Heirloom Variety
Caribe Cilantro is a heat-loving herb that won Hudson Valley Seed's slow-to-bolt cilantro trials in 2021, a distinction that changes everything about growing this culinary staple. Unlike cilantro varieties that bolt at the first warm spell, Caribe resists the urge to flower, delivering tender stems and leaves for a full 40 days from sowing. It reaches just 12 inches tall with a 6-inch spread, making it equally at home in containers or garden beds. The flavor is slightly sweet and excellent, with the kind of tender texture that makes it a joy to harvest repeatedly throughout the season.
Full Sun
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12in H x 6in W
Annual
Moderate
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Caribe's resistance to bolting in heat is a genuine game-changer for gardeners in warm climates or during summer months. You can succession plant it all season and actually harvest multiple times from the same crop, rather than watching it flower and abandon its leaves in frustration. The slightly sweet flavor and tender stems make each harvest feel generous, and its compact 12-inch height means it fits anywhere in your garden.
Caribe Cilantro is used as a culinary herb, where its tender stems and leaves shine in fresh applications. The slightly sweet flavor works beautifully in salsas, guacamole, curries, and as a garnish for soups and rice dishes. Because it resists bolting, you can harvest it throughout the growing season rather than racing against the plant's urge to flower, making it far more practical for regular kitchen use than traditional cilantro varieties.
Direct sow Caribe Cilantro seeds in full sun once soil can be worked in spring. Germination requires soil temperatures between 50 and 70°F. Succession plant every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the growing season for continuous harvests.
Harvest Caribe Cilantro in as little as 40 days from sowing. Begin picking tender stems and leaves once the plant has established several sets of true leaves. The early and frequent harvesting actually encourages bushier growth and delays bolting. Pinch or cut stems from the outside of the plant working inward, leaving the growing center intact for continued production. This variety's heat resistance means you can continue harvesting well into summer when other cilantro varieties have already flowered.
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“Caribe Cilantro emerged from Hudson Valley Seed's deliberate breeding work, specifically selected through their slow-to-bolt cilantro trials in 2021. This was not accidental discovery but intentional horticultural problem-solving: addressing the widespread frustration of cilantro bolting before gardeners could fully harvest it. The variety represents years of seed trials and observation, narrowed down to the single standout performer that could handle heat without abandoning leaf production.”