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Grow lemongrass seed


How to Grow Your Own Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a sweet, lemony herb, native to tropical climates. The stems are widely used in Asian cooking, it can be used in meat or fish dishes, and it works particularly well in curries. You can also use the leaves to make a delicious, refreshing tea. As well as its culinary value, lemongrass also makes an attractive plant.

How to grow lemongrass

Grow lemongrass in pots – it's a tender plant so can be kept outside in summer before moving indoors for the winter months.

Lemongrass needs a lot of moisture, so ensure the compost doesn't dry out. Reduce watering in winter but keep the soil just moist.

Lemongrass can be grown from supermarket stems or seed.

Where to grow lemongrass

Lemongrass growing in a container

As it comes from tropical regions, lemongrass needs a warm environment. It will grow best in a greenhouse or conservatory that doesn't drop below 5°C, or you can keep it outside in a sunny spot for summer and bring it indoors for winter. It's tender, so will require protection from frost.

Growing lemongrass in a pot will allow you to move it to shelter when you need to.

How to plant lemongrass

Rooting a lemongrass stalk in water

There are two options for growing lemongrass, you can either grow lemongrass from seed or from a supermarket brought stem.

Growing lemongrass from seed

Growing from seed is easier than you might think. Sow seeds in spring, sowing thinly on the surface of moist compost and don't cover them. If you need to water the pot after sowing then do so from the bottom, by placing the pot in a dish of water for an hour or so. Keep the pot covered in a heated propagator to aid germination.

When the seeds are large enough to handle, prick them out into larger pots, and then place these in a sunny spot, away from any risk of frost. Once the roots are showing through the bottom, transplant into a larger pot. You can repeat this process a number of times.

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Growing lemongrass from a stalk

The other option is to grow lemongrass from a supermarket stalk. Take a whole lemongrass stalk, and if the base is woody, slice off a sliver using a sharp knife. This will help expose a fresh area to the water. Cut off any leaves and place the stalk into a glass of tepid water. Put it on a warm, sunny windowsill and refresh the water every day. It should take a couple of weeks for roots to appear. Put the rooted stalk into a pot of peat-free, multi-purpose compost. Water and keep in a warm and bright spot. Repot when the roots poke out of the base.

How to care for lemongrass

Trimming lemongrass foliage

Lemongrass is best grown in a container so you can keep it in a sunny, sheltered spot outside during summer, and move it indoors for winter. When the foliage turns brown, cut back the stems to 10cm. Once new growth appears in spring, feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser.

How to harvest lemongrass

Once your new plant matures and produces lots of stems (at least 10), you can start using them for cooking. Cut stems just below the base, but make sure you leave plenty on the plant to allow it to produce new growth.

Growing lemongrass: pests and diseases

Brown, red or yellow marks on leaves could be lemongrass rust, which is caused by too much moisture and humidity. Keep the plant healthy with regular feeding, pruning diseased leaves and avoid watering from above.

Yellow or brown spots on leaves could be a sign of the yellow sugarcane aphid, although lemongrass is unlikely to be troubled by this pest. If you need to, wash the aphids off the lemongrass with water.

Advice on buying lemongrass

Where to buy lemongrass seeds

How to Grow Lemongrass from Seed

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Learn

How to Grow Lemongrass from Seed in this descriptive article and cultivate your own patch of this medicinal herb.

If you are wondering about How to Grow Lemongrass from Seeds, we have discussed the detailed Growing Instructions below to help you out!

Find out the Best Heat-Loving Plant Combos for Containers here

Lemongrass Plant Profile

Lemongrass grows wild in wet grasslands and open forests throughout Southeast Asia, where it is widely used as a culinary herb and medicine. Lemon grass grows to a height of 1-5 meters and has a mounding growth habit.

With a plethora of medicinal properties, lemongrass is consumed as a tea to improve the immune system in humans.

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus

USDA Zones: 10-11

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How to Grow Lemongrass from Seedsreddit

Growing lemongrass from seeds is easy and requires minimal effort.  

