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Is lemongrass easy to grow


How to Grow Lemongrass | Gardener’s Path

Cymbopogon citratus

The first time I harvested lemongrass in Virginia, I was invigorated by its refreshing, citrusy fragrance. It sure provided a nice contrast to the fall greens and roots I was harvesting from the fields.

Lemongrass is an herb used in the kitchen for its citrus flavor and scent. It’s native to the tropics, so it does require some protection from the cold. Besides that, it is fairly easy to grow.

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Keep reading to learn how you can grow it in your garden.

What You’ll Learn

What Is Lemongrass?

Lemongrass is a tender perennial grass in the Cymbopogon genus.

Since it’s native to the tropics, this herb only survives as a perennial outdoors in plant hardiness Zones 10 and 11. If you live in Zone 9 or below, you can keep it perennial by bringing it inside during the winter.

When people say “lemongrass,” they may be referring to a number of different species. These include West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and East Indian lemongrass (C. flexuosus). Both of these species have an aromatic citrus scent and are used for culinary purposes.

Other closely related species are C. nardus and C. winterianus. These two are both types of citronella grass, which can deter pests in the garden, but are not generally used in the kitchen. Their scent is more grassy and musky than that of lemongrass.

Lemongrass grows in a clumping habit, with multiple stalks emerging from the same base. It can grow up to five feet tall with a spread up to four feet wide.

The plant’s upright arching shape and attractive green leaves will add interest and texture to your garden.

This herb is used in many cuisines for its edible, aromatic leaves and stalks. Both have a strong citrus scent and a flavor reminiscent of lemon (hence the name!).

Both the leaves and the stalks are used to flavor dishes such as soups and curries, but as they can be very fibrous, they are usually removed after cooking.

The most prized part of this plant is the stalk’s tender inner core, which develops once stalks grow to be at least half an inch in diameter.

While young stalks consist mainly of fibrous leaves, as they grow larger, the inside of the stalk develops a soft center that can be chopped and added to cooking without needing to be removed before eating.

Cultivation and History

This tropical grass is native to southeast Asia. The Department of Export Agriculture of Sri Lanka reports that the earliest reference to lemongrass oil came from the Philippines in the 17th century.

Apparently this herb was introduced to Jamaica towards the end of the 18th century. Commercial production in the US started in the early 20th century, in Florida.

It is used around the world for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Containing a variety of vitamins and minerals, it is also rich in phytochemical compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids.

The citrus scent comes from citral, one of the volatile oil compounds which also includes monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

People often consume lemongrass essential oil for its antimicrobial properties. According to research published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research in 2011, the oil can help with sore throats, rheumatism, and digestion issues.

A tea made from the leaves or stalks is also reported to help with gastrointestinal problems, stress, and bladder issues.

In the kitchen it’s most often used in southeast Asian cuisines such as Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese food, giving them their characteristic citrus tones.

Propagation

You can grow this herb from seed, from cuttings, or by division.

From Seed

If you choose to propagate lemongrass from seed, start in the spring.

To direct seed, wait until all danger of frost has passed. Choose a location with full sun and well-draining, nitrogen-rich soil. Plant individual seeds six inches apart.

Only put a sprinkling of soil over the seeds, as they need plenty of light to be able to germinate. Seedlings can take up to three weeks to emerge, and you’ll need to keep the soil moist during this period.

Once seedlings are a few inches tall, thin individual plants to two feet apart. You can transplant the seedlings you remove to another location if you wish.

If you are starting seeds indoors in seedling trays or containers, plant seeds one month before your predicted last frost date.

If you want to plant in pots, choose one that is at least one foot wide and one foot deep. Lemongrass does spread, so it can quickly fill up the whole container. With its habit of spreading quickly, if you don’t want it to take over your garden, growing in pots is a good way to keep it contained.

Fill containers with nutrient-dense soil and plant seeds six inches apart. Once seedlings are a few inches tall, thin single plants or clumps of plants to one to two feet apart.

To transplant seedlings, wait until they are at least three inches tall and all danger of frost has passed. Plant two feet apart with two to three feet in between rows.

From Cuttings

Cuttings taken from mature lemongrass plants can be rooted for later planting.

To take a cutting, cut the stalk cleanly with a knife about an inch from the ground. This will allow the stalk left in the ground to regrow. Cut off the upper portion of the stalk, leaving only the bottom three to four inches.

If you don’t have lemongrass plants in your garden, look for it in the produce section of your grocery store. This herb is commonly found in Asian markets.

Cut off the leaves and use them in your cooking, making sure that you’ve got a good three to four inches of stalk, to allow for successful root formation. Don’t cut off any of the bottom portion of the stem. If you do so, it’s unlikely to be able to form roots.

