Read the source range before choosing a spacing
USU supplies two different spacings tied to two different harvests: 2 inches between seed positions for leaves, and 8–10 inches for coriander seed production. The difference matters because the counted item changes with the goal. A leaf-harvest plan counts closely spaced sowing positions; a seed-production plan would need the wider figure and a separate count.
Rows should be at least 15 inches apart according to the same source. That is a minimum row-to-row figure, not a full bed design. Access paths, bed edges, adjacent crops and mature plant habit must be chosen separately, and this guide does not assign distances for those.
- Confirm the harvest goal is leaves, not coriander seed.
- Record the 2-inch leaf spacing and the 15-inch minimum row gap as separate values.
- Decide access, bed-edge and adjacent-row needs separately before marking the full bed.
Source context: Utah State University Extension
Worked example: one 96-inch row at 2-inch centers
The worked example uses one measured row 96 inches long, 2-inch centers and a 1-inch margin at each end. The first center falls at 1 inch and the last at 95 inches, giving 48 leaf-harvest sowing positions. This is a geometrical count of positions along one row, not a yield estimate or a claim about germination.
The 2-inch value is the selected point for this clearly labeled leaf-harvest scenario. It is not a general recommendation for coriander seed crops, which USU places at 8–10 inches. The 1-inch end margins are part of the example setup, not a spacing rule from the source.
- Measure the row length in inches or centimeters.
- Enter the 2-inch center interval and 1-inch margins at both ends in the row calculator.
- Check that the calculator reports 48 positions for the 96-inch example before applying the same method to another row.
Source context: Utah State University Extension
Distinguish sowing positions from established plants
The 48 counted items are leaf-harvest sowing positions, meaning places where seed is placed along the row. They are not established plants, thinned plants or final stand counts. Thinning and initial planting decisions are separate from the sowing count and should be recorded separately so the plan is not misread.
One row is not an entire garden layout. After marking a row, plan the next row at least 15 inches away per the source, then choose access and adjacent-crop arrangements on your own terms. Do not convert the 48 sowing positions into a bed-wide plant total without repeating the row calculation for each row.
- Label the count as sowing positions, not plants.
- Mark the first and last centers at 1 inch and 95 inches on the example row.
- Repeat the row calculation for each additional row and keep the 15-inch minimum gap in view.
Source context: Utah State University Extension
Use the row calculator within its stated scope
The linked row calculator can count this exact length, center interval and both end margins in inches or centimeters. Use it to check the arithmetic for a measured row, then record the result alongside the harvest goal and row gap. The calculator counts positions; it does not decide access, supports, adjacent rows or mature habit for you.
Keep the example consistent: 96 inches, 2-inch centers, 1-inch margins, 48 positions. If any of those inputs change, the count changes too, so recheck the result rather than carrying the 48 figure to a different row.
- Enter length, center interval and both end margins in one unit system.
- Verify the first and last center positions against the margins.
- Record the harvest goal and row gap next to the calculated count.
Source context: Utah State University Extension
Check your measured example
One measured 96-inch row, with selected 2-inch centers and 1-inch margins at both ends. Count 48 leaf-harvest sowing positions.
Reference and growing system: USU describes cilantro seed positions 2 inches apart for leaves, compared with 8–10 inches for coriander seed production. Rows should be at least 15 inches apart. This example is specifically for leaf harvest.
| Quantity | Calculated result |
|---|---|
| Usable row length (in) | 96 |
| Selected center spacing (in) | 2 |
| Margin at each row end (in) | 1 |
| Positions in this row | 48 |
| First center from row start (in) | 1 |
| Last center from row start (in) | 95 |
| What is being counted | leaf-harvest sowing positions |
The example is a geometrical count for one 96-inch row with 2-inch centers and 1-inch margins at both ends. It yields 48 leaf-harvest sowing positions, with the first center at 1 inch and the last at 95 inches. The 2-inch value comes from USU's leaf-harvest spacing; the 1-inch margins are example inputs, not a source spacing rule. The example does not estimate yields, germination or established plant numbers, and one row is not a full garden layout.
Count this row in the spacing calculator ↗Example inputs explain the method. Review the source context, chosen cultivar and actual site before planting or ordering.
Your before-you-plant checklist
- Harvest goal confirmed as leaves rather than coriander seed.
- 2-inch leaf spacing and 15-inch minimum row gap recorded separately.
- Row length, center interval and both end margins entered in one unit system.
- First and last centers checked against the end margins.
- Count labeled as sowing positions, with access and adjacent-row choices noted separately.
Questions that come up while planning
How far apart should cilantro seeds be for leaf harvest?
USU describes 2 inches between seed positions for leaves. That differs from the 8–10 inches given for coriander seed production, so confirm the harvest goal before marking positions.
How far apart should cilantro rows be?
USU states rows should be at least 15 inches apart. This is a minimum row gap from the source; access paths, bed edges and adjacent crops must be chosen separately.
Does 48 positions in a 96-inch row mean 48 established plants?
No. The 48 items are leaf-harvest sowing positions calculated from 2-inch centers and 1-inch end margins. Thinning, initial planting and final stand are separate decisions.
Sources & method
Horticultural guidance is linked to its original source and regional context. Geometry and unit conversions are calculated separately. Read how we prepare and check a page.
- Cilantro/Coriander in the GardenUtah State University Extension