Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Moderate
- Grown as
- Perennial
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Tender
Lemongrass is fairly tender and is often grown as an indoor plant or summer annual in the temperate north.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Warm, Hot, Long days
Plant prefers full sun and fast-draining soil.
Lemongrass will only survive outside during winter as long as the minimum winter temperature is 45˚
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 65°F - 95°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 65°F
Plant out when the soil temperature is at least 65˚ F.
- Start Indoors
- Yes
- Start Outdoors
- No
- Light
- Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot)
Plant lemongrass in a sunny part of the garden.
- Water
- High
Native to tropical climates, Lemongrass thrives in humid conditions, and needs a lot of water. Using a mister on the plants in arid climates is beneficial. Requires an average of 24 - 30" of water in a year. With it's shallow roots it's more beneficial to water more often than to water deeply.
- Feeder
- Moderate
Most grasses need lots of nitrogen rich fertilizer during the peak of the growing season. Feeding weekly with compost tea will greatly increase productivity during warmer months.
- Suitability
- High heat, Needs lots of space
- Small Gardens?
- No
- Containers?
- Yes, but will need a large one, like a half wine barrel
Like most plants grown in containers, Lemongrass needs to be watered regularly, as containers left in the sun dry rapidly, especially in hotter climates. If you're climate gets too cold in the winter, you can grow it in a container and bring it indoors for the winter.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- No
- Color
- Green
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 12.0 - 72.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 12.0 - 72.0"
- Good Companions
- -
- Bad Companions
- -
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Disease Resistance
- -
- Taste Profile
Nice lemon flavor with a hint of ginger.
- Rotation Group
- Perennial