Detailed Explanation of Key Cilantro Cultivation Techniques for Summer and Autumn

Cilantro prefers a cool climate and is cold-tolerant but not heat-tolerant. In summer and autumn, with high temperatures and abundant rain, cultivation is difficult and yields are very low. In recent years, with the adjustment of the planting industry structure, cilantro as an off-season crop in summer and autumn has seen its planting area expand year by year due to high market prices and good planting returns. The summer and autumn cultivation techniques for cilantro are summarized as follows:

1. Variety Selection

For summer and autumn cilantro cultivation, it is advisable to choose high-yielding varieties with good heat tolerance, disease tolerance and strong stress resistance, such as Thai Four-Season Cilantro and Xiangfei.

2. Seed Treatment

Cilantro seeds have difficulty germinating under high temperature conditions. Before sowing, the fruits must be rubbed apart to facilitate uniform emergence. Soak the seeds in 1% potassium permanganate solution for half an hour, then remove and wash them clean, then soak in clean cold water for about 20h, and then germinate at 20-25°C before sowing.

3. Land Preparation and Fertilization

Choose a plot with convenient drainage and irrigation and loose, fertile soil. After harvesting the previous crop, plow deeply 20-25cm in time and sun-dry the soil for 15d. To facilitate the use of shade netting, make deep-furrow high beds with a bed height of 20cm, bed width of 120cm and furrow width of 30cm. Cilantro has a relatively short growth period. In combination with land preparation, apply 3500kg of decomposed manure and 40kg of calcium-magnesium phosphate fertilizer per mu. Break up and level the surface soil of the bed to promote uniform emergence after sowing.

4. Timely Sowing

For summer and autumn cilantro cultivation, sowing in early July is generally appropriate. This can both achieve high yields and obtain a relatively high market price. Broadcast sowing is generally preferred. The sowing rate is 6-7kg per mu. After sowing, water thoroughly and cover with 1-2cm of rice straw to preserve moisture and promote seedling emergence.

5. Field Management

Keep the bed soil moist before emergence. When 80% of the cilantro has emerged, remove the rice straw. High temperatures in summer and autumn can affect the growth of cilantro, so after removing the rice straw, frames should be set up in time and shade netting should be covered. The shade netting should be covered during the day and removed at night to strengthen ventilation and prevent seedlings from growing spindly and causing diseases. Because cilantro has a short growth period, it is advisable to weed early, thin seedlings early and apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer early. Generally, thinning should be carried out about 7d after full emergence, and seedlings should be finalized when there are 2 true leaves, with a plant spacing of 3-4cm. Generally, water once about every 8d. When the seedlings are 3cm high, start applying the first fertilizer, applying 8-10kg of urea per mu.

6. Timely Harvest

30-40 days after emergence, when the plants are 15-20 cm tall, they can be harvested by thinning and pulling for market. Cai Shuangwen