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When to Plant Cilantro in Republic County, KS

Cilantro is a dual-purpose herb providing fresh leaves (cilantro) and dried seeds (coriander). It bolts quickly in heat, producing flowers beloved by beneficial insects.

Republic County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 748 feet, Republic County receives approximately 28.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cilantro during the growing season.

Republic County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Republic County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Republic County

How your county's soil matches Cilantro's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.5) overlaps with Cilantro's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Republic County is excellent for Cilantro โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Cilantro.

How to Plant Cilantro

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Cilantro

5
successive plantings in your 176-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 15 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Cilantro

Cilantro needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cilantro Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.1" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Republic County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cilantro Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Cilantro needs ~762 GDD — county provides 2,684 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline โ€” Republic County, KS

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Harvest May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jul 28
Fall Sowing August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Aug 19

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

176 days in Republic County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Republic County

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after April 21 in Republic County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 176.0-day season in Republic County allows multiple plantings of Cilantro. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Cilantro in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Succession sow every 2-3 weeks. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather. Harvest leaves before flowering or allow some plants to go to seed for coriander and self-sowing.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cilantro in Republic County, KS?

Republic County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Cilantro planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Republic County, KS?

Republic County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Republic County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Republic County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.