<p>It’s been nearly one month and all of the seeds have produced little green leaves/shoots, with the exception of the Rosemary. I thought since we’re now well into spring that I would just buy an Italian Parsely seedling [and a Rosemary plant], rather than sow seeds for the herb. But all the Parsely plants at local shops look lifeless if not nearly dead. However, there are tons of Cilantro plants everywhere now and most look healthy. The thing is, I’ve never been crazy about the taste of Cilantro and as opposed to Parsely. And today I read a very funny comment about Cilantro by a cook. To paraphrase, she said; 'even in Mexican cooking, using Parsely will yield better flavor. Why do you think that some folks call Cilantro ‘Soapweed?’ What a laugh!! I had always thought that fresh made salsa had a dishwash aftertaste!</p>
<p>Would you grow Parsely or would you go with Cilantro? Also, why didn’t my Rosemary seeds sprout yet?</p>
<p>I always said Cilantro tastes like soap–H thought I was crazy, but now I know I’m not the only one. Go for the parsley. BTW, Cilantro will take over your entire garden–grows like a weed. Soapweed. Perfect name.</p>
<p>Well to me, someone who buys and cooks with both Cilantro and Parsley each week, they are two completely different herbs. They LOOK very much alike (my husband will atest to this as he has had to go back to the store more than once to replace an errant purchase)
but the tastes they impart are distinctly different. If ya don’t like Cilantro, don’t plant it.</p>
<p>Some people seem to taste cilantro differently, but I can’t imagine subbing one for the other. I’d look around for better parsley plants, or buy one and see if you can rejuvenate it. If it’s “pot bound”, loosen the roots, repot feed, and water . Where I live, it’s almost too hot for either, and year old parsley plants are going “to seed”.</p>
<p>Personally I love the flavor of Cilantro. Totally different from Parsley which I like less, but enjoy in certain dishes (such as tabouli). Having said that - if *you *don’t like the flavor of it why plant it?</p>
<p>Last time I planted Parsley I woke up one morning to a nice bunch of parsley stalks. Don’t know if it was deer (I suspect so) or rabbits but the parsley was gone.</p>
<p>I’ve never had any luck growing cilantro here in PA. As soon as the weather gets hot, my cilantro always bolts (or “goes to seed.”) On the other hand, my parsley always does great. I’d go with parsley if I were you.</p>
<p>I just heard celeb chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger talking about the “cilantro gene”, as an explanation for the soapy taste. I like cilantro but think arugula tastes really bitter.</p>
<p>I love cilantro when cooking both Mexican and Indian food. My oldest DD can taste even the smallest bit in anything I prepare and she does not like it.</p>
<p>In fact there is a cilantro gene – that is why it tastes like soap to some people. I would grow parsley from seed, it takes a while to germinate, but you can speed that up by soaking fresh seed in a little water overnight. Parsley is biannual, and will come back a second year in mild areas, but I find that the best parsley comes from first plants grown from seed.</p>
<p>Cilantro bolts very quickly – the seeds are know as coriander and in some places the seed is used more than the leaves. I plant cilantro serially about every three weeks, so I have fresh all summer long.</p>
<p>Oh, for the best tasting parsley grown Italian flat leaf instead of the usual curly leaf stuff you get most places.</p>
<p>Love cilantro; they definitely taste different. (and yes, parsley has a taste, albeit a subtle one.) If you’re only growing one, and you don’t love cilantro, go with parsley.</p>
<p>To me parsley is pretty tasteless, while I really like cilantro (but didn’t used to so I do understand why some people don’t like it.). I grow both, but would never substitute parsley for cilantro. I find my cilantro goes to seed right away (seeds taste even better than the leaves, but completely different - they are useful under their other name - coriander for Indian cooking.) My cilantro never self seeds, I have to plant it every couple of weeks. Parsley lasts all season. I use it for Italian cooking mostly or decoration.</p>
<p>I think arugula tastes peppery.</p>
<p>Hmm just looked up and see lololu has posted the same.</p>
<p>wow ----I didnt know that Cilantro lovers, like myself, are genetic mutants. Perhaps the next X-men film can feature “Cilantro Girl” who has the power to enjoy freshly prepared Mexican food!!! :)</p>
<p>Umm… I think it’s the haters that are mutants… BTW, about the rosemary. That’s actually more of a sub-shrub than an annual herb. I’d definitely go with a plant or cutting. Around here, grows like weeds and I’d be happy to dig up a piece for you!</p>
<p>Oh I wish I lived where rosemary grows wild! I have to plant a new plant every year and even if I keep it in the cold frame or the green house it stills dies out by about February.</p>
<p>^Be careful not to over water, especially when it’s cold. I NEVER water mine (well, not the “volunteers”), and we go without rain for months, then it all comes at once.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, unfortunetly it is the cold that kills it. This last winter we had over a month of never getting above zero for a daytime high. It makes growing growing tender perennials
very difficult.</p>