Don’t be a cilantro bully. Never chop off more than one-third of the plant at once. If you scalp it, it panics and bolts faster.
Think of it like a haircut. You don’t shave your friend’s head unless they ask. You trim the ends to make the hair healthier.
Same with cilantro. Snip the top third. The bottom stays lush. The plant thanks you by getting bushier.
Where to Make the Cut
Look at a stem. See where the leaves branch off? That’s a node. Find the node nearest the top of the stem.
A Guide On How To Harvest Cilantro Without Killing The Plant
Snip just above it. Leave a little nub of stem above the node. That nub will sprout two new stems. You just doubled your harvest.
It’s like magic. But it’s actually just plant biology. Biology with a bonus of salsa.