BadBoyClub
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Coriander leaves turning red?Hi
I have a dozen or so coriander plants in my greenhouse grown from seed.
Some of the leaves are now turning red - everything still looks healthy & the red leaves taste OK (although I didn't eat any until I get advice!).
What's the cause of this ? Is it because the plants are trying to go to seed ?
Advice appreciated ...
Thanks
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tahir
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Red? Hmm, they can get a little red round the edges after they've set seed and are ready to die. Any chance of a pic?
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BadBoyClub
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Thanks for the reply.
I suspect they may have got a liitle overheated & perhaps dry. I do water them every day & make sure they do not dry out but it has been extrememly warm here over the past few weeks & often tempertaures have gone over 90 in the greenhouse. So maybe They've not had enough water ?
A pot I took inside to use for the kitchen is on the windowsill & is nice & green ...
I've taken a couple of pics:
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cab
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I think you've diagnosed the problem yourself! Over-hot and a little too dry I think; they look scorched to me.
Edit: And welcome to the board!
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tahir
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Might have been too hot, alternate the pots between greenhouse and windowsill?
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treaclepuss
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My coriander goes red when it's about to set seed (as does the chervil). If cooling the plants off doesn't improve them, give them a haircut to stop them seeding (I feel a couscous moment coming on....) Another idea to try is sowing a variety which isn't an early bolter, hence more leaves for a longer period - I got a packet several years ago called 'cilantro' which I believe is what Americans call coriander. It has even self-seeded and is coming up a treat. Tastes good too. Though I won't get lots of seeds from it for baking and curries etc, I won't live long enough to use the tubs of seeds I've already collected from my original patch!
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Tittch
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I've noticed that mine start to go red just before they give up the ghost and set seed, which has already been said....
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BadBoyClub
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Thanks all for your replies.
I've decided to see if I can rescue them - being a novice I'm quite pleased with my intuition as I'd decided to trim off all, the red leaves & stems & have moved half inside & the other half to a much more shady place in the greenhouse & will keep them well wet - so it's nice to know I was on the right track.
I also trimmed the main stems that produce seeds back, as thse had started to grow & used all of these to flavour a wholemeal loaf I baked - worked a treat!
I'm interested to see if this works, if not then I will let them go to seed & can always use them for another crop ...
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tahir
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Coriander is always pretty quick to go to seed, the only way to get round that is to sow every few weeks. I use the seeds more than leaf anyway so don't discourage bolting.
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