Cooler Temp Herbs

I seem to be having more trouble these days trying to grow cooler weather herbs. First, the cilantro went to pot.... (pun not intended). I grew some the first year here on our property...back in 2011. It did really good! These past 3 seasons though...not so much. It's been getting hotter...sooner..and the cilantro bolts.
This year, and last, 2013...the dill bolted far too early. I finally just pulled it out of it's container.
Now my curly leafed parsley is jumping ship on me. It was so green and lush...now turned yellow and dying.

I am wondering if perhaps I need to add more soil to the containers to keep them cooler...although..when I had these same plants in the ground, they didn't do any better.

Winters and fall/spring are far too short to try to keep them growing for those seasons. Usually, 2 weeks long is about it.

Are you keeping the seeds picked off? How much are you cutting them back?

Yes, I did...picked the flower heads and kept them from forming. They just proceeded to form flower heads further down the stems. My dill never seemed to make it past wilt stage much this time. Even managed to form flower heads, while half dead. Maybe I can grow the cool weather herbs in my refrigerator

I mainly grow dill for the flower heads for pickles. I don't keep it cut back so it quickly makes these tall branched plants. As long as I keep the flower heads picked off it usually lasts about a month producing seed heads before it starts dying. If I ever let the flowers dry and got to seed, it dies. I need to do that today.

I whack cilantro and parsley off almost to ground level whenever it gets much of any size, just leaving a few buds at the center to grow back. I dehydrate what I whack off. If I don't keep up with cilantro it bolts to seed in just a few days. Once it starts to flower I quickly lose it. If I keep the parsley seed heads picked off it lasts a little longer but it still starts to dry up fairly quickly. I need to keep all three watered or they will dry up. None of them like heat and dry though the cilantro makes good coriander when it goes to seed.

I grow mine in the ground in the garden. Sounds like you grow yours in pots. I've often threatened to put up a partial shade to see if that extends their life any but haven't tried it. I get enough for my purposes so why bother.

You aren't having to deal with parsley as an annual in warmer climates, are you? It should be a biennial. I've got it in shady locations. As a kid, I remember it growing beside an a water faucet. It wouldn't surprise me if that thing leaked when the outdoors water was turned on for the summer.

Cilantro, I hope to try in the unheated greenhouse thru the winter. My best outdoors plants are the ones that make it through the winter.

A few have been left for seed now. I think I'd be a good coriander gardener but trying to make use of the herb while it is briefly young has been frustrating.

Steve

I'm learning! Since this is the first time ever I have had a place and the time to even attempt to grow herbs. My comfrey did well in 11-13..this year...it didn't come back up. None of it. And it is planted in the ground. SC may just be plain too hot for some things.

@moxies_chickienuggets

I bet you would be able to get cilantro seedlings thru your South Carolina winters.

Steve

Possible. Maybe that will be my next project. I have the unheated potting shed/hot house....unfortunately ...no windows in the house with any kind of sun exposure.

No. no.

I mean outdoors. The few that survive our winters are nice, nice plants!

I can't quite figure out what gets them thru. It must be their stage of development as the cold weather shuts them down. They are very good-sized and take a good long time to bolt in the spring.

Steve

I am going to have to try it. See if I can fake some spring weather around here...