This vigorous edible plant will brighten up your yard as well as your plate.
Lemongrass is a tropical plant native to southeast Asia.
In addition to being used in cooking and for herbal tea, lemongrass also serves as an insect-repellent.
Peter Krumhardt.
In warm climates, it is grown in the garden year-round.
Below Zone 9, it is either grown as an annual or planted in containers andoverwintered indoors.
While lemongrass is not particularly colorful, it can serve as a wonderful companion plant.
In an herb garden setting, use the tall grass as a focal point among lower-growing herbs.
How and When to Plant Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a heat-loving plant.
Dig a hole that is about 1.5 as wide as the root ball and about as deep.
Set the plant in the hole and backfill it with original soil.
Space the plants 24 inches apart.
If you grow lemongrass as an annual, plant it closer together, about 18 inches apart.
Lemongrass Care Tips
Lemongrass is an undemanding plant and easy to grow.
In part shade, plants have a much looser growth habit and tend to become floppy.
Soil and Water
Lemongrass grows best in well-drained soils with apHbetween 5.5 and 7.5.
Heavy or clay soil is not suitable.
Established plants can tolerate a dry spell but for lush growth, they need consistent and even moisture.
Water the plant regularly and deeply in the absence of rain.
Fertilizer
Like all grasses, lemongrass requiresnitrogento grow.
During the growing season, give it a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
For in-ground plants, use a slow-release granular fertilizer about once a month.
Potted lemongrass needs more frequent fertilization as the nutrients wash out rapidly.
Use a liquid high-nitrogen fertilizer or fish emulsion about every two weeks.
Potted plants that overwinter indoors can be cut back any time during the winter.
Rust can kill the plant.
If you detect it, prune the diseased foliage and discard it.
Keep the plant healthy with regular fertilization and adequate moisture.
Watering it at the base instead of overhead can help prevent the fungus.
Trim off the top few inches and place the shoot in a cup of water.
Change the water daily.
After a few weeks, roots begin to grow.
Plant the lemongrass in well-drained potting soil.
Lemongrass can also fairly easily begrown from seed indoors.
Fill small pots with damp potting mix and place the seeds on the soil surface.
Press them down lightly but do not cover them as they need light to germinate.
Cover the pots with a plastic dome.
The temperature should be at least 68 degrees F. Bottom heat from a seedling heating mat helps with germination.
Keep the seeds moist but not soggy.
Germination takes 7 to 14 days.
Lemongrass requires liquid to disperse its essential oils.
The dried leaves make a great addition to green tea.
East Indian Lemongrass
Cymbopogon flexuosus, also called Malabar grass, has stalks with purple tinges.
The stalks are thinner and taller than the stalks of West Indian lemongrass.
It is a vigorous grower and often favored by gardeners because it is resistant to rust.
Frequently Asked Questions
When grown in the right conditions, lemongrass will produce stalks within four months.
Perennial lemongrass has a life span of around four years.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
“Lemon Grass.
“Pennsylvania State University.
