Cookaholics Bulletin Board

(Or for anyone else with a bit of advice)

Started an herb garden in an Aerogarden about 3 weeks ago. The chives are a no-show but that's not the issue. One cilantro plant came up and it's growing leggy and on its side. When the lamp is on it tries to grow toward the light but at night it sort of collapses again. I've seen this when growing seedlings on the windowsill but we're surprised to see it when the light is directly overhead.

Photo to follow.

Thanks, P & K

I'll defer to Dave, but from my experience cilantro bolts really easily. It doesn't like too much heat or sun.

Amy

I had the same problem - I just get pruning it down to above the bottom leaves and after awhile it got the idea and is beginning to fill out and grow straight. Also, neither my parsley nor my mint came up - I called them and they sent out new pods, so I'd do that with the chives.

Thanks, Lindsay. Just snipped it off. That was my thought also, but Pete didn't agree. I will report back on the cilantro.
Kathy

I gave up on growing cilantro in hydroponics, since it never really did fill out. So it's not just you. Also, it tends to bolt quickly in soil, unless I keep it under light 16 hours a day. The fewer hours, the faster it bolts.

Yup. I've tried cilantro quite a few times and threw in the towel as well. I think it was just me, but if Dave says meh, I feel better

I grew it in a 10" hanging basket one year in the summer and it thrived. That's when we realized that we hate cilantro, so it went into the compost heap.

Looks like it's not getting enough light to me. Mine did the same thing this summer outside (as did my parsley) as we didn't get the sun we normally do. Pruning only helps if the light is sufficient. Otherwise they are scrawny and go to seed ASAP regardless of what you do.

I wonder if the aero garden sacrifices the cilantro to avoid frying the less light/sun hardy herbs?