Lemongrass is, also known as citronella, is a tropical perennial plant. It is widely used in Asian cuisine, mostly in soups and stews. It has a fragrant lemony odor and hence the name lemongrass.
Besides its use as a herb, it is also used to make insect repellent, candles, and soap. Lemongrass can be grown easily in pots; pots at least 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide should be used to plant lemongrass.
You can grow lemongrass in pots. Lemongrass is a herb that can be grown in pots or gardens. Lemongrass should be grown in a warm and sunny place and watered when the soil is dry.
In the early spring, cut the top of the plant, and it will begin to grow again. Growing lemongrass is a fun and easy gardening project that anyone can do with a sunny window or garden.
Lemongrass grows up to 4 feet tall and requires bright light to grow well. It doesn’t tolerate frost or snow; it needs mild temperatures for growth between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant lemongrass in pots by following the steps mentioned below.
Fill the pot with good quality potting mix and make a hole in the center of it. Keep the pot indoors for some time until the plant establishes itself well, after which it can be kept outdoors.
Water the plant frequently so that the soil remains moist to touch, not overwater or allow the potting mix to become soggy. Water regularly but only when required, never keep the soil wet or soggy, feed with liquid fertilizer once every month during spring and summer season.
How to Prepare Soil to Grow Lemongrass?
Lemongrass grows well in moist, well-drained soil. It is highly sensitive to cold, so it is best to grow it in a greenhouse or indoors.
To prepare the soil for growing lemongrass, you need the following:
- 1 cup of an all-purpose fertilizer
- 5 gallons of water
- 1 pound of compost (or manure)
Mix the fertilizer with the water and soil. Then add the compost or manure. Mix well and plant seeds 1 inch deep. Water thoroughly after planting. Let it drain before placing the tray in a sunny spot or under grow lights.
Preparing the soil for growing lemongrass
1. Choose your planting location
2. Prepare the soil
3. Dig a trench at least 12 inches (30.5 cm) deep
4. Mix soil amendments into the removed soil
5. Place the amended soil back in the trench
6. Water the trench well
7. Add lime to correct pH level, if necessary
How Do You Take Care of Lemongrass in Pots?
Lemongrass is tropical grass. You can keep it in the house over winter, but that is just to keep it alive. It will not grow much and then only at the top of the stalk.
If you have a warm greenhouse or lots of light in a sunny window, you can harvest it over winter. Otherwise, cut it off about 6 inches tall, leaving the roots, nights stay above 45F/7C.
Plant in sandy soil watered regularly and fertilized once or twice over the season.
Pick the right pot. A pot with holes in the bottom is best because it allows water to drain out of the soil. That is important because lemongrass hates to have wet feet.
Pick the right soil. Lemongrass likes rich, loamy soil that drains well. You can buy prepared soil at a garden center or make your own mixture of equal parts peat moss, composted bark, and perlite or sand.
Pick the right place. Lemongrass likes full sun, so find a spot that gets plenty of sunshine every day.
Plant your lemongrass in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and give it some time to grow before you harvest any stalks for cooking.|
Types of Pot Required for Lemongrass
Lemongrass requires a pot at least 12 inches wide and deep.
If you are growing lemongrass in a container, choose one that is at least 12 inches wide and deep. You can grow it in a slightly smaller pot, but the plant will be more susceptible to stress from heat or drought, and the roots may become pot-bound and rootbound.
Lemongrass is hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. If you live in another zone, grow it as an annual or in a container that can be brought indoors during cold weather.
Lemongrass grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soils of any pH level but performs best when the soil is rich with organic matter.
Although lemongrass is not fussy about its soil, the plant does need plenty of room for its roots to spread out, so it requires a large pot filled with rich soil.
Use a deep container that has good drainage holes. The pot should have an adequate size so that you do not need to report it for at least two years. If you live in a cold climate and grow it indoors, you can use any standard-sized container.
Place the pot on a saucer and water it thoroughly whenever the top layer of soil dries out.
Read More:
Vegetables that Grow In Shallow Containers.
Container Gardening Irrigation System
The Right Time to Harvest Lemongrass Pot
The first thing you have to do is determine when you can start harvesting lemongrass. If you take it too soon, it won’t have grown enough so you will get a very small amount, if anything at all.
But on the other hand, if you leave it too long it will become too tough and bitter and no matter what you do with it it will taste bad.
The best time to harvest lemongrass is when the stalks are at least 1/3 inch in diameter. Usually the older the plant gets the thicker the stalks become so if your plant is just 2 years old or so and looks really healthy, then chances are that most of the stalks will be thick enough for harvesting.
Thanks For Harvesting.