It is possible to earn money from growing coriander? A frequently asked question and the answer is yes! There are many ways to earn money like from your very own backyard? This is true and one way to achieve this goal is through coriander farming. It is a wonderfully aromatic herb that has many uses in the kitchen.
The strong demand for aromatic foods in Kenya has brought smiley faces for a couple of farmers who are dumping the growing of the traditional crops and choosing spicy herbs instead. Such herbs include coriander(Dhania), lemon grass, and hibiscus among others. The international demand for such herbs has gone up by 40% with farmers gaining more revenues of up to 25% than the traditional crops.
Locally, the demand for coriander just like other vegetables such as the kale, carrots, tomatoes and spinach is also growing. Coriander is easy to plant and take care of. If planted for their sweet spicy leaves, you will only need a month and half to experience your return on investments but for seeds, you will need 3 to 4 months.
It will cost you Ksh 1000 on seeds per plot of almost an acre of land to fully obtain maximum yield and a bit of intensive labor especially during planting and harvesting.
Among the things that you will need are bypass pruners, fertilizers, compost makers, trowels, spades, mulch, potting soil, planting containers, and seeds. Pick an area in your garden where there is a lot of sun.
Growing Coriander
Coriander enjoys a sunny position to grow in but appreciates a little shade during the hottest part of the day. Coriander has a tendency to run to seed if stressed; this is where it flowers prematurely and develops seeds instead of growing lush foliage.
Coriander is best grown from seed directly into the soil. It can also be grown in modules and produce good results, take care not to touch the roots when planting.
- Prepare the soil thoroughly by digging it over, removing any weeds and incorporating organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost.
- Rake the soil so it’s level and sow seeds 4cm apart in drills 1cm deep.
- If you are growing coriander for its seeds, grow the plants in full sun. This will cause them to develop seeds quicker as the hot stressful conditions will trigger flower production
Coriander Plant Care
Keep your coriander moist and water well in dry periods. Try to avoid over-watering or watering in the evening, as the plants do not like their roots sitting in water. Coriander likes dry conditions, and doesn’t do at all well in humid conditions. If you are growing it under cover, make sure the air doesn’t become too humid. Make sure that the air can move around.
Look out for our next article; Understanding Coriander Problems, Pests, Diseases and their Management
