Lemongrass is a versatile herb that can be used in sweet and savory dishes alike. It’s also relatively easy to grow, making it a great option for beginning gardeners. In this blog post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about growing lemongrass in your own home.
Getting Started
Lemongrass is a tropical plant, so it will need some special care to thrive in colder climates. The first step is to find a location in your home that gets lots of sunlight. Lemongrass needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you don’t have a spot that gets that much sun, you can supplement with grow lights.
Once you’ve found the perfect location, it’s time to get your lemongrass plants. You can either purchase plants from a nursery or order seeds online.
If you’re starting with seeds, plant them in small pots filled with well-draining potting soil. Place the pots in a warm, sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings have emerged, thin them so that only the strongest plant remains in each pot.
Caring for Your Plants
Once your plants are established, they’ll need regular watering and feeding to stay healthy. Water lemongrass whenever the top two inches of soil are dry. Aim for about one inch of water per week. During the herb’s active growth period (usually spring and summer), you should also fertilize every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer diluted to half-strength.
Lemongrass is fairly tolerant of heat and drought, but too much heat can cause the leaves to turn brown around the edges. If this happens, move your plants to a spot that gets indirect sunlight and give them more water.
Overwintering is also possible in cooler climates. Simply bring your potted plants indoors or dig up the roots and store them in a cool, dark place until spring arrives.
Harvesting Your Lemongrass
Lemongrass is ready to harvest when the stalks are between 18 and 24 inches tall. To harvest, cut off the bottom third of each stalk with a sharp knife. You can use these stalks for cooking right away or freeze them for later use. New stalks will continue to grow from the base of the plant, so you can harvest again and again throughout the growing season.
Conclusion
Growing lemongrass is easy and rewarding – not to mention delicious. With just a little bit of care, you can enjoy this fragrant herb in your kitchen all year round.