Growing cilantro roots for Thai cooking

[KR]

Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a 15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.

Best - krnntp

[James Silverton]

Post by KR
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a
15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.
Best - krnntp

I wonder if the best thing would be to get some cilantro *with roots*
at an oriental grocery and then just plant the whole thing if the
roots look healthy. I have been able to buy large bunches with pretty
substantial roots for less than my local supermarket charges for
little bunches with the roots cut off.

[B.Server]

On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 15:25:51 -0400, "James Silverton"

Post by James Silverton

Post by KR
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a 15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.
Best - krnntp

I wonder if the best thing would be to get some cilantro *with roots*
at an oriental grocery and then just plant the whole thing if the
roots look healthy. I have been able to buy large bunches with pretty
substantial roots for less than my local supermarket charges for
little bunches with the roots cut off.

Where did you buy the cilantro with roots left on. I have looked high
and low and have not found it. Like the OP, I have been growing my
own, but the progress is slow.

[James Silverton]

Post by B.Server
On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 15:25:51 -0400, "James Silverton"
Where did you buy the cilantro with roots left on. I have looked high
and low and have not found it. Like the OP, I have been growing my
own, but the progress is slow.

I have found two little grocery stores within 5 or 6 miles of my
suburban address: one Korean and one Vietnamese. Neither is
particularly interested in ethnic exclusivity and have Japanese,
Chinese and Filipino groceries too!

[kalanamak]

Post by KR
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant.

At certain times of the year, cilantro is sold in bunches with the root
still on (at least in my neck of the woods). The roots are no fatter
than the stems coming out of the ground, and don't go down very far. I
used to clean them and freeze them in one teaspoon amounts. I don't
recall a recipe that called for a whole tablespoon. I've never seen
*big* ones, not in my garden or in the store.
blacksalt
who wishes even more that hamburg parsley was in the grocery, like it is
in Europe.

[Gregory Toomey]

Post by KR
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a 15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.
Best - krnntp

I grow it in rockwool using hydroponics.
Its easy to grow but I dont get taproots.

You would certainly be able to get a long taproot if you used a hydroponic
system where the nutrient solution is well below the main plant. But that
sort of thing is for professional growers.

gtoomey

[KR]

Looks like a few of the favored plants in my patch have started to
grow into cilantro trees, with a startlingly robust central "trunk",
possibly as a prelude to setting seed. These are plants on the edge of
the patch, where they get more sunlight and have less competition
underground as well. A few days ago, I pulled up a bunch of plants for
an acquaintance who needed cilantro, and found record-breaking (for
me) roots on some of these larger plants: 6cm long, 6 mm wide at the
thick end tapering to 2 mm wide at the thin end. So far my guess is
that cilantro for roots should be spaced far apart, and left to grow
until it starts to turn into a tree...

Post by Gregory Toomey

Post by KR
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a 15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.
Best - krnntp

I grow it in rockwool using hydroponics.
Its easy to grow but I dont get taproots.
You would certainly be able to get a long taproot if you used a hydroponic
system where the nutrient solution is well below the main plant. But that
sort of thing is for professional growers.
gtoomey

[b***@earthlink.net]

the size of roots depends mostly upon the depth of the soil!
if you are planting by seed, wait until the plant has at least FOUR leaves,
then gently pull it out of the soil (if the soil is compacted, you'll have
to use a small trowel) and then REPLANT the plant so that the soil is at
least halfway up the stems. when the plant starts getting more leaves,
you'll need to start "pinching" so that it branches out more....the more
stems, the more roots.

this is the best way to attain the most and deepest root system.

Organization: http://groups.google.com
Newsgroups: alt.food.asian
Date: 28 Oct 2004 14:35:39 -0700
Subject: Growing cilantro roots for Thai cooking
Every time I have grown cilantro, the roots are absolutely puny in
comparison to the whole plant. Right now I have a large patch, and
would be lucky to have a sturdy 1 or 2 inch long taproot for a 15-inch
high, bushy plant. I'm growing Santo, which is a bolt-resistant
variety. Does Thai cilanto generally have more substantial roots? The
amount of leafy cilantro I'd have to harvest in order to accumulate,
for example, a tablespoon of cilanto root boggles the mind.
Best - krnntp