Lyla Lindsey
Lemongrass is a versatile herb with a zesty citrus flavour that is widely used in Asian cooking and herbal teas. It is a tropical plant native to Asia and tropical Australia. It is easy to grow in Australia, thriving in most parts of the country, especially in warm, sunny climates. The best time to plant lemongrass is from early spring to mid-summer, but it can be planted year-round in warmer regions. Lemongrass can be grown from seeds, seedlings, cuttings, or by dividing established clumps. It grows well in rich, well-drained soil and prefers full sun but will tolerate part shade. With its attractive grassy clumps and tangy flavour, lemongrass is a great addition to any garden or balcony.
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What You'll Learn
Lemongrass varieties and their uses
Lemongrass is a tropical grass native to Asia and tropical Australia. It is an important culinary herb in tropical Asia, with a light, refreshing, lemony flavour. It is also used in India as a medicinal herb and for perfumes. Lemongrass is used to flavour teas, broths, soups, sauces, curries, poultry, fish, and seafood dishes.
There are 55 species of lemongrass, but only two are typically used for cooking: East Indian Lemongrass and West Indian Lemongrass.
East Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
East Indian Lemongrass is also known as Cochin or Malabar grass and is native to India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. It has purple-tinged stems and a stronger lemony scent. It is often used for essential oils and herbal remedies. It is also used to ease colds and coughs.
West Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
West Indian Lemongrass is native to Malaysia and is the most commonly grown variety for cooking. It is also known as Australian lemongrass or Cymbopogon ambiguus. It has a more delicate and less tangy flavour than East Indian Lemongrass, making it suitable for a wider range of dishes, including sweet treats.
Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus)
Citronella grass is not edible but is used to provide citronella oil for cleaning products, bug repellents, aromatherapy, and soaps. It has skinny reddish stalks.
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Choosing a location and preparing the soil
Lemongrass thrives in a warm climate with hot, wet summers and mild, dry winters. It can be grown in tropical, subtropical, and arid regions of Australia, and even as far south as Melbourne. However, in colder regions, it is better to grow lemongrass in pots that can be moved indoors to protect the plant from frost. Choose a spot in your garden that receives full sun or partial shade. Lemongrass loves warmth, so a spot that reflects heat, like near a brick wall, is ideal. Ensure the location is sheltered if you live in an area prone to frost.
Before planting lemongrass, prepare the soil by mixing organic-based soil improver and organic-based fertiliser through the top 10-20cm of soil. Lemongrass prefers rich, well-drained soil. If your soil is poor, improve it with compost, manure, or gypsum (for clay soils). Potted lemongrass should be planted in organic potting mix. Water the plant well after planting and apply a layer of organic mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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When and how to plant
Lemongrass is a tropical plant native to Asia and tropical Australia. It thrives in warm, sunny climates and grows well in all climate zones of Australia. The best time to plant lemongrass in Australia is from early spring to mid-summer, but it's quite resilient, so you can plant it year-round, especially in warmer regions. In colder parts of Australia, avoid planting during winter.
When growing lemongrass, choose a spot in full sun or part shade. It loves warmth, so a spot that reflects heat, like near a brick wall, is ideal. Lemongrass can be grown from seeds, seedlings, cuttings, or stem division. If growing from seeds, sow them in spring into punnets and water them with OCP eco-seaweed. The seeds will germinate in 10-24 days. Transfer strong seedlings to individual small pots and let them grow to about 15-20 cm tall before planting them in your garden or larger pots.
If growing from cuttings or stem division, plant them in rich, well-drained soil and give them plenty of sun. Water them well and apply an organic mulch to help retain moisture. Lemongrass thrives in moist soil, so water regularly, especially during hot and dry weather. Feed lemongrass regularly throughout the growing season with liquid plant food or fertiliser.
Lemongrass is a low-maintenance plant that's easy to care for. It's drought-tolerant once established, but it will perform better if the soil is kept moist. Prune regularly by removing dead or yellowing leaves. In winter, when the plant is dormant, trim the leaves by half to encourage new growth in spring.
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Ongoing care and maintenance
Lemongrass is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. Here are some tips for ongoing care and maintenance:
Watering
Lemongrass is drought-tolerant, but it still needs water to thrive. Water the plant when the soil has fully dried out to prevent root rot. Water more frequently if the soil dries out quickly, especially for potted lemongrass or in arid regions. During hot and dry weather, water regularly. You can also apply a layer of organic mulch, such as sugarcane or pea straw, to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Sunlight
Lemongrass thrives in full sun and ideally should receive 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. However, it can also tolerate part shade as long as it gets direct sunlight for at least half the day. Choose a spot that reflects heat, such as near a brick wall, if possible.
Soil
Lemongrass prefers rich, well-drained soil. If your soil is poor, improve it with compost, manure, or a soil improver before planting. Use gypsum to improve drainage in clay soils.
Fertiliser
During the growing season, use a balanced, slow-release fertiliser with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can also feed your lemongrass with organic liquid plant food every few weeks. Fertilise with an organic-based fertiliser in early spring to encourage new growth.
Pruning
Lemongrass can become wild and unruly, so prune it regularly by removing dead or yellowing leaves. In late winter, give it a hard prune, removing up to two-thirds of the growth. This will encourage new growth in spring.
Harvesting
You can harvest lemongrass stalks as needed, but allow the clump to establish before harvesting for the first time. This can take up to three months when grown from seed. Wear gloves when harvesting and remove the whole stalk from the main plant. Wash and remove the outer leaf sheaths before use.
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Harvesting and propagation
Harvesting lemongrass is easy and can be done at any time of the year. You can harvest stalks as and when you need them, but make sure the stalks are at least 30-40cm tall and the stalk base is at least 2cm thick. Wear gloves and remove the stalks by cutting them off above the soil level or gently pulling and breaking them off. Avoid pulling the whole clump out. Wash and remove the outer leaf sheaths before use. If you live in a cooler climate, avoid harvesting too heavily during the winter months as the stalks will take longer to grow back.
Lemongrass is easy to propagate and can be grown from seed, seedlings, cuttings, or stem division. If you're dividing an existing clump, it's best to do so in spring. Dig up the clump and split it into smaller sections, making sure each section has roots and removing any dead material. Cut the stalks on each section back by half before replanting.
Lemongrass thrives in warm, dry winters and hot, wet summers, but it can be grown in almost all climate zones of Australia, even as far south as Melbourne. In tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate climates, it will grow as a perennial, but in cold climates, it's best to treat it as an annual as it may die down due to frost. Choose a spot in full sun or part shade with well-drained, rich soil. Lemongrass is drought-tolerant but will perform better if the soil is kept moist.
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Frequently asked questions
The best time to plant lemongrass in Australia is from early spring to mid-summer. However, lemongrass is a resilient plant, so you can plant it year-round, especially in warmer regions.
Lemongrass thrives in warm, dry winters and hot, wet summers. It grows best in full sun, receiving 6-8 hours of sunlight daily, but will also do well in partial shade. It prefers rich, free-draining soil and should be watered regularly.
Lemongrass can be grown from seeds, seedlings, cuttings, or stem division. It can be grown in garden beds or pots, and it is easy to propagate.
Lemongrass is a low-maintenance plant. Keep the weeds at bay and water the plant when the soil has fully dried out to prevent root rot. Prune the plant regularly by removing dead leaves and stalks.
You can harvest lemongrass stalks as needed, but be careful not to damage the growing points at the base of the plant. The stalks should be at least 30-40 cm tall and 2 cm thick at the base. Wear gloves when harvesting to protect your hands from the sharp leaves.
