How to Grow Lemongrass
All about the popular aromatic herb, lemongrass: how to grow it, the suitable condition, and when to harvest.
if you are wondering how to grow lemongrass, this article is right for you. Here, we will give you all the things you need to know for adding this aromatic herb to your herb garden.
Is it easy to grow lemongrass?
As long as you can prepare the right conditions for your lemongrass, it is very easy to grow. But what are the conditions we are talking about? To put it simply, lemongrass grows the best in heat and light. It needs at least 6 hours of light per day.
Just like any other plant that loves heat, lemongrass is also at the risk of dehydration, so be sure to water daily. For best growth, don’t let the roots dry out by providing them with a steady supply of moisture.
Picking the right variety of lemongrass to grow
If you want to grow lemongrass for use in cooking, you should be careful with the variety of the aromatic herb you choose.
For cooking, we recommend Indian lemongrass or East Indian lemongrass. Remember to avoid Citronella grass, since, despite its similarity to lemongrass, it is a part of the geranium family. It is easy to find out if the herb is citronella grass or lemongrass, as citronella grass has a reddish tinge towards the base, while lemongrass has a yellow-green color with a white base.
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How to grow lemongrass from seed
Scatter lemongrass seeds in either cell packs or flats. Press them into the soil. Cover the lemongrass seeds very lightly with compost to let the light aid germination. Keep at 70°F. Germination takes 10-20 days. When you see the roots coming out through the bottom of the pot, transplant the lemongrass into the garden at 12 inches apart and in rows 18 inches apart.
How to grow lemongrass from the shoots you bought from shops
To grow lemongrass from shop purchased roots, first, find firm and fresh stems because they are more likely to grow successfully. Then, put the stems in water in a glass, making sure that the thick, white end of the lemongrass is covered by water. Put the container on a windowsill.
Change the water every couple of days; it prevents bacterial growth. Within a few weeks, you will see roots appear. When the roots are a couple of inches long, you can transfer the plants to pots of compost. Place them on the windowsill again.
Keep the lemongrass pot watered, and feed them every two weeks with a seaweed fertilizer. Place the pot outside after the first frost.
How to grow the best lemongrass
Want to grow the best lemongrass possible? Don’t forget the full sun and nutrient-rich well-drained soil. If you are planting lemongrass in the ground, space them 24 inches apart. If you are growing lemongrass in containers, place just one plant in each container. It’s better to pick containers having a diameter of at least 12 inches.
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How long does growing lemongrass take?
Grown from seed in a suitable climate, lemongrass will be ready to harvest between 70 and 100 days after sowing. It won’t stop growing until the first hard frost in autumn.
But if you are growing lemongrass from the shoots you bought from shops or small plants, it won’t take that much since you don’t have to wait for the seed to germinate.
You can harvest lemongrass plants as soon as they are 12 inches tall, and stem bases are at least 0.5-inch thick. Lemongrass plants easily reach 2 feet wide, and 3-5 feet tall in just one growing season.
Now, you know about the ways you can grow lemongrass, this aromatic herb. You can start growing your favorite plant today!
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