Sep 28, 2024
Coriander, or ‘Dhaniya’ as we call it in Indian kitchens, is an evergreen herb that is a must in our cooking. From the flavour in curries to the tadka in dal, Dhaniya is used everywhere. So, if you wish to grow Dhaniya at home, here are some steps to follow.
canva
If you are a newbie to gardening, it is best to start with a cutting of Dhaniya rather than seeds. When you start growing from a healthy stem, the growth is quick, more lush, and will be enough to give you more cuttings for later.
canva
To get a cutting, either buy a healthy bunch of Dhaniya from your local vegetable seller, or ask a neighbour who is growing Dhaniya to give you some. Cut 3-5 parts of the Dhaniya stem which looks the healthiest, light green in colour, and have more stems emerging from it.
canva
Once you have the healthy stems of the Dhaniya, take a bottle, preferably transparent, and insert a part of the Dhaniya stem into it (with the leaves intact on top). Make sure that it is not completely submerged in water or it will result in stem rot.
canva
Once this is done, keep the bottle somewhere near a window where it will get about an hour or two of direct or indirect sunlight. Change the water every day, and slowly you will see new roots forming.
canva
Once you see new roots, you will also see some new leaves forming on top. When this happens (can take about 10 days), lightly shift the plant to a deep container, with a wide mouth.
canva
Don’t skimp on the soil and make sure it is loamy soil with a mix of cocopeat, neemcake, plain soil, mulch, and organic matter.
canva
Once you plant the dhaniya with the new roots in the container, cover the top soil with a thin layer of garden soil and slightly mist it once a day. Make sure to not overwater it as it will result in root rot and black leaves.
canva
Lightly mist the leaves everyday and let them soak in about an hour of sunlight daily. In about 20-25 days, you will have abundant Dhaniya leaves, ready for harvest, completely organic, and straight from your kitchen garden to add to the dishes.
canva
Thanks For Reading!
Read Next