Next, to root your cutting, place it in a cup of water with the base of the stalk submerged. Change the water daily.

The plant will begin forming roots within a week. After two to three weeks, the roots will be large enough to support the plant.

At this point, transplant your lemongrass into well-aerated, nutrient-dense soil in a container or outdoors. Dig a half-inch hole, place the cutting root side down, and backfill around the stem with soil.

You should be able to start harvesting about two to three months after you’ve planted them out.

From Divided Plants

The best time to divide mature perennials is in the spring.

This herb is a clumping grass, meaning it grows multiple stalks from the base. These stalks can be divided and planted in a different location.

To divide, you’ll need to gently separate some stalks from the main clump. One way to do this is to firmly grasp a stalk and pull it until it separates from the rest of the plant. If the roots are very twisted together and tangled, you may need to use a knife to carefully separate them, keeping some roots intact on each stalk for replanting.

Alternatively, you can dig up a whole plant and then separate the stalks with your hands or a knife.

Each division should contain at least one stalk with intact roots.

After separating, plant the divisions one to two feet apart in your desired location. Make sure this area has full sun as well as nutrient-dense and well-aerated soil.

How to Grow

Lemongrass is a tender perennial, meaning it will die back in colder climates. If you live in Zone 10 or above, you can grow it outside in the garden all year round. Once established, it doesn’t need much in the way of attention.

Gardeners in Zone 9 and below will need to protect their plants during winter. The easiest way to do this is to grow it in containers. This way, when frost threatens, you can move your containers indoors to protect them from plummeting temperatures.

Whether you’re growing it in the ground or in containers, lemongrass requires full sun and well-draining, moist soil that’s rich in organic matter.

If you start plants from seed, they will be ready to harvest in 75 to 100 days after sowing seeds.

If you leave the plants past this point, without cutting for harvest they will continue to grow and provide ornamental interest in the garden year-round in warm climates.

With the arrival of frost, they will die back and can be removed and added to the compost pile. If they have enough room, they can expand up to four feet in diameter, so bear this in mind when you choose your location!

Growing Tips

Cultivars to Select

Lemongrass is most often labeled with this generic common name.

When you are looking for plants for your garden, look for C. citratus or West Indian lemongrass. This species is the best for culinary use, thanks to its strong, citrus flavor.

West Indian Lemongrass

There is only one cultivated variety of this species.

Seeds and plants are available at Burpee.

Managing Pests and Disease

This crop is one of the easiest to grow in terms of pest and disease pressure. Pests rarely attack it as it contains citronella, a natural pest-repelling compound.

Lemongrass Rust

The only real disease threat to these plants is a fungus called lemongrass rust (Puccinia nakanishikii). Symptoms include brown, red, and yellow streaks on the leaves and this usually occurs in excessively damp, moist conditions.

If you spot rust on your plants, prune out infected areas.

To prevent rust, ensure that plants have adequate space between them to allow for proper airflow.

Yellow Sugarcane Aphid

Most pests give this plant a fairly wide berth, apart from one persistent aphid, Sipha flava. This particular pest is yellow and about two millimeters in length. It sucks the sap out of leaves, causing yellow or brown spots.

If you spot this pest on your plant, spray the aphids off with a blast of water or use neem oil or insecticidal soap. You can read more about aphid control here.

Harvesting

The shoots and leaves of the plant can be used for flavoring dishes and for aromatherapy purposes.

The leaves can be harvested once they are about a foot tall. Use scissors or a knife to cut off what you need. When you cut the stalks make sure you leave at least an inch at the bottom if you want the plant to continue growing.

If you want to use the tender core, wait until the stalks are at least half an inch in diameter. If you harvest the stalks when they are smaller, the cores will still be fibrous.

To harvest, use a knife to cut the base of the stalk an inch above ground level. Separate the stalk from the rest of the clump, and repeat until you have as much as you need.

The whole plant can also be pulled out of the ground to harvest multiple stalks. You can do this at any time after the plant is ready to harvest, particularly at the end of the season in colder regions when you know your plants will soon succumb to the weather.

Preserving

Lemongrass freezes well. To prepare the leaves and shoots, cut them into three- to four-inch lengths.

Alternatively, prepare ahead for your favorite recipes by chopping or slicing the stalks and leaves before putting them in the freezer. You just want pieces small enough that they can fit into an airtight container or zip-top bag.

Next, place the pieces in a plastic zip-top bag and into your freezer. They will keep for up to a year.

To use, remove from the freezer, defrost, and cut pieces into the size you need. It can then be used just as you would use the fresh herb.

Learn more about freezing fresh herbs here.

