Where to Plant Lemongrass? (Complete Guide)
Lemongrass typically thrives in tropical climates, especially in areas with ample access to bright sunlight, creating an attractive fragrant ground cover in your garden.
It can also be planted next to other edible plants like tomatillos, peppers, and tomatoes because it grows in similar conditions to these plants and can help repel pests.
In this article, we’ll answer all of your questions regarding where to plant lemongrass, whether it can be grown indoors, and the best tips for planting it in pots, so stick around!
Where to Plant Lemongrass?
Lemongrass grows as a perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11 as well as an annual in other regions. You can plant it anywhere in your garden as long as it has access to full sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. Keep in mind that this plant prefers to grow in rich, loamy soil with continuous moisture.
When its growing needs are met, this edible herb will be a good ground cover that improves your curb appeal and can be used in various recipes. Lemongrass can tolerate some partial shade, but herbs that grow in the shade tend to be less fragrant, more sparse, and unable to repel pests as much as the ones that are grown in full sunlight.
In order to help lemongrass grow properly, you’ll need to add a few amendments like compost, manure, and leaf mold, especially at the planting time. Lemongrass will benefit from the added nutrients and will be able to grow to reach a maximum height of 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters).
In its early stages, lemongrass needs at least 1 inch of water a day. When it’s well-established, it’s more drought-resistant. Adding a layer of mulch to the soil will help keep it moist enough to support this plant’s growth.
Can Lemongrass be Grown in Pots?
You can grow lemongrass in a container that’s at least 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide, given there’s access to enough sunlight and water. Using a special potting mix that’s rich in nutrients and adequate feeding using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer will enable the roots to spread and support the plant.
Growing lemongrass in a pot is easy, although finding seeds for sale can be a little challenging. Instead, you can dig out a clump from your garden and plant it in a pot or a garden bed, where the plant can get at least 6 hours of bright sunlight.
Using a small container isn’t recommended because the root system is strong enough to break it. Moreover, the top-heavy plant will tip over if there aren’t enough spaces between root clumps.
Once your potted lemongrass has reached the height of 3 inches (7.6 cm), you need to space it out, as this will give the plant more room to grow. A single root clump will survive in a small pot as long as you repot it in the spring or summer to add a new and rich potting mix.
Can you Grow Lemongrass in Water?
Placing lemongrass stalks in a jar of water is an easy way to propagate it. This will work just fine for you if you want to start growing lemongrass and have no access to seeds or a parent plant, as you can get these stalks from any Asian food store.
Lemongrass is a staple in Thai, Indian, and other Asian cuisines, so you can find it in a specialty store and start your own lemongrass nursery using the stalks you’ve bought.
To start growing lemongrass in water, pick stalks that have the bulb attached at the bottom. If a few roots are protruding, this is completely fine. You don’t have to do anything to them.
You should, however, change the water in the jar every other day to prevent the growth of fungi. After about 3 weeks, you’ll start to see new leaves growing at the top of the stalks, in addition to new roots emerging from the bottom bulb.
When the new talks have reached a height of about 2 inches (5 cm), you can plant them in your garden or in a container.
Can Lemongrass be Grown Indoors?
Lemongrass can grow indoors as long as its growing conditions are met. This means it should grow in a fertile, well-draining potting mix that has continuous access to bright sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
If you have no outdoor space to grow your lemongrass, you can plant it in an indoor pot from seeds or stalks, ensuring it receives enough water, sunlight, and nutrients.
Since this plant is a heavy feeder, you should pick a rich potting mix and add a slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the potting mix to support the growth of lemongrass.
You can also bring your outdoor lemongrass inside to overwinter it in a pot. This will protect this frost-sensitive plant, as lemongrass is unable to survive when the temperature drops below 40°F (4.4°C).
Can Lemongrass be Used as a Lawn?
It is not recommended to use lemongrass as a lawn because it is pretty thick, and lemongrass edges are quite sharp. Therefore walking on the mowed lemongrass is not a pleasant experience.
Lemongrass can repel mosquitoes and other annoying insects. People grow lemongrass in their gardens because it helps control the growth of weeds, and it provides economic value as it can be used in several recipes. This herb has a fresh citrusy smell that improves your outdoor experience and also repels different insects like mosquitoes, houseflies, stable flies, lice, and ticks.
Lemongrass spreads fast, and it’s a lot more resistant to weeds. Yet, you should be careful because the oil in the herb is mildly toxic to pets. That said, you should ensure that you’re planting lemongrass in areas where animals can’t access it.
Wrapping Up
Lemongrass is a tropical edible herb that adds a lot of value to your outdoor or indoor garden. As long as you provide it with rich soil, enough sunlight, and adequate moisture, it will thrive, adding a fresh citrusy smell wherever it’s planted.