GROWING CORIANDER

Introduction

Coriander leaves mature in a month. Coriander is a good crop to grow as the farmer waits for other seedlings to grow in the nursery bed before they are transplanted. Coriander is also grown for its seeds. 

It does well in a wide range of soil but is best in well-drained fertile loam and sandy loamy soils with a pH of 6.8. They should be grown under cool temperatures or shade if the temperatures are high. 

          Land preparations

The land is prepared by plowing, the stumps are taken out and the large clogs of soil are broken. The grower later mixes the soil with well-rotted decomposed manure. The grower later smoothens the soil surface. Before growing coriander on any land the farmer should first test the soil pH to enable him to decide the type of soil fertilizers to apply and the quantity required. It's advised to apply fertilizers before planting for high yields. 

       Planting

The farmer makes shallow furrows or lines in the soil 30cm apart. Later apply the fertilizers that are appropriate and mix them thoroughly with the soil. Per acre requires 80kg of fertilizers. The seeds are planted 2-3cm deep later cover the seeds lightly with the soil. The seeds should be watered 2 to 3 times per week when the soil is dry. The coriander seeds take 7 to 10 days to germinate. During the growing period once the crops have reached 5 to 7cm in height, the weak plants should be taken out. 

    Pests and Weed Control

To reduce pests the farmer is advised to plant the certified seeds, they can also practice rotating crops or use pesticides and fungicides this also helps control diseases. Weeds should be controlled by taking them out once the farmer notices them. Weeds compete for water and nutrients from the crops hence should be removed or done away with for high production rates. When spraying any chemicals on the farm the farmer should wear gloves and spray the required and appropriate chemicals.

         Harvesting

If the grower is growing coriander for its leaves they can harvest the leaves 4_5 times during the growing period. An acre can give you up to 8 tonnes of coriander leaves. The first harvesting is done when the crop is 10-15cm high hence giving room for the growth of more stems. They are harvested using the hand method.

For more information on the growth and production of Coriander, you can contact www.stephennaturals.com for guidance and consultancy.