Lemongrass is one of THE spices used in Asian cuisine. We will show you here what care is required for successful cultivation.
plant lemongrass
lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) must be grown in pots at least for overwintering due to its pronounced sensitivity to frost. But for the summer months it makes sense to plant the sweet grass in a sunny spot in the bed. If the soil is permeable and yet rich in humus, there is a good supply of nutrients and good drainage of the soil for optimal growth of the lemongrass. A more even water supply is also given when growing in a bed compared to pot culture. Due to the much larger root space, you have to water comparatively less often. Incidentally, it is beneficial to repot in fresh substrate and a larger substrate in spring or to incorporate organic fertilizers into the soil before planting the lemongrass will.
Cut lemongrass
A cultivation or training pruning, as known from woody herbs, for example, is not necessary with lemongrass. Likewise, unlike other grasses, it does not need to be cut back completely in the fall or early spring because the lemongrass is evergreen and the parts above ground at the turn of the year are not die. Regular partial pruning rejuvenates the plant and promotes the continuous growth of fresh stems. If the grass is warm and sunny in winter, the harvest of the spice can continue even in winter.
Hibernate lemongrass
Lemongrass is native to tropical and subtropical areas. It can't do anything with our frosty winter temperatures. Therefore, it must be cared for in winter if you want to enjoy the aromatic sweet grass beyond the winter. Either you cultivate it continuously in the pot, or you plant it in the bed for the summer months. In any case, the lemongrass must spend the winter in a warm and sunny place. Ideally, this location should not be colder than 10 °C. If these needs of the frost-sensitive evergreen lemongrass are taken into account, can too be harvested in winter and it will come out next spring with a vigorous new shoot convince.
Lemongrass can be harvested all year round. We explain how to Harvesting and storing lemongrass correctly.
