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When to Plant Cilantro in Morris 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.

Morris County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 535 feet, Morris County receives approximately 24.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cilantro during the growing season.

Morris County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Morris County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Aug 6

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 Morris County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.8) overlaps with Cilantro's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Cilantro will thrive.

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 188-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 21 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Morris 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 ~800 GDD — county provides 3,008 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline โ€” Morris County, KS

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest May 20 May 20 โ€“ Jul 22
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Aug 25

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 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

188 days in Morris County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Morris County

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after April 15 in Morris County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 188.0-day season in Morris 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 Morris County, KS?

Morris County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Cilantro planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Morris County, KS?

Morris County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Morris County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Morris County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.