If you’re a budding gardener looking for an easy plant to grow at home—why not try planting some lemongrass? Growing this citrusy tropical herb is super easy! Especially if you grow lemongrass from stalks.
This plant requires very minimal care to grow successfully and delivers a hearty amount of quality harvest. Plus, a single plant can last for years. With proper care and growing conditions, you might just have an endless supply of lemongrass on hand.
Once you already have a thriving plant established, you’ll realize that this really is an herb worth growing! Between the simple planting, easy-care, and uncomplicated harvest and storage, this one’s definitely a winner.
I’m excited to share with you guys some essential bits of information on growing lemongrass from stalks because this is really one of the easiest plants you can grow at home.
Uncomplicated, easy care and fast-growing. I’m pretty sure you can grow lemongrass from stalks.
Why Should I Grow Lemongrass From Stalk?
First off, starting lemongrass from seed is a bad idea. It’s tiring, slow, and often not rewarding.
Here’s the thing, there are two varieties of lemongrass; The East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and the West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus).
The good lemongrass, the one you want and the variety that is used in the kitchen, very very rarely sets seed. The seed-setting variety, on the other hand, is basically inferior, in my opinion. Be it taste or texture, the seed-setting variety is plainly not up to par with the other one.
The good kind that I was talking about and the more popular variety for growing at home is the West Indian lemongrass.
That is why you should be starting lemongrass from stalks.
The first thing you need to do is get a hold of some fresh lemongrass stalk. You can go to your local produce for some or you can get one online.
For the best lemongrass stalk, look at its basal plate. If it’s white, still looks fresh, and most importantly hasn’t hardened off (turned brown), it’s good for planting!
Another aspect to check is if it’s firm and green. Take note that well-established stalks are strong.
Easy right? You don’t even need to buy seeds, just get some fresh lemongrass and you’re ready to go.
Does Lemongrass Regrow?
When it comes to harvesting lemongrass, you don’t have to worry about complicated procedures and whatnot. Just like every aspect of growing this herb, this one’s easy too. Plus, you can harvest for a long time since lemongrass does regrow.
When is the best time to harvest lemongrass?
You can start harvesting your lemongrass when you see that your plants already reach 12 inches in height and the base of the stems are at least ½-inch thick. The stalks should look like this in two to four months.
How to harvest lemongrass?
Just firmly grab the base of the plant’s stem and pull. Alternatively, you can use garden shears to cut stalks at ground level. Remember to always use the outer stalks first.
Gardening tip! If you want the tenderest leaves, check the ones close to the stems.
If you snap off or cut the stalk about an inch above the ground, it will regrow so you can just harvest as you desire.
When pulling an entire plant, remember that the one you want is the entire swollen base—the one that looks like a green onion or a scallion. If some of the roots also come up, don’t panic. A few of them won’t cause any damage to your plant.
Cut off the grassy top part of the plant, they tend to be razor-sharp so cut carefully. Take the lemongrass base. Now peel the outer fibrous layer so the inner white part will be exposed.
The inner, white core that you see is the one that is used in cooking while the leaves are the ones used for the light citrus teas and stocks. (And for fragrant rice!! Seriously, try it.)
To create more new plants, you can now take fresh cuttings from your very own lemongrass! You’ve come full circle. Propagate it in early spring. Cut the divisions from your lemongrass plant and repeat the process of planting.
You’ll have an endless supply of lemongrass in no time. Give some to your friends and share this growing guide with them to lure more people in the gardening life!
How Does Lemongrass Reproduce?
Lemongrass reproduces by seed, but as mentioned before the good kind of lemongrass—the one used in the kitchen—rarely flowers and sets seed. That’s why gardeners plant lemongrass by propagating the plant.
How to Propagate Lemongrass?
Once you’ve found the perfect stems to propagate, trim them to about 10 to 15 cm long. Grab a small vase or any small container that can hold enough water at the bottom. Place the stem on the vase with water at the bottom.
Gardening tip! The warmer you can keep the water (preferably 20 – 25°), the faster the roots will actually grow.
Keep it somewhere sunny, a north-facing windowsill will do. In about 2 weeks you’ll have roots coming off the basal plate. Now it’s ready to be planted in a container.
Assuming you’ve already put the multipurpose compost in the pot, it’s time to transfer. Dig a hole, about a thumb deep at the center of your pot. Carefully transfer the rooted stem on your container. The roots are very brittle at this time so make sure you handle the stem gently.
Lemongrass is best grown in containers like round pots.
Find a large pot, make sure it’s big enough, at least 12 inches across. A 5-gallon bucket works well for growing lemongrass. Visit your local nursery to score some free durable pots or you can just order some online, for a faster and more convenient way.
Remember, it’s vital to not damage the roots while potting the rooted stem. Pat the soil down and water. Keep it evenly moist. Place it in a sunny spot.
Gardening tip! Stand your pots in a saucer with plenty of pebbles so it could give off the needed moisture.
In just a few weeks you’ll have full-grown lemongrass. And a few weeks after that, you can start harvesting.
How Deep Are Lemongrass Roots?
When rooting lemongrass in water, expect the roots to grow an inch or two in just two to three weeks. During this time, you should change the water every two to three days to prevent the growth of fungus.
Once the roots have appeared, you can now transplant them in their final container. Place the lemongrass stalk thumb deep into the ground. Be careful with the roots while potting, they’re fairly easy to damage since they’re brittle at this time.
How Fast Does Lemongrass Spread?
Starting from the stem, expect 1 to 2 weeks for the roots to emerge while still on the container with water. During that first week, new leaves will also form at the top.
In just three weeks, the sizable roots signify that you need to transplant them in their final container.
If you used one stalk in your pot, don’t be surprised how fast lemongrass can create its own offshoots as the stalk will divide itself. Because lemongrass can spread in as fast as two to four weeks.
I told you this was a low maintenance plant! One that’s even fast-growing.
If given the right soil, water and sun conditions, you can expect your fully grown lemongrass ready for harvest in just two to four months.
Does Lemongrass Need Sun or Shade?
Lemongrass is a sun-loving plant. True to its tropical nature, lemongrass thrives in an environment with as much light as possible. So the best time for planting is either in early spring or summer while the soil is warming up.
If you do an early spring planting, grow it in a pot until the early summer as the soil warms. Alternatively, you can grow a stalk by placing it in water and putting it in a sunny spot so it can have all the sunlight it needs.
Lemongrass needs full sun and should be placed in an area where it can receive a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Does Lemongrass Need a Lot of Water?
Yes. This herb is tropical in nature and plant watering is vital for this herb to thrive.
Your container-grown lemongrass plant needs to be watered regularly in order to maintain soil moisture. Add some mulch over the soil to hold moisture.
You can also place your pots on top of a saucer with pebbles. The stones will produce moisture for the soil.
Watering daily is recommended. Lemongrass thrives in moist soil, not soggy soil. Make sure the pot you used has enough draining holes in them to prevent boggy soils.
I suggest watering your lemongrass in the early morning or late afternoon and make sure to not allow your plant to dry out completely.
