How to Prune Cilantro

Pruning cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) isn't necessary until you're ready to harvest, though removing the flowers can prolong the growing period for this annual herb. Cilantro grows best in sunny spots and medium-moisture, freely draining soil, and grows 18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. Cilantro provides a light harvest of its aromatic leaves as little as 30 days after sowing. Sterilize pruning shear blades by wiping them with a cloth that was soaked in rubbing alcohol, before and after pruning cilantro.

Lightly pruning cilantro tidies the plants and can provide a small harvest. Cilantro sometimes develops yellow, scorched or damaged leaves in sunny spots or due to pests or diseases. Prune yellow, wilted and other unsightly leaves at their bases.

For a light harvest of cilantro leaves, snip the stems at their bases when they are 4 to 6 inches long. Don't prune more than one-third of the stems on a plant because this can weaken the plant and prevent it from producing more leaves. Weakened plants may also produce flowers too early, which shortens an annual plant's lifespan.

Pruning cilantro clumps provides large, mature leaves as well as small, tender leaves for the kitchen. Cilantro may resprout after pruning all the leaves and stems, but the plant may also fade and die.

Grasp the base of a cilantro plant with one hand, and prune all the stems at their bases, 1 to 2 inches above the soil surface. To keep the clump together, tie twine around the base. Stand clumps of cilantro stems in cold, clean water to help keep them fresh until you're ready to use the leaves.

Cilantro dies down after it flowers and sets seed, but pruning the flowers helps extend the growing season. Cilantro produces flattened clusters of white, pink or pale lavender flowers. As the flowers appear, cilantro grows tall and spindly, and it loses many of its broad, flat leaves.

Prune cilantro flower stems when they appear. These are stems with green buds at their ends. Prune the stems at their bases where they join the rest of the plant.

Coriander seeds develop on cilantro plants after the flowers are pollinated. If you're growing cilantro for coriander seed, don't harvest the leaves or remove the flowering stems.

About 90 days after sowing, when cilantro plants begin to turn brown and the yellow-brown seed pods have formed, prune the seed pod stems at their bases. Hang the seed pods upside down in a paper bag in a cool airy spot until the seeds fall out of their pods into the bag. You can also leave the seed pods on the plants in mild climates to allow the plants to self-seed.