Originally, lemongrass is native to Asia and therefore needs a warm climate all year round. You can cultivate the aromatic lemon-scented and tasty spice in a pot on the windowsill and grow it outdoors during the summer months.

Which location does the lemongrass prefer?

In the garden you should give the lemongrass a warm, sunny and rain-protected place. The spice also needs a sufficiently bright and well-tempered location in the room or on the balcony.

Which substrate is suitable?

Lemongrass loves humus-rich, well-aerated soil and, like many heat-loving plants, is very sensitive to waterlogging. The plant feels extremely comfortable in conventional herb or potting soil, which you loosen up with a little sand. Place a drainage layer of expanded clay (€19.73) or gravel in the planting hole or flower pot. This allows rainwater to run off well and the lemongrass does not get wet feet.

When can the lemongrass go outdoors?

Lemongrass is one of the most cold-sensitive herbs and you can therefore only plant the spice outdoors during the warm summer months. You can only plant the spice or put the plant pot on the balcony all day when there is no longer any danger of night frosts after the Ice Saints.

Can lemongrass be propagated by yourself?

Lemongrass is usually propagated by dividing the roots. Alternatively, you can root parts of the plant in water and grow the herb yourself. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • separate plant parts.
  • Place a few inches deep in a glass of fresh tap water.
  • Place in a sunny spot on the window sill.
  • As soon as sufficient roots have formed, transplant into a flowerpot filled with a mixture of soil and sand.
  • Plant several shoots in the container to ensure dense growth.

How is lemongrass sown?

Lemongrass rarely blooms, so cultivating it with seeds you collect yourself is not always successful. Alternatively, you can purchase seeds from a garden store and preferably sow them between the end of January and March. Lemongrass germinates in the dark, so cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. At a constant temperature of 20 to 22 degrees, the seed will germinate after about three to four weeks.

How is lemongrass properly repotted?

Transplant lemongrass preferably in spring at the beginning of the growing season. Always give the plant a sufficiently large pot, as lemongrass forms a very extensive root system.

What planting distance must be observed?

The optimal planting distance in the open ground is at least fifty centimeters. Due to the clumpy growth and the slightly overhanging leaves, lemongrass that is set too densely suffocates sensitive neighbors.

When is harvest time?

You can harvest lemongrass from the windowsill all year round. The leaves develop the most aroma during the summer months, when the main growth begins. When cutting the lemongrass, be careful not to damage the sensitive tubers.

tips and tricks

Regularly remove parts of the plant that have turned yellow, as these use up unnecessary strength in the plant.

Category:

Herbs