The Ultimate Guide to Growing Lemongrass
Lemongrass is an essential, zesty and citrus-flavoured herb used widely for Asian cooking and herbal teas. Lemongrass thrives in gardens with warm dry winters and hot, wet summers but it will grow as far south as Melbourne if given protection from the winter cold and frosts.
Lemongrass needs a rich, free-draining soil and can be grown in garden beds or pots. Itās upright, clumping growth habit makes it easy to grow amongst other plants that also like full sun to part shade position.
Use the thicker stems, with a stronger flavour, for cooking and the leaves for brewing teas.
Top 5 steps to growing lemongrass
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Choose a warm full sun position with moist, free-draining soil.
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Improve the soil with organic matter before planting to support strong, healthy growth.
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Water regularly through warm and dry weather, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
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Grow lemongrass in pots in cooler or frost-prone areas so it can be moved to a sheltered position over winter.
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Harvest outer stems as needed once the plant is established, cutting them off rather than pulling out the whole clump.
Essential shopping list for growing lemongrass
- Lemongrass seeds or potted plants
- Scotts Organic Soil Improver
- Scotts OsmocoteĀ® Controlled Release Fertiliser: All Purpose
- If growing in pots, Scotts Osmocote The Best Potting Mix
- Garden trowel
Prepare
Lemongrass can be grown from seeds, potted plants or by dividing established lemongrass clumps. Choose a full sun or part shade spot with moist and free draining soil.
Prepare the soil before planting the lemongrass by mixing Scotts Organic Soil Improver and Scotts OsmocoteĀ® Controlled Release Fertiliser: All Purpose through the top 10-20cm of soil.
If growing lemongrass in cooler climates, select a spot thatās protected from frosts or plant it in a pot, so it can be moved to a warmer, frost-free spot during winter.
Planting lemongrass in the garden
Established lemongrass plants will grow to around 70-90cm wide by up to 90-100cm tall, so give them some space to grow.
Lemongrass prefers a full sun spot, but will also tolerate an area that only receives sun for half the day. During warmer, drier weather lemongrass will need regular watering. Apply an open organic mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Growing lemongrass seedlings
Lemongrass seeds can be slow to germinate (approximately 14-25 days), so plant several seeds at each planting to improve success rates. Sow seeds 5mm deep into pots filled with Scotts Osmocote The Best Potting Mix. Once the seedlings are 10-15cm tall they can be transferred to larger pots or their final position in your garden.
āļø HOW TO GROW LEMONGRASS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA CONDITIONS
Fill a pot with well-draining soil such as Baileys Premium Potting Mix. Insert the cut end of the stem into the centre of the pot, firm the soil around the stem and water.
Place the pot in a warm and bright location but away from direct sunlight.
Keep the soil moist, you can cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a humid environment but be sure to remove the bag regularly to allow air circulation.
In about 4-6 weeks, new roots should start to grow from the nodes and the lemongrass plant should begin to establish itself. Once established, you can transplant it into a larger pot or into your garden.
If you are planting in the garden then amend the soil with Baileys Soil Improver Plus.
Growing lemongrass from potted plants
Plant potted lemongrass plants into prepared soil or Scotts Osmocote The Best Potting Mix if growing in pots. Water them in well and apply an open organic mulch around the plants to retain moisture.
How to grow lemongrass from stalks of established lemongrass
Itās best to divide existing clumps of lemongrass in spring. Dig up the clump of lemongrass and split it using a sharp knife, spade or pruning saw into smaller pieces - make sure each smaller section has roots and remove any dead material. Before replanting, cut the stalks on each section back by half.
Replant the small pieces into prepared soil or pots fill with Scotts Osmocote The Best Potting Mix and water them in well.
How to grow lemongrass in pots
Lemongrass will happily grow in medium size pots or containers that are at least 30-40cm wide and deep.
Fill the pot with Scotts Osmocote The Best Potting Mix, before removing the lemongrass plant from its nursery pot and plant it into the prepared potting mix. Backfill around the plants and water in well.
Add a light layer of open organic mulch to retain moisture during the warmer months and suppress weeds.
How to harvest lemongrass
You can harvest lemongrass stalks as you need them. Lemongrass will be ready to harvest when the stalks are about 30-40cm tall and the stalk base is at least 2cm thick. Cut the stalks off that you need just above soil level or you can pull and break off the stalks as needed (just be careful not to pull the whole clump out!).
If youāre growing lemongrass in a cooler climate, donāt harvest it too heavily during the winter months. Excess lemongrass can be cut up and frozen for use whenever you need them throughout the year.
Scraggly-looking lemongrass clumps can be cut back hard at the end of winter. Fertilise it with a dose of Scotts OsmocoteĀ® Controlled Release Fertiliser: All Purpose in early spring to encourage a new flush of growth.
Pests & DISEASES
Lemongrass is generally a hardy herb and is not usually troubled by many pests, but stressed plants can be more vulnerable. The main disease to watch for is rust, which can appear as orange or brown spotting on the leaves, especially where airflow is poor or foliage stays damp.
Root rot can also occur if lemongrass is grown in poorly drained soil or kept too wet. To reduce problems, plant in a sunny position with free-draining soil, space plants well, water at the base rather than over the leaves, and remove damaged or diseased foliage when needed.
