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When to Plant Cilantro in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

May to-do list for Lincoln County, Oregon

A quick May briefing for Lincoln County, Oregon gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for cilantro

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. It's harvest week for cilantro

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

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • First harvests: cilantro

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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.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cilantro to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 9 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Cilantro prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lincoln County is excellent for Cilantro — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Cilantro will thrive.

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

5
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 05.

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 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 2" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 0.6" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.7" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lincoln 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 ~612 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 – Apr 26
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 24 May 24 – Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 – Sep 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Lincoln County

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

Your generous 195.0-day season in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, OR?

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

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, OR. 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.