Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is easiest to start not from seed, but from a fresh stalk – including one from the grocery store. Give it warmth, sun and steady moisture, and a single stalk can grow into a large, productive clump within a season.
Climate and site
Lemongrass wants warm, humid conditions and full sun, growing best with daytime temperatures around 70-90°F (21-32°C). It’s frost-tender, so outside tropical and subtropical climates it’s typically grown as a container plant or treated as an annual.
Growing from a store