If you like using the lemongrass herb in your soups and seafood dishes, you may have found that it’s not always readily available in your local grocery store. You may have wondered how to grow lemongrass on your own.
You can grow your own lemongrass plants, and in fact, growing lemongrass and propagating lemongrass is not all the difficult and you don’t have to have a great green thumb.
Some plants billed as ornamental edibles are questionable in either their beauty or their deliciousness (how many of those ornamental peppers can you eat in a week?), but few plants marry looks and tastiness the way lemongrass does. A fast-growing ornamental grass, lemongrass is as handsome waving in the summer breeze as it is appetizing in your soups, stir-fries, and teas.
How To Grow Your Own Lemongrass
Lemongrass grows with abundance in areas where conditions mimic the tropical habitat of their origin. Plants like lots of heat, light, and moisture: Provide this, and your lemongrass will grow and multiply quickly.
In its native habitat, lemongrass grows in full sun, even in hot climates. At least six hours of direct sun per day will meet the plants’ energy needs. Plants growing in shade will be sparse and may attract pests.
Lemongrass plants prefer rich, loamy soil. You can create this ideal soil by adding several different soil amendments: compost, manure, and leaf mold are all enriching additives that you can add at planting time.
As tropical plants, lemongrass thrives in hot, steamy climates. The time for growing lemongrass outdoors is similar to the timing for tomato planting: when night temperatures are in the 60s, it’s time to plant. Lemongrass is very frost sensitive, so if you plan to overwinter the plant indoors, bring it inside before temperatures get into the 40s.
Step by step how to start with growing Lemongrass
How to Harvest Lemongrass
