Tips on Growing Lemon Grass
- No all-American herb garden should be without lemongrass, popular in Asian cooking.herb garden image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
Native to Sri Lanka and nearby India, lemongrass grows wild in tropical grasslands and is also widely cultivated in tropical Asian climates. Only two of 55 Cymbopogon species are used as lemongrass, a West-Indian type and an East-Indian variety also known as cochin or malabar grass. In most parts of the U.S., gardeners grow this tender perennial as an annual -- it doesn't like frost and won't survive hard freezes -- or pot it up and move it indoors for winter. - Grow lemongrass from nursery starts, or start your own clump from a friend or neighbor's root divisions. You can also "grow your own" plant starts from fresh stalks of lemongrass purchased at a farmers market or Asian grocery. Trim stalks to about 7 inches, place the larger ends in a jar of fresh water and change the water every few days. Stalks should root and be ready to plant in potting soil in about two weeks.
- Lemongrass prefers full sun, though it tolerates light shade. It grows best in warm, moist and humid growing conditions. In subtropical climates clumps of lemongrass can grow to six feet tall and four feet across, so be sure to plant this herb in a suitable spot. It thrives in containers and tubs as well as beds and borders. Some people grow it along walkways, so leaves release fragrance when people brushed against them, but leaf edges are razor-sharp and can cut skin.
- Rich, loamy soil high in organic matter is ideal for lemongrass, though it will tolerate even sandy soils with adequate moisture. Avoid poorly drained or waterlogged soils. Amend soil before planting by adding two to four inches of compost, working it into the top 6 inches of soil. Plant lemongrass starts or divisions at least three feet apart in garden beds or borders. In cooler climates grow lemongrass in containers so it can be brought indoors for winter and grown under bright lights, or dig and pot up garden-grown plants before frost. Lemongrass will grow slowly until it gets hot.
- Lemongrass is accustomed to almost constant rain and humidity, so water steadily all summer by hand or by flood irrigation; in dry climates mist plants as well. Feed lemongrass heavily also. Fertilize garden plants monthly from June through September with a balanced fertilizer, and feed potted plants with a half-strength solution of water-soluble fertilizer every week to 10 days. Stalk productivity is also improved by dividing older plants after harvest.
- Harvest lemongrass stalks as you need them during the summer, but in cooler areas harvest comes primarily at the end of the season. Cut individual stems off at ground level. To harvest an entire plant, dig it up and separate the sections. Replant some divisions--in the ground in mild climates, in pots otherwise -- and cut off the roots and tops of the rest, leaving 6- to 7-inch lower stalks.
