Which herb is better, cilantro or parsley? Parsley is a classic seasoning and herb; both are used for salads. Which one is better for you? It depends on several factors including where you live, how the herb is growing and how it’s used.

If you’re growing your own herbs, you’ll want to choose the variety that offers the most health benefits. Both coriandrum and cilantro leaves are grown for their foliage, not for the seeds. Both the tender green leaves and the yellow-green seedless leaves of coriandrum are known as coriandrum, but these days the aromatic green topside parts are called cilantro herb, while the tastier black seeded leaves are called cilantro spice. Both provide several unique health benefits. Here are 10 more:

Coriander Root: This is a perennial herb that prefers cool, sunny soil. It will grow well in all types of soil, from clay to sand to well-drained clay. Keep an eye on the soil as it germinates. As it blooms, it produces purple blossoms, which look wonderful when used in soups and stews. It’s a great choice for growing herbs, because it’s so versatile.

Cilantro Powder: Cilantro is an easy to grow cilantro herb with a lovely fragrance. Many people use the fresh leaves and stems for salsas, dips, dressings and sauces. You can keep the rest of the plant for making juice, sandwiches and vegetable salads. When you want to make cilantro juice, cut off the top leaf, discard the roots and then cut the remainder into thin slivers. All the remaining leaves will rehydrate and start making delicious juices again.

Saving Cilantro Seeds: When you’re harvesting your coriander spice from your garden, be sure to take the time to save the seeds for planting next year. It’s not unusual to find families saving seeds for just this reason. If you like gardening, you can save seeds and take them the next year when you have a problem herb such as the plague or other disease. Just be sure that you get quality coriander seeds and don’t skip this step.

Aroma: Most cuisines flavor their cuisines with different types of spices, but few beat the subtle yet delightful taste of a cilantro herb sprig. The delicate flavor of this spice will lend itself beautifully to a wide range of cuisines. If you want to really bring out the onion in a cheese sauce, you might consider grinding up a fresh coriander sprig and adding it to your pot of pasta.

Herbs breed easily in full sun. They will also grow well in acidic soils that are slightly more acid than what is found in a home garden. Once you’ve planted your herbs, be sure to give them regular watering to help keep them growing and producing fresh herbs all year long.

Planting Herbs: The first thing you need to do when you want to harvest your herbs is to determine whether you want to plant them in a pot or in the garden. Many gardeners prefer to plant their herbs in the garden. When you’re planting them, make sure to place them in the holes they were planted in. If you have a raised garden bed, use stakes to level the ground beneath the rows. If you have a natural or organic soil, you may choose to simply plant your herb seeds in the holes they fit in. When you harvest your crop, it’s best to pick the herbs from the plants and harvest them right away.

Planting Cilantro: Once your herb garden is established, there are few things you need to do to ensure an abundant harvest. When you have established your plants, you can move them outdoors to harvest as often as you need. For indoors plants, consider removing the bolting grass that surrounds your plants. This grass protects your plants from harsh weather conditions but attracts birds to your garden as well, which means you’ll have less herb leaves on your plate! Remove the grass around your plants and after the plants have flowered, remove all leaves from your plants except for a small number of roots.

Harvesting Your Herb: When you harvest your cilantro, remove the entire plant including the leaves and stems. Discard the seeds and let your cilantro seeds dry in a dark place. When you’re ready to use the seeds, cut off the dried seed head and discard it. It is important to remember that seeds won’t germinate if they are exposed to too much light. To ensure the germination of your cilantro seeds, store your seeds in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Cilantro is easy to grow, requires little maintenance and is ideal for beginning gardener. It’s a perennial herb that grows up to six feet tall and produces colorful flowers. The lovely blooms attract friendly bees and butterflies to your garden and its succulent leaves keep pests away. Growing cilantro is a simple process, since it is a perennial plant that grows well-drained soil and is tolerant of most soils. It’s a great choice for growing in pots indoors or out, indoor and outdoor, small and large, round and stemless.