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When to Plant Cilantro in Albany County, WY

Albany County, Wyoming Zone 5b May

This month in Albany County, Wyoming

Each item below is timed to Albany County, Wyoming's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 29
Avg. first frost September 18
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Transplant cilantro outside

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Direct-sow cilantro

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

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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.

Albany County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 29 and the first fall frost is September 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 112 days.

At an elevation of 5,863 feet, Albany County receives approximately 17.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cilantro to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Cilantro successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Albany County, WY (Zone 5b) Short season
112 days
Last Spring Frost May 29
112 growing days
First Fall Frost September 18

Albany County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 24 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Sep 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 16

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 Albany County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.6) overlaps with Cilantro's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help 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

3
successive plantings in your 112-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 10.

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 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 1.2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 1.4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 2" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Albany 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 ~500 GDD — county provides 1,120 GDD Excellent fit

Cilantro Planting Timeline — Albany County, WY

Cilantro Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 24 Apr 24 – May 8
Transplant Outdoors May 22 May 22 – Jun 5
Direct Sow May 15 May 15 – Jun 5
Harvest July 3 Jul 3 – Sep 4
Fall Sowing July 10 Jul 10 – Jul 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

112 days in Albany County

Growing Tips for Cilantro in Albany County

Direct sow Cilantro outdoors after May 29 in Albany County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Albany County, WY?

Albany County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 29. Plan your Cilantro planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Albany County, WY?

Albany County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 29 and first fall frost is September 18.

🌱

Your Albany County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Albany County (Zone 5b). 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 Albany County, WY. 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.