Native to Malaysia and India , lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus ) is a popular herb - like supergrass used in Southeast Asiatic cuisine . Lemongrass is a fragrant perennial industrial plant that thrives in warm climates and proffer a lemony flavoring to stunner . Lemongrass can uprise up to 5 feet magniloquent , either planted in great deal and kept indoors in cooler mood or grown alfresco in subtropical or tropical regions . Lemongrass is easy to grow from semen , requiring no exceptional pretreatment to germinate . implant the seeds between late January to March .
Step 1
make full a ejaculate tray with a 2- or 3 - in bed of a assortment of equal parts organic compost , sphagnum moss peat moss and coarse sand . Place the lemongrass seeds about 1 column inch asunder on top of the mixture .
Step 2
spread out a thin bed of constitutive compost or vermiculite to just cover the lemongrass oil seed . lightly water or mist the source to moisten the potting smorgasbord .
Step 3
Wrap the seed tray in open plastic cling wrapper or slide the source tray into a seal plastic bag . Keep the seed tray at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit .
Step 4
Mist or mildly irrigate the seed tray day by day to keep the seed moist . Remove the charge plate wrapper or handbag when the lemon grass seedlings sprout and place the tray in full sunlight .
Step 5
Transplant the strongest lemongrass seedling into single 3 - inch - diam planter throne with drain hollow in the bottom . Transplant the seedlings when they ’re about 3 or 4 inches tall , filling the planter pots with a mixture of adequate part well - drain , lightweight potting filth , organic compost and bog moss peat moss .
Step 6
Water the lemongrass once every three days to keep the soil moistened thoroughly . Place the pots in bright , indirect sunlight .
Step 7
transfer the lemongrass out of doors or into 10 - inch - diam planter gage when they arrive at about 12 inches tall .
Tip
Harvest lemon grass when the stalks are dark green in semblance and at least 18 to 24 in grandiloquent . seize the stalk near the soil surface and pull the stalk and roots up from the soil . Snip off the root final stage of the shuck and rinse it well to remove any excess soil .
Warning
Lemongrass involve warm temperatures and wintertime temperatures that stay put around 45 degrees F. Do n’t essay to spring up lemongrass outdoors if you live in a nerveless climate . Always wear glove when handling lemongrass , because the chaff can rile your skin .