You can also dehydrate the plants. If you live in a dry climate, cut the stalks and leaves into three- to six-inch pieces and place them on a wire cooling rack in a dry location.

The plants will dehydrate in one to two weeks. They are ready when there is no moisture left in them and they feel quite rigid. Discard any plant material that develops mold – this is a sign that your climate or your current weather conditions are too humid to air dry the herbs.

If this is the case, drying in the oven or in a food dehydrator may be a better option for you. Store dried lemongrass in an airtight bag or container in a cool, dry location for up to six months.

To dehydrate, set your oven to its lowest setting (usually warm or around 180ºF), and place three- to six-inch sections of leaves and shoots onto a baking sheet. The plants will dry in two to three hours.

Another option is to dry lemongrass in a dehydrator. You’ll find a roundup of the best models on the market today on our sister site, Foodal.

Learn more about drying herbs here.

Recipes and Cooking Ideas

Lemongrass is used extensively in many southeast Asian dishes. It’s a key component of many curry pastes along with ingredients such as ginger and garlic.

It’s important to note that most parts of the lemongrass plant are added to dishes for flavoring and then removed before consumption. This includes the fibrous leaves and outer stalks. If you harvest from younger plants, they can be chopped finely and don’t need to be removed.

Photo by Meghan Yager

Try using your lemongrass in this spicy and comforting red coconut curry chicken with toasted sesame noodles from our sister site, Foodal.

Another great way to use lemongrass is in a refreshing tea. Combine either fresh or dried leaves or stalks with ginger and hot water. Steep for ten minutes, strain, and sweeten to your liking with honey or sugar.

You could try making your own essential oil from lemongrass, although it won’t be as pungent as the aromatherapy oil you can buy. To do this, you’ll need some mature lemongrass stalks. Discard the leaves as it’s the mature stalks that contain the highest concentrations of oil.

Clean the stalks thoroughly and chop them into half- to one-inch sections. Using a mortar and pestle, gently crush them to release the oils.

Place the crushed stalks into a glass jar and cover them with a neutral carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed.

Secure the lid and shake the jar before placing it in a sunny spot and leave it for two to three days, gently shaking once or twice a day. Strain, then store the oil in a cool, dark place.

Quick Reference Growing Guide

Plant Type:Tender perennial grassWater Needs:1 inch per week
Native to:Southeast AsiaMaintenance:Low
Hardiness (USDA Zone):8b-12Soil Type:Nitrogen rich, friable
Season:Year roundSoil pH:5. 5-7.5
Exposure:Full sunSoil Drainage:Well-draining
Time to Maturity:75-100 daysCompanion Planting:Mint, cilantro
Spacing:1-2 feet per clumpAvoid Planting With:Corn, tomatoes
Planting Depth:Surface, for seedsFamily:Poaceae
Height:Up to 5 feetSubfamily:Panicodeae
Spread:4 feetGenus:Cymbopogon
Tolerance:Heat, repels insectsSpecies:citratus
Common Pests:Yellow sugarcane aphidCommon Disease:Lemongrass rust

An Easy to Cultivate Taste of the Tropics

Lemongrass really is one of the easiest plants to grow, as long as you protect it from the cold. It adds a nice, bright aroma and taste to the kitchen and attractive greenery to the garden.

Have you tried growing this herb at home? Let us know in the comments.

And if you’re looking to add other herbs to your garden, check out these growing guides:

Photo by Meghan Yager © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published December 9th, 2019. Last updated April 2nd, 2023. Product photo via Burpee. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu.

The staff at Gardener’s Path are not medical professionals and this article should not be construed as medical advice intended to assess, diagnose, prescribe, or promise cure. Gardener’s Path and Ask the Experts, LLC assume no liability for the use or misuse of the material presented above. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or using plant-based remedies or supplements for health and wellness.

Growing & Planting Lemongrass | General Planting & Growing Tips – Bonnie Plants

Discover how to grow lemongrass. Growing lemongrass in your own garden means having a fresh, delicious ingredient for a variety of Asian dishes.

Lemongrass is a tropical herb packed with strong citrus flavor. The lemon taste is prized in Asian cooking, as well as in teas, sauces, and soups. In the garden, lemongrass forms a tall, grassy clump 3 to 5 feet tall. Its appearance rivals that of many ornamental grasses and can easily fulfill a similar role in the landscape. For an easy path to successful growing, look for vigorous young lemongrass plants from Bonnie Plants®, the company that has been helping home gardeners succeed for over a century.

Quick Guide to Growing Lemongrass

Lemongrass grown in the vegetable garden, herbs have medicinal properties.

