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When to Plant Cilantro in Boardman, OR

Cilantro
Morrow County, Oregon Zone 7b July

July in the garden — Morrow County, Oregon

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Morrow County, Oregon this July and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 15
Soil temp (4") 76°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.1 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for cilantro

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

To set up a strong August, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: cilantro
  • Fall sowing: 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.

Boardman, Oregon is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 2,335 feet, Morrow County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Cilantro during the growing season.

Boardman, OR (Zone 7b) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15

Boardman Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Cilantro Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 19

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 Boardman

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.8) overlaps with Cilantro's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cilantro.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — 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 173-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 06.

Cilantro Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 263 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 1.4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 2.2" 1.2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 0.7" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Morrow 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 ~800 GDD — county provides 2,768 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline — Boardman, OR

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest May 30 May 30 – Aug 1
Fall Sowing August 6 Aug 6 – Aug 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Morrow County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Boardman

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after April 25 in Morrow County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 173.0-day season in Morrow 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 →

🌱

Your Morrow County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Morrow County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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