Growing Lemon Grass at Home: Simple Tips for Success

Choosing Your Lemon Grass Variety

If you're serious about growing lemon grass, first select a variety suited to your climate. I remember my first attempt—I mistakenly purchased a tropical variety, planted it eagerly, and watched despairingly as winter reduced it to a sad brown tuft.

Simplify your life—go with either Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian Lemongrass) or Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian Lemongrass). The West Indian type withstands mild winters; the East Indian offers bolder citrus notes but less cold resistance.

Finding the Ideal Spot

Lemongrass worships sunlight. Give it a space receiving six to eight glorious hours of sun daily, and it'll reward you with lush, fragrant growth all summer.

Mine grows right outside my kitchen door. Every time I brush past it, the leaves release their lemony perfume—I swear it almost smiles at me.

Soil Matters, Seriously

Planting lemongrass in heavy clay is like asking a flamenco dancer to perform wearing rubber boots—it won't end well. Go for loamy, quick-draining soils enriched with compost.

At my house, I regularly mix in aged manure or compost to keep the lemongrass clumps vigorous and aromatic. The difference it makes is astounding.

Getting Your Plants Started

I learned years ago that starting lemongrass from stalks bought at the grocery store is surprisingly easy. Here’s how:

1. Select fresh stalks with plump, healthy bases and intact cores.
2. Snip three inches off the top, remove outer dry layers, place them in water, and wait a week or two for roots.
3. Plant rooted stalks once roots reach one inch, spacing them about two feet apart.

This straightforward approach has never let me down. Alternatively, nursery-grown starter plants give you a running start.

Caring for Your Lemon Grass

Water Wisely

Overwatering lemon grass is death by suffocation. Ensure even moisture—never soggy or waterlogged soil.

My trick? I stick a finger in the soil; if it's dry an inch deep, time to water deeply again.

Feed Conservatively

A balanced, organic fertilizer applied once a season does wonders without overdoing it. Lemon grass thrives lean—too much fertilizer weakens structural integrity and scent intensity.

Harvesting Lemongrass the Easy Way

Harvesting is simple: grab a stalk near the base, twist gently, and pull. Harvest throughout summer, leaving some mature stalks to continue growing.

"During harvesting season, lemongrass leaves contain up to 80% citral oil, making it a powerful culinary and medicinal herb."

The first time I harvested my own lemon grass, it amazed me how powerfully fresh it tasted, far better than store-bought.

Dealing With Winter and Cold Weather

Lemon grass doesn't like frost much. Protect it by mulching thickly with straw during colder months.

I keep mine potted and move it indoors when temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C). Indoors, place plants near southern windows or supplement with grow lights for vibrant growth year-round.

Using Your Lemongrass Harvest

Fresh lemongrass brightens soups, sauces, and marinades spectacularly. But beyond cooking, freshly brewed lemongrass tea calms nerves and soothes digestion wonderfully—I can't imagine surviving flu season without it.

Dry surplus leaves easily and store them airtight; they'll keep you stocked until next year's harvest.

Growing lemon grass is a sensory trip worth taking—simple, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. With abundant sunlight, well-drained soil, and enough water to keep roots happy, you'll have vibrant, aromatic stalks ready to enliven your cooking and cocktails. Remember, lemon grass thrives on warmth and space—give it both generously. So plant generously, harvest joyfully, and savor the subtle pleasure of cultivating your own fragrant, grassy treasure. Simplicity, flavor, reward. That's the art of growing lemon grass.