How to grow cilantro with the Paperpot Transplanter
Tight 2″ chains of cilantro, transplanted young and cut two or three times per planting. Settings, timing, yields and step-by-step notes for paper chain pots.
Paperpot settings for cilantro
Use 2″ paper chain pots, drop 2-3 seeds per cell with the Kwik Klik Slide, and transplant 3 rows on a 30″ bed, 10″ apart. Plan on about 6 trays per 100′ bed.
| Paper chain pot | 2″ |
|---|---|
| In-row spacing | 2″ |
| Rows per 30″ bed | 3 (10″ apart) |
| Trays per 100′ bed | 6 |
| Kwik Klik top plate | Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 7 mm holes |
| Seeds per cell | 2-3 |
| Seed per 100′ bed | 4,800 seeds (+/-) |
| Cultivars | Santo |
| Germination | 5-7 days at 65-70°F |
| Days to transplant | 30 days |
| Days to maturity | 55 days |
| Harvest window | 14 days |
| Harvest unit | Bunch |
| Yield per 100′ bed | 600 bunches |
Bed figures are for a 100′ x 30″ bed. From the Paperpot Co. Growers Notes, developed with farmers Erich Schultz (Steadfast Farm) and Seth Davis. Adjust for your climate and conditions.
Bed preparation
- Broadfork the bed to aerate and loosen the soil.
- Smooth and shape the bed with a bed prep rake, removing any debris.
- Cilantro do best in a bed freshly amended. Layer on 1″ of compost (enough to mostly cover the native soil) or sprinkle on alfalfa meal and pelleted chicken manure.
- If you layer compost, don’t tilth it in, so surface weed seed stays smothered. If you add amendments, tilth the top 1-2″ to mix them in.
- Irrigate for 10 to 14 days* to germinate weed seed in the top layer of soil, then flame weed once the weed cotyledons are up.
Seeding
- Set a germination tray with 2″ paper chain pots and fill with potting mix.
- Set up the Kwik Klik Slide with the Paperpot bottom plate and the Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 7 mm holes top plate.
- Pour seed on the top plate and work it until 2-3 seeds sits in each hole. Line the seeder up over the tray and slide the plate to drop seed into every cell at once.
- Water the tray, then germinate at 65-70°F. Emergence takes 5-7 days.
- Move trays to greenhouse benches as soon as you see germination.
Transplanting
- Transplant when seedlings are 2″ tall or shorter.
- Water the trays thoroughly before heading to the field.
- Plant three rows of cilantro with the Paperpot Transplanter: 10″ between rows, 5″ from the outer rows to the bed edge.
- Bury the paper chains well so they don’t dry out.
- New to the transplanter? See the how-to guide and videos.
Bed layout
Irrigation
- Water the bed in thoroughly with overhead irrigation or four lines of drip.
- Water new plantings regularly so they don’t dry out. Frequent, shallow waterings support fast growth.
Cultivation
- 10-14 days after transplanting, cultivate with a flex tine weeder or collinear hoe. Repeat 7-10 days later.
- A wire weeder lets you work very close to the plants.
Harvest
- Cut bunches a few inches above the soil so the plants regrow.
- Expect two cuttings per planting, three if you can hold off bolting.
Washing and packing
- Dunk in cold water to pull field heat and rinse off soil.
- Drip dry on a rack. Cilantro tolerates being damp, so bunches can go into totes before they’re fully dry.
- Store at 35-40°F until market.
*All timing varies with your climate, soil and season.
Suggested tools
| Job | Tool |
|---|---|
| Seeding | Kwik Klik Slide, Paperpot germination trays, paper chain pots |
| Transplanting | Paperpot Transplanter |
| Aeration | Broadfork |
| Tilthing | Tilther, power harrow or precision depth roller |
| Bed shaping | Bed prep rake |
| Weed control | Flame weeder |
| Cultivation | Collinear hoe, wire weeder or flex tine weeder |
Cilantro in paper chain pots: FAQ
What paper chain pot do I use for cilantro?
2″ chains. Plant 3 rows on a 30″ bed, 10″ apart and 5″ in from each edge.
Which Kwik Klik plate?
The Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 7 mm holes top plate, with the Paperpot bottom plate in the Kwik Klik Slide. Aim for 2-3 seeds per cell.
How long from seeding to harvest?
About 55 days, with 30 days in the greenhouse before transplanting and a harvest window of about 14 days. Timing varies with your climate and season.
Where do I get a Paperpot Transplanter?
The transplanter, paper chain pots, trays and the Kwik Klik Slide are at Modern Grower. Questions? Email hello@moderngrower.co.
Other crops
basil · beets · bunching onions · cabbage · dill · fennel · garlic · head lettuce · kohlrabi · leeks · Little Gem lettuce · mesclun mix lettuce · onions · snap peas · salad turnips · spinach · storage radishes · summer crisp lettuce. All crops in one table: the Paperpot growers notes.
Cilantro growers notes (PDF)
This guide as a two-page printable sheet.
How to use the Paperpot system
Filling, seeding, transplanting and care, with videos.
Skip spacing
Seed every other or every third cell for wider in-row spacing.