Fenton Friday: Cilantro Trials

Cilanto 'Moroccan' at left and 'Slow Bolt' on the right.

Guest post by Cavit Ireland

This season, we learned about a tale of two cilantros. One, a traditional cilantro–one we noted as the “regular” kind, and a variety of 'Moroccan' cilantro. We grew them side-by-side and under the same conditions, the regular cilantro’s growth responded quite differently to that of the 'Moroccan' variety. The experiment was a fascinating comparison of two kinds of the same plant.

The 'Moroccan' cilantro sprouted quickly and confidently. Within a week the seedlings germinating, the plants stood a few inches above the soil, while the regular cilantro seeds lay dormant. Soon enough, the 'Moroccan' patch was densely covered with a tiny blanket of green foliage. The germination rate was high, leaving very few bare spots between the seedlings. They grew in aggressively and filled in as leafy bunches that looked like they were almost ready to harvest before the regular cilantro made much progress at all. 

When it finally emerged, the regular cilantro grew in more scattered bunches, slowly making space for itself. The thin row faced also more weeds than the 'Moroccan' cilantro. The leaves were slightly thinner and bunches grew less dense. It seemed to grow with restraint like a slow unfolding, unlike the 'Moroccan' cilantro’s burst of life. 

Such characteristics carried over from the garden into the kitchen. I put both to the ultimate test: Taco Tuesday. Deeply fragrant with powerful flavor, the 'Moroccan' cilantro cut through the other foods and came out strong. While the regular cilantro had a similar scent to its counterpart, it brought a gentler taste to the table. It was a subtle boost, blending with the dish quite nicely.

Growing these varieties of cilantro next to each other showed me how the same herb can behave differently. The 'Moroccan' cilantro was bold and eager, while the regular cilantro took its time and refined its taste. It also goes to show that small differences can completely transform a meal.

What are you growing in your edible garden this week?

About the Author: Cavit Ireland is an intern this fall semester with Washington Gardener. He is a rising senior at the University of Maryland studying journalism and hosts Sonic Fruit, a weekly music program on WMUC 90.5.

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 14th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).