Growing Culinary Lemongrass for Beginner
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Cala Smith
Posted on: May 27, 2007

I read that I could take lemongrass cuttings from the supermarket and plant them in the garden, as long as there are some roots attached. Is this true and if so, how would I go about planting and taking care of it?

P.S. I read this info in "The Bountiful Container" by McGee and Stuckey

Yes, you can grow lemongrass from starts bought in the store, as long as the starts have not been treated to prevent sprouting. Plant in full sun, in a rich, well-drained soil. Have only about one centimetre of the plant base in the soil to prevent rotting. If the plant is too "tippy", tie it to a stake until it has rooted in firmly. Water whenever the first half centimetre of soil surface is dry and then water well. Fertilize with an organic fertilizer every second watering.

To prevent transplant shock when the plant has to come indoors in the fall, you could plant the cutting in a large pot and sink the pot into the soil for the summer. Indoors keep the plant a bit cooler and drier for the winter, but give as much light as possible.

Harvest the shoots coming off the side, but leave the main shoot undisturbed.

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