Lemongrass is a perennial grass native to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia. It grows in a slow spreading clump, with large, juicy lower stalks forming as the plant reaches maximum size. It is primarily used to make tea, as a lemon substitute in cooking, and for extraction of its prized essential oils. It is the easiest plant to grow that you will find at TSE Nursery! If you can grow lawn grass, you can grow lemongrass. All it takes is some sunshine, water, and occasional fertilizing, and it will live and grow indefinitely!
Cold Hardiness
Lemongrass is hardy to the Northern end of Zone 9. That is, it will easily survive occasional nighttime freezes down to the mid-20s, simply dying back a bit until warm weather returns. In regions that experience winter weather that consistently dips well below freezing, lemongrass must be brought indoors or consistently protected in the cold season. Lemongrass loves sunshine and warmth, thriving down here in full sun and summer heat!
Transplanting
Although it will easily thrive when planted in the ground (as long as your region is warm enough), lemongrass is best grown in a pot, container, or area where its spreading tendencies can be controlled. While not an invasive plant that will take over your backyard in a season, lemongrass will slowly and steadily spread out by a foot or two every year once it is established. Potted up, it is much easier to manage, especially for gardeners in cold regions where protection from hard freezes is necessary.
When you receive your lemongrass plant from TSE Nursery, it will be ready to transplant into its new home, but feel free to leave it in its shipping pot for a month or so. It will do just fine! When you plant it, be sure to place the root ball level with the new soil. To transplant it to a pot, select a pot that holds at least double the soil of the pot it came in. Pre-mixed potting soil is recommended. To transplant into the ground, choose a spot that is in full sun and away from any trees. Lemongrass is not very picky about soil, but try to avoid soil that is waterlogged, extra sandy, or mostly clay.
Feeding
In the ground or in a pot, lemongrass does not require much fertilizer, but if you notice it beginning to slow down in growth or turn yellow/brown, feed it with a balanced fertilizer. Bear in mind that lemongrass will grow very large, very quickly with regular feedings.
Watering
Unless you live in an exceptionally arid region, lemongrass planted directly in the ground will not need watering besides rainfall. It has a deep root system that helps keep the plant hydrated in all but the driest conditions. If you notice wilting, water it generously and then wait to water it until you notice wilting again.
In a pot, lemongrass’ strong root system can make it more prone to drying out, as it can drink the soil in the pot dry in a matter of hours. In the warm season (Mid-April to Mid-October where I’m at), my potted lemongrass is usually watered at least every other day that it doesn’t rain.
Harvesting
There are two ways to harvest lemongrass:
- Simply clip off blades of lemongrass with scissors down to about the top six inches of the plant.
- Remove an entire section of the plant with the roots and all. Wait to do this until the plant has matured enough so that the bottom six inches of the plant looks something akin to a bunch of leeks. Peel off the first two or three layers, cut off the rooting tip, wash it off, and its ready to use! Only harvest with this method if your lemongrass plant has spread out a bit and has at least a dozen or so pencil sized stalks in the group.