  1. Fill a seed tray with a moistened, well-draining medium mixture of equal parts compost, cocopeat, or coconut fiber fine.
  2. Sow lemongrass seeds 1 inch apart and 1/4 inch deep. Cover with a layer of the medium.
  3. Mist the lemon grass seeds with water from a spray bottle.
  4. Stretch plastic wrap over the seed tray, and seal the edges. Set the tray on a windowsill that receives good light.
  5. Remove the plastic wrap once a week to water the lemongrass seeds. Mist the surface of the soil until the top 1/2 to 1 inch is damp.

Seeds will germinate in 10 – 30 days. Remove the plastic wrap once the seedlings grow up to 1 inch and transplant to bigger pots.

Find out the Herbs to Grow in Wine Glasses and Mason Jars here

Requirements for Growing Lemongrass from Seedsmanumunson

Sunlight

Lemongrass needs a minimum of 7-8 hours of bright, direct sunlight to grow well. Plants grown in the shade will show unhealthy growth and are prone to pests and diseases.

Soil

For best growth, use fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-7. Rich, loamy soil amended with a handful of aged manure will provide all the essential nutrients.

Watering

The tender seedlings need considerably moist soil to grow well. However, as the plant matures, it can tolerate short periods of drought. The best option is to water the plant whenever the top inch feels dry to touch.

Temperature & Humidity

Lemongrass thrives in warm, humid climates and needs a temperature range of 68-86 F or 20-30 C. The plant can take hotter climates but is not resistant to temperatures below 50 F or 10 C.

Also, the plant needs 70-80% humidity to grow well. Keep a humidifier handy for drier days.

Look at the Best Tea Herbs for a Tea Garden here

Lemongrass Plant Caremanumunson

Fertilizers

The plant loves an occasional nitrogen boost for lusher leaf growth. You can also add a layer of aged manure, well-rotten cow dung, or manure tea at the onset of its growing season.

Pruning

Snip the overgrown shoots to maintain the desired shape of the plant. Also, remove the dead and dried leaves after the winter.

Pests and Diseases

Lemongrass is prone to diseases like Leaf Blight, Leaf Spot, and Rust that can be dealt with by spraying insecticidal neem solution on the plant.

Keep the plant in full sunlight and avoid overwatering to keep potential diseases at bay.

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How to grow lemongrass in an apartment and in a country house

What is this mysterious lemongrass and how can it be useful in the household? How to grow lemongrass from seeds and cuttings? How to care for a plant so that a tropical guest can take root in a Russian dacha? Look for answers to these questions in the article!

Lemongrass has many "names": lemongrass, citronella, shuttle beard, cymbopogon and even lemongrass. All these names are usually applied to the plant Cymbopogon citratus which is not entirely correct. The reason for the confusion is that in addition to lemongrass, its close "relatives" are known in domestic plant growing:

All these plants of genus Cymbopogon belong to cereals, but they are grown not for grains, but for stems and leaves that have a pleasant lemon-ginger taste and aroma. Today we are interested in Cymbopogon citratus , which is lemongrass, lemongrass or West Indian lemongrass.

The plant is a shrub of long, smooth, sharp leaves growing in a tuft. This feature distinguishes it from other cereals that spread throughout the territory. The leaves are light green in color, with a slight citrus aroma. nine0003

Origin and useful properties of lemongrass

Lemongrass comes from South-East Asia, is accustomed to living in warmth and is not adapted to open ground in the middle lane - it dies when it gets cold below 0°C. Therefore, we grow it quite rarely and, as a rule, only at home. But this valuable cereal is worth a closer look!

The benefits of lemongrass are hard to overestimate. It is actively used in cooking, especially in oriental cuisine, as a seasoning for sauces, soups and stews - the dishes are fragrant, with a slight "point". Lemongrass tea has a sedative effect, it is advised to drink it for anxiety disorders, insomnia. nine0003

Lemongrass essential oil has proven itself in medicine and perfumery - it contains natural antiseptics and is used in the manufacture of soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics. The medicinal properties of lemongrass are diverse: it is used to cleanse the body of toxins, activate digestion and metabolism, cleanse the liver and intestines, and reduce fever. In addition, the oil is an effective tool in aromatherapy: it relieves fatigue and headache, improves mood. nine0003

For summer residents, the ability of lemongrass to repel insect pests will be especially relevant. In particular, it is used to protect garden plantings from whiteflies, and helps people get rid of annoying flies, mosquitoes and even ticks.

