Long Standing Santo Cilantro is a cultivar of Coriandrum sativum bred for what gardeners crave most: leaves that resist bolting. Unlike standard cilantro varieties that flower and fade within weeks, Santo holds its foliage longer, giving you an extended harvest window from a single planting. Growing 12 to 24 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and germinates in the 55 to 68°F window that marks spring's arrival. For cooks who never seem to have enough fresh cilantro on hand, this variety changes the game.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-11
24in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Santo cilantro earns its reputation by staying leafy longer than conventional varieties, delaying the inevitable bolt that sends most cilantro straight to seed. Direct sowing outdoors is the way to go, as starting indoors and transplanting triggers the very premature flowering you're trying to avoid. Space plants 8 inches apart, and successive sowings every three weeks keep the harvest flowing from spring through fall. In milder climates, fall sowing yields an especially generous winter harvest.
Fresh cilantro leaves are the heart of this plant's appeal. They bring that bright, citrusy bite to salsas, curries, pho, guacamole, and countless other dishes where cilantro's distinctive flavor matters most. The longer leaf production from Santo means you're harvesting tender foliage over a genuinely useful stretch of the season, rather than watching your supply vanish the moment the plant flowers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow outside one to two weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature reaches 55 to 68°F. Plant seeds at a depth of one-half inch. Make successive sowings every three weeks until four weeks before your average first fall frost date. In mid-climate regions, fall sowing is particularly recommended for winter harvests.
Begin harvesting cilantro leaves once the plant is established and has developed enough foliage to sustain picking. Pinch or cut outer leaves from the base of the plant, working from the outside inward, which encourages fuller, bushier growth and prolongs the leafy stage. The longer Santo's extended bolt resistance window means you can continue harvesting leaves well into the season before the plant sets seed.
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