An Ultimate Guide for Growing Lemongrass in 2023

Author: Saiqa Najeeb
Last Updated On: July 9, 2023

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Are you looking to have a constant supply of lemongrass for your culinary uses and homemade teas? Yes, you do. But you don’t know all the nitty-gritty of growing lemongrass. We’ve got you covered.

Lemongrass can do two jobs. It’s an awesome ornamental grass and also serves as a tasty herb for the kitchen. So, read on to get the most out of your garden space.

This guide will provide you with all the essentials that you need from planting to harvesting fresh lemongrass.

Let’s get started.

About Lemongrass

Lemongrass has a strong aroma that is similar to lemon due to the essential oil present in the shoots. This herb is often grown as a perennial in the tropics and subtropics, but as an annual in colder climates. The plant’s leaves can grow to be up to 3 feet long and 6 feet in diameter. In the autumn, the plant’s thin, gray-green leaf adds a splash of color to the garden.

Related: Herb gardening 101

Types of Lemongrass

The Cymopogon genus comprises 55 different species. Only two of these species are commonly grown.

Cymbopogon flexuosus

This grass is also known as Malabar, East Indian, or Cochin grass. It’s a tough perennial grass with leaf tufts that can grow up to 2 meters tall. The red and white color of the stems of two types of this plant, red grass, and white grass, distinguishes them.

Citrus Cymbopogon

This species is sometimes known as West Indian lemongrass or American lemongrass. It is a perennial grass with powerful tillers that grows from a short rootstock. During cultivation, it rarely reaches the flowering stage. It is most commonly used in culinary applications.

Conditions for Growing Lemongrass

Here are the optimal conditions for growing lemongrass:

Sunlight: To thrive, both kinds of lemongrass require sunny, warm, and humid tropic conditions. It may, however, be grown in locations with low rainfall with supplemental irrigation.
Temperature: A day temperature of 25-30°C is ideal for optimal oil production, with a not-so-low night temperature. Both lemongrass species are said to be drought resistant and robust.
Soil Condition: Lemongrass thrives in a wide range of soil conditions, from rich loam to poor laterite. Good manuring is required in sandy loam and red soils. They cannot be grown in calcareous or water-logged soils.
Soil pH: pH 5.5 to 7.5 soils are used. C. citratus is more typically grown on acidic soils than C. flexuosus.
Available Space To Plant: Lemongrass requires at least 12 inches-3 feet of growing space for maximum development.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Lemongrass cultivation is ideal for Zones 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b.

Related: Growing dill in pots.

How to Plant Lemongrass?

For growing lemongrass successfully, you can choose from any of the following methods of planting:

Planting Lemongrass from stem cuttings

If you see a little root connected to the stem bases sold for cooking, you can try growing lemon grass from them. In the spring and summer, place the stems in a glass of water and they will grow more roots. Plant them in a tiny pot of peat-free compost once they have several short roots, water regularly, and maintain warm and in bright light until the roots fill the pot.

Young lemon grass plants can be transplanted outside in early summer, once nighttime temperatures are consistently above 5°C (40°F). Acclimatize the plants to outside conditions gradually. Alternatively, keep lemon grass in a warm, sunny conservatory all year in cooler climates.

Planting Lemongrass in Containers

The easiest way to preserve lemon grass from the cold and wet of winter is to grow it in a container that is easier to move indoors in the autumn. You can also plant it in the ground and treat it as a short-term annual herb, or pot it up and bring it indoors in the autumn. For growing lemongrass in a pot, use 30 centimeters (1ft) broad pot and fill it with peat-free multipurpose compost, and then plant one or two young lemon grass in the center. Place the pot somewhere warm, shaded, and sunny.

Related: Container gardening 101

Propagating lemongrass in the ground from seeds

To plant the ground, select a location in full sun with good, well-draining soil. Plants should be spaced at least 30cm (1ft) apart. Lemongrass is typically propagated through seed. Seed is blended in a 1:3 ratio with dry river sand and sown in the field at a rate of 20 to 25 kg/ha. Seedlings can also be produced in a nursery one-tenth the size of the main field and transplanted after 45 days. This approach, which requires 3-4 kg seeds/ha, is suitable for a uniform stand and faster plant growth.

How to Care for Growing Lemongrass?

Watering

Water lemon grass growing in a pot on a daily basis, as the small amount of potting compost will dry out rapidly, especially in hot weather. Newly planted lemon grass in the ground should be watered daily for the first few months, then only during dry spells. During the winter, keep the compost moist by watering softly on a regular basis while the plants are indoors.

Fertilizing

Lemongrass, as a grassy plant, requires a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to thrive. You can use a 6-4-0 slow-release fertilizer to nourish your plants throughout the growing season. You may also add trace nutrients to your water by steeping it in manure tea.

Winter protection

Lemon grass is sensitive, so bring it indoors before nightly temperatures drop below 5°C (40°F) in your area in October. If required, prune the top growth, then plant it in a bright, cool location and limit watering to maintain the compost barely damp. Even in mild places, lemon grass will not normally survive the winter in the UK, and an unheated greenhouse will likely be very cold as well.

Weed management

Crop-weed competition occurs within the first 25-30 days after planting (or harvest). during a proper crop establishment, the field should be kept weed-free during the first 3-4 months following planting. Weeds can be competed with once the crop is firmly established. In general, 2-3 weedings are required per year. Herbicides that are effective for weed control include diuron at 1.5 kg ai/ha and oxyfluorfen at 1.5 kg ai/ha.

Pests and nematodes:

Only a few pests and nematodes have been detected in this crop. The spindle bug invasion has been noticed. The insects can be controlled by spraying malathion (0.2%).

Disease: Common illnesses include leaf spots, tiny leaves, and leaf blight. Prophylactic sprays of dithane Z-78 can be used to control several leaf diseases.

Harvesting of the herb

You can harvest the lemongrass by cutting it 10 cm above the ground level with sickles. The number of harvests in a year is determined by variables such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, and soil fertility.

In general, the crop flourishes best in humid environments. Wet grass left for later distillation quickly ferments, so cutting can begin as soon as the night dews have evaporated from the plants. Because the quantity of leaf oil tends to decrease on damp and cloudy days, sunny days are preferred. The lemongrass harvest is ready after 90 days of planting.

Related: How to grow lettuce indoors

As We Come to an End

Growing lemongrass sounds like a perfect idea, right? Now you have got all the essentials to get started with growing your own lemongrass. You can grow it for culinary delight or just to add an aesthetic touch to your place.

Don’t delay any further. Get your essentials ready and start digging.