Soil, Planting, and Care

Lemongrass thrives in full sun, even in hot Southern locations. Give this herb rich, well-drained soil. To improve fertility and enhance the soil's ability to hold water, improve the soil by mixing in composted manure or aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ All Purpose In-Ground Soil. If you're adding several lemongrass plants to planting beds, space plants 24 inches apart.

Plant lemongrass in a large pot that is at least 12 inches across, or use a 5-gallon bucket. Be sure to use a premium quality potting soil, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ All Purpose Container Mix, which contains aged compost and provides just the right organic nutrition to give lemongrass plants a strong start. Lemongrass grows tall, and pots can easily tip in windy weather, so place containers in a slightly protected location.

Provide a steady supply of moisture for best growth—don't let lemongrass roots dry out. In addition to starting with great soil, fertilize plants every couple of weeks during the growing season with a water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition. It improves the nutritional environment for your lemongrass plants by feeding the beneficial microbes in the soil as well as your plants, leading to strong, impressive growth.

In cold regions, overwinter lemongrass indoors by digging up a few stalks, trimming them down to just a few inches tall, and planting them in smaller pots. Place them in a bright, south-facing window. Keep soil barely moist, as plants grow very slowly over winter. Another option is to store a pot of lemongrass, cut down, in a cool, dark place like a basement. Water just a few times over winter to keep roots alive. In spring, bring the pot into a bright spot, and resume normal watering. Shift outdoors when temperatures are above 40°F.

Due to its tropical nature, lemongrass usually only survives winters in zones 8 and warmer. In other areas, try growing lemongrass as an annual in planting beds or tucked into pots. This citrus-flavored grass overwinters well in a dormant state in a cool, dark spot indoors, or you can grow it as an indoor herb through winter in colder zones.

Troubleshooting

Few pests bother lemongrass. This herb is actually sometimes used in concoctions to repel insects. Occasionally, though, spider mites will attack plants overwintering indoors.

As lemongrass grows, it forms a tight clump that's difficult to dig into. Use a sharp spade or hatchet to remove roots in early spring. Slice it like a pie, then pry slices of roots free. Keep an eye on plants in pots. With sufficient water, roots can quickly fill a too-small pot and burst it.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock.

Start harvesting as soon as plants are 12 inches tall and stem bases are at least ½-inch thick. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. You want to get the entire swollen base, which resembles a scallion or green onion. If a few roots come up with the stalk, don't worry: It won't harm the plant.

The edible portion of lemongrass is near the bottom of the stalk. Carefully cut off the grassy top part of the plant; use caution, as this can be razor-sharp at times. Leaves can be bundled and added to the liquid in a teapot or stock pot, then simmered to infuse lemon flavor into the brew.

Take the lemongrass base and peel the outer fibrous layer to expose the inner white, reedy part. To store, freeze this part either whole or chopped. To make slicing easier, first crush the stem base with the flat blade of a knife. The heart of the stalk (the part you want) has the consistency of soft butter and will then slice easily.

Uses

Lemongrass is best known for its use in Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Vietnamese. In the kitchen, use tender inner stalk bases in stir fries, salads, and sauces. To freeze lemongrass, store thinly sliced pieces in single layers in zipper-seal bags. To use, break off as much as you need for individual dishes. Or, freeze lemongrass minced or as a purée.

Leaves make a great addition to marinades and can be steeped in hot water for tea. After use, add leaves to your compost pile or puree them and scatter them in the grass along the edges of a patio or deck to help deter insects. To dry leaves, bundle them and hang them upside down in a dark place until dry. Store in tightly sealed jars. Dried lemongrass retains its flavor up to one year.

Avoid planting lemongrass in clay soil. This tropical plant craves moisture, but is quickly killed by heavy soil that makes water puddle.Before cooking with lemongrass, be sure to remove the tough outer layers to reach the tender layers inside.

Herbs LemonGrass

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.

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.

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.

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!

Born in the tropics, lemongrass loves a hot, humid climate, so the place in the apartment he needs to determine the warmest, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the 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!

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. 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.

Pot and soil

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

The pot needs a deep and voluminous one.

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 seeds

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

  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.
  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 spray lemongrass with water from a spray bottle while it develops to maintain optimum moisture.

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.
  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 flood 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.

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.

Winter care

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

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

Growing and Care Video

Harvesting

Lemograss can be harvested all year round once the stems are 20-30 cm high and 1-1.5 cm in diameter. Cut them with a sharp knife to avoid damaging neighboring plants .

Homemade lemongrass will taste more intense than store bought lemongrass. In addition, you also get leaves, and the grass itself looks great on a balcony or windowsill.

When you start growing Lemograss at home, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that this "exotic" plant is easier to grow than you might expect.

Learn more