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When to Plant Cilantro in White Pine County, NV

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.

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 92 days.

At an elevation of 6,766 feet, White Pine County receives approximately 15 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cilantro during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Cilantro will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Cilantro successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

White Pine County, NV (Zone 5b) Very short season
92 days
Last Spring Frost June 12
92 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

White Pine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 3 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 13
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 8 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 17 Transplant: Jun 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 27

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 White Pine County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“8.3) is more alkaline than Cilantro prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in White Pine 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 low (0.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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

2
successive plantings in your 92-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 14 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 04.

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 10/10 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€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 0.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 2.2" 0.5" 1.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 2.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in White Pine 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 ~912 GDD — county provides 1,679 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline โ€” White Pine County, NV

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 22
Transplant Outdoors June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jun 19
Direct Sow May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jun 19
Harvest July 17 Jul 17 โ€“ Sep 18
Fall Sowing July 4 Jul 4 โ€“ Jul 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

92 days in White Pine County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in White Pine County

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after June 12 in White Pine County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in White Pine County dries quickly โ€” mulch Cilantro with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in White Pine County reach 91ยฐF โ€” grow Cilantro as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

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 White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Cilantro planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and first fall frost is September 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

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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 White Pine County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.