Nurseries Online
  • Home
  • A-Z Plant Index
  • Trees and Shrubs
    • Fruit Trees
    • Advanced Trees
    • Evergreen Trees
  • Native Plants
  • Roses
  • Buying Plants Online
    • Mail Order Nurseries
    • Retail Plant Nurseries
    • Wholesale Nurseries
  • Garden Pots
  • Water Features for the Garden
  • Garden Accessories
  • About Us
  • Water Features for the Garden
  • Garden Pots
  • Garden Accessories
Home  »  A-Z Plant Index  »  Vegetable Garden  »  Culantro –  Ngo Gai

Culantro –  Ngo Gai

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

An essential ingredient in Pho, Culantro or  Ngo Gai is related to Cilantro however it is a different plant.

Although it is widely grown in Southeast Asia, Culantro originally comes from Central America. It is regarded as a very healthy leafy green, high in calcium, beta-carotene, riboflavin and iron.

The Botanical Name is Eryngium foetidum and common name are many including : Mexican coriander, Spiny Coriander and Serrated Coriander.

So an Asian Vegetable or more correctly a Central American Leafy Green that also has a flavour and texture profile that balances that of Pho, and thats important.

Culantro or  Ngo Gai
Culantro or  Ngo Gai

How to Grow Culantro –  Ngo Gai

This is a plant that grows well in light shade, and being from tropical and sub tropical climates it needs a warm climate to thrive. So in cooler climates plant it in late spring to early summer.

  • Find a position in light shade. This helps prevent bolting
  • Dig the soil over well and remove weeds.
  • Prepare a humus rich fertile soil by adding organic matter and aged cow manure.
  • Plant seeds directly and keep moist.
  • Once the seeds germinate mulch around the plants to maintain a cool moist root run.This also helps present bolting.
  • Water regularly applying a seaweed/fish fertiliser once every 3 weeks.

Top Tips for growing Culantro or Ngo Gai

  • Growing in shade not only reduces bolting but produces leaves that are more tender.
  • Remove flower buds as they appear to prolong growth.
  • Protect from frosts
  • Keep soil moist at all times.

Harvesting Culantro.

  • The leaves of Culantro all grow from the base, the plant does not form stems. Individual leaves are wide and serrated and it is easily distinguished from Cilantro, also the taste is said to be similar.
  • Harvest using a sharp knife or garden scissors.

Comments

Full List of Vegetables

Popular Vegetables

  • Growing Pumpkins
  • Vegetable Seedlings and Plants
  • How To Grow Asparagus Crowns
  • Choko
  • Garlic Varieties for Sale
  • Growing Snow Peas
  • Rhubarb Plants and Varieties.
  • Yacon – The Peruvian Ground Apple
  • Seed Potatoes – Varieties
  • Grow your own Pandanus Leaf
  • How to Grow Sweet Potatoes
  • Heirloom Tomatoes
  • Taro – Grow your own Taro
  • How to Grow Tuscan Kale
  • Perpetual Spinach
  • Mushroom Growing Kits
  • Growing Capsicums
  • How to Grow Lotus Root: Complete Growing and Cooking Guide
  • Growing Beetroot
  • Murraya koenigii

Copyright © 2025 · Advertise with Us · Contact Us