jericho.’
‘Jericho’ Lettuce
Decide up packets of ‘Jericho’ lettuce seeds from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Try our information to rising lettuce for extra data.
9. Radishes
One of many advantages of rising radishes and cilantro collectively is that this mixture permits gardeners to profit from one thing known as a multi-storied or multi-tier cropping system, making extra environment friendly use of a plot of land.
Faux that your backyard plot is an condominium constructing.
On this analogy, the radishes stay within the basement and floor ground, whereas cilantro rapidly grows taller to dwell on the second and better flooring!
And since smaller radish varieties have a brief rising season, you’ll harvest the radishes early within the season, leaving cilantro extra room to develop because it bolts and produces useful insect-attracting flowers.
There are such a lot of forms of radishes to select from!
One of many classics is ‘French Breakfast,’ a French heirloom initially often known as ‘Radis Demi-long Rose a Bout Blanc’ – a mouthful whether or not you’re fluent in that language or not!
You may see why it was given a reputation change.
‘French Breakfast’ radishes are prepared to reap in simply 26 days – and no, you don’t actually must eat them for breakfast!
‘French Breakfast’ Radish
You will discover ‘French Breakfast’ seeds in your selection of packet measurement accessible at Eden Brothers.
Study extra about find out how to develop radishes right here.
10. Tomatoes
One of the widespread tomato pests is the whitefly, a small insect associated to aphids that causes injury to crops and transmits viruses.
Guess who eats whitefly larvae? Ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewing larvae!
By rising tomatoes with cilantro companion crops, you’ll entice lacewings and assist hold away whitefly infestations, growing yields out of your beefsteak, ‘Cherokee Purple,’ and ‘Hawaiian Pineapple’ crops.
Should you’re within the temper for a suggestion, ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’ is one in every of my favourite cherry tomato cultivars.
Intensely tangy, these small fruits might be thrown entire into summer season salads.
‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’ Tomato
You may choose up some ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’ seeds in quite a lot of packet sizes from True Leaf Market.
Our information to rising tomatoes has extra data.
11. Turmeric
Are you a kind of leading edge gardeners rising uncommon fruit and vegetable crops or tropical herbs and spices in your yard or greenhouse?
Take into account combining turmeric and cilantro, together with onion, for larger yields of turmeric rhizomes!
Should you stay in a heat location, equal to USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11, you’ll be able to develop turmeric outdoor yr spherical.
Turmeric crops are grown from rhizomes slightly than seeds.
You may develop your personal from a grocery store rhizome so long as it isn’t handled to inhibit sprouting – or skip the sprouting half and get began with a plant!
Turmeric
You will discover potted turmeric crops accessible from Burpee.
Study extra about rising turmeric right here.
An Natural Helper for the Backyard
These cilantro plant partnerships ought to get you on a great begin on utilizing this fashionable herb to the advantage of your backyard.
However remember the fact that these mixtures are simply the tip of the companion planting iceberg – there are such a lot of extra to check out!
Are there another cilantro companion plant pairings you’ve tried and beloved? Or are there any combos you want to suggestions on earlier than you attempt them out? Tell us within the feedback part beneath!
Need to be taught extra about rising cilantro and different forms of herbs? We now have extra studying for you proper right here:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Product photographs through Botanical Pursuits, Burpee, Eden Brothers, Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds, and True Leaf Market. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.
