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When to Plant Cilantro in Brantley County, GA

Brantley County, Georgia Zone 9a May

Your May gardening checklist

Welcome to May in Zone 9a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost February 19
Avg. first frost November 29
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Basket week: cilantro

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

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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.

Brantley County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 19 and the first fall frost is November 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 283 days.

At an elevation of 238 feet, Brantley County receives approximately 58.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Cilantro during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Cilantro will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cilantro root diseases.

Brantley County, GA (Zone 9a) Year-round
283 days
Last Spring Frost February 19
283 growing days
First Fall Frost November 29
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Brantley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (190 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 10 Transplant: Jan 31 🍅 Harvest: Mar 14 – May 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (185 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Feb 12 🍅 Harvest: Mar 26 – May 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (182 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 9 🍅 Harvest: Apr 20 – Jun 22

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 Brantley County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.1) is more acidic than Cilantro prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Brantley County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Cilantro will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cilantro.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). Annual compost additions will help Cilantro.

How to Plant Cilantro

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Cilantro

8
successive plantings in your 283-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 30 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 04.

Plant Water Budget

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

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 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 2.2" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 5.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Brantley County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~875 GDD — county provides 4,970 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline — Brantley County, GA

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 22 Jan 22 – Feb 5
Transplant Outdoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Direct Sow January 29 Jan 29 – Feb 19
Harvest March 26 Mar 26 – May 28
Fall Sowing October 4 Oct 4 – Oct 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

283 days in Brantley County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Brantley County

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after February 19 in Brantley County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Brantley County dries quickly — mulch Cilantro with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your generous 284.0-day season in Brantley 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.

With 58" of annual rainfall in Brantley County, ensure good drainage for Cilantro — excess moisture can promote root rot and fungal diseases.

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 Brantley County, GA?

Brantley County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 19. Plan your Cilantro planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Brantley County, GA?

Brantley County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 19 and first fall frost is November 29.

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Your Brantley County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Brantley County (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.