Ju County Coriander

Ju County Coriander

　　【Coriander】 Commonly known as cilantro, it is beloved for its delicious taste and rich aroma. In the Yimeng Mountain area, it is an essential condiment for lamb hot pot

　　and locals often say, “No dish (coriander), no cooking.”

　　 Coriander adapts well to various soils and thrives in fertile, moist conditions. However, because it prefers cool weather, dislikes heat, and has seeds that are difficult to germinate, it is relatively

　　challenging to cultivate, especially not suitable for consecutive planting—there must be a gap of 3 to 5 years between crops. Generally, it can be planted in all seasons except autumn. Due to climatic

　　influences, spring and summer coriander yields are relatively low, averaging about 400 kilograms per mu. Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, coriander enters its peak growth period, so autumn coriander grows

　　tall and robust, with thick stems and lush leaves. It is harvested before Light Snow, then stored under soil cover, remaining fresh and tender for several months.

　　 Large-scale coriander cultivation in Ju County began in 1983 when farmers successfully intercropped autumn coriander in cornfields. The practice quickly expanded, and the region soon became

　　a major production area. Autumn coriander typically yields about 2,500 kilograms per mu. In 1987, the county planted over 1,000 mu, with a total output of nearly 3 million kilograms.