Other plants with natural repellant properties are listed here:

Growing Lemongrass at Home

Lemongrass is difficult to grow as a perennial in the garden, but that doesn't mean it can't be grown at home. Let's look at the "rider" of this incredibly useful plant! nine0003

Born in the tropics, lemongrass loves a hot, humid climate, so he needs to find a place in the apartment that is warm, well lit, away from heating appliances. This is one of the few plants that can withstand direct sunlight, so a south-facing window sill or covered loggia is quite suitable for it. The optimum air temperature in summer is plus or minus 25°C, in winter - not lower than 16-18°C. Be sure to monitor the humidity of the air and spray - in a dry climate, lemongrass will feel uncomfortable. nine0003

The soil must be loose and breathable. You can buy ready-made soil mixture in the store - for example, universal soil for vegetable crops. Or make the mixture yourself by combining humus and river sand in equal parts, and add perlite or vermiculite for looseness.

If you plant lemongrass in prepared, nutrient-enriched soil, you won't need to fertilize in the first months after planting - just what is in the soil will suffice. Next, lemongrass is fed about once a month. Since the plant is mainly busy growing leaves, top dressing is desirable with a high nitrogen content. nine0003

In nature, lemongrass grows up to 1.5-2 m, and in a container it can reach a height of 1 m, which is also quite a lot. Therefore, you should choose a deep pot, with a diameter of at least 25-30 cm.

Lemongrass loves water and is demanding on watering, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Therefore, in the container that you choose for planting, there must be holes for water to drain. For the same reason, be sure to pour a drainage layer of expanded clay or shards 1/3 of the pot high on the bottom. nine0003

Remember that ceramic containers absorb and evaporate moisture faster than plastic containers. This means that lemongrass planted in a clay pot will require more watering than one grown in a plastic container.

Lemongrass Propagation Methods

Lemongrass is fairly easy to propagate by vegetative means, seeds and root division.

Lemongrass seeds are easy to find in garden shops. It is usually sown for seedlings in March. To do this, the container is filled with fertile soil and moistened (it is better to spray from a spray bottle). Seeds are laid out on moist soil without deepening, and sprinkled on top with a layer of earth or sand 3-5 mm thick. Then they are sprayed again, covered with glass or film and put in a warm place on the sunny side. The sprouts will hatch in about a week, and when they grow to a height of 2-3 cm, the film cover can be removed. Optimum humidity should be maintained, not allowing the soil to dry out. It is recommended to spray the seedlings 2-3 times a week, and after a couple of weeks the grown seedlings can be settled in separate pots. nine0003

On the shelves of our grocery stores, lemongrass is not a very frequent visitor. In large hypermarkets, lemongrass leaves are sometimes sold, cut in the middle part, without bottoms. Such material for rooting is not suitable. If you are lucky enough to find lemongrass stalks with a root part on sale, take them without hesitation, because they can not only be used in cooking, but also rooted!

For cuttings, the stems are cut, leaving a length of 5-7 cm, placed in a shallow container with water and sent to a sunny windowsill. After 10-20 days, small roots will appear on the cuttings, which will grow and grow stronger for another week or two. When the roots of the shoots gain strength, you can plant them in prepared containers. nine0003

For young plants, it is worth taking several small containers or one wide one if you want to grow lemongrass in one bush.

If you have had lemongrass for more than a year, it is easiest to propagate it by dividing the bush. The ideal time for this is spring or early summer. The plant is taken out of the pot, the roots are freed from the ground, so that the junctions of the beams become visible. Then the rhizome is separated with hands or a knife, the resulting bushes are seated in smaller containers and watered. Since lemongrass leaves have sharp edges, it is best to work with gloves. nine0003

Lemongrass in the dacha – is it possible or not?

You can also try to grow lemongrass in the country in the climate of the middle zone, if you do not plant it in open ground, but choose a container growing method. In this case, it will not be difficult to cover the plant with the onset of cold weather - just bring it into the house. In addition, even indoor specimens are often moved to a garden or a flower bed for the summer period - in hot weather they feel great in the air.

Sometimes lemongrass is used in landscape design as a decorative annual, and this is one of the options if you want to plant a plant, but the climate does not allow it.

If you decide to plant lemongrass in your dacha, keep in mind some of the features of this plant.

We hope that after reading this article you would like to grow this unusual cereal in your apartment or country house. We wish you successful experiments and more useful plants in the garden! nine0003

How to Grow Lemongrass at Home - Detailed Instructions

If you enjoy using lemongrass in soups and seafood dishes, chances are you've already discovered that this herb is not always available in your local grocery stores. Then you should be interested in information on how to grow lemongrass at home on your own. Find out how to do it with a detailed step-by-step guide and you will always have access to fresh fragrant stems when you need it.

9Olo Winter Care
  • 3.5 Growing and Care - Video
  • 4 Harvesting

    • Pot and Soil

    Your lemongrass will need loose, well-drained soil to grow well. Use ready-made soil mixture for vegetable plants. nine0003

    The pot needs to be deep and voluminous.

    How to grow lemongrass at home

    Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) grows in the humid grasslands of Southeast Asia, where it is widely used as a condiment and for medicinal purposes. In nature, it grows up to 1 meter in height. There are two ways to grow lemongrass at home: from seeds or from cuttings.

    From seed

    Growing lemongrass from seed at home is fairly easy and requires very little effort. nine0003

    1. Fill a wide pot with moist soil mix. Level the surface and compact with your hands so that there is approximately 1 cm between the ground and the top of the tray.
    2. Sow lemongrass seeds 2-3 cm apart and cover with soil 0.5-0.6 cm thick. Compact again.
    3. Spray the soil with water from a spray bottle until it is moderately damp.
    4. Stretch plastic wrap over the planting container and secure the edges. nine0012
    5. Place the pot on a well-lit windowsill.
    6. Remove film once a week to water lemongrass seeds.
    7. Seeds will germinate in about 10-30 days.
    8. Remove the plastic wrap completely when the seedlings are 2-3 cm tall.

    Periodically mist the lemongrass with a spray bottle while it develops to maintain optimum moisture. nine0003

    From cuttings

    Growing lemongrass from cuttings is even easier than from seeds. To do this, find the freshest stems in the store.

    1. Place purchased lemongrass stalks in a small glass of water. Change the water every day. After a few weeks, you should see tiny roots at the bottom. Wait another week for them to get stronger.
    2. When strong roots appear, cut each stem down to 7-8 cm from the top and plant them in a large pot with all-purpose soil mix. nine0012
    3. Place the lemongrass on a sunny windowsill. Water daily for the first week.

    How to Care

    To successfully grow this tropical herb at home on a windowsill, you need to create warm and humid conditions, especially in the first few weeks after germination.

    Watering

    Take care not to water newly planted lemongrass. Don't let the soil be waterlogged. As soon as the upper green leaves begin to actively grow, water well once a week. nine0003

    Lighting

    Lemongrass will thrive and thrive if it receives at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. If you can arrange additional lighting with fluorescent lamps for this purpose, your plant will be quite happy and will thank you with lush foliage.

    Fertilizer

    Actively growing lemongrass will need nitrogen. Water it monthly with nitrogen fertilizer. If you're going to use lemongrass for food or tea, don't get carried away with top dressing. nine0003

    Winter care

    Lemongrass will remain evergreen, but growth will be significantly slower in winter. Water it a little less.

    Other names for lemongrass: cymbopogon, lemongrass, citronella, lemongrass, lemongrass, shuttle beard.

    Growing and Care Video