Lemongrass

Herb · warm season

A big clump of lemongrass
Photo: Obsidian Soul, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

When to plant

  • Set out plants about 2 weeks after your average last spring frost.
  • Ready to harvest about 90 days after planting.

Perennial in zone 9+. Elsewhere, pot up a stalk to overwinter indoors.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Growing basics

Harmful to pets. Can upset cats' and dogs' stomachs if they eat much of it.

Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Spacing
24–36 in
Soil temperature
At least 60°F
Time to harvest
About 90 days
Containers
At least 5 gallons
Plant family
Grass family
Harvest per plant
About 1 lb

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Grow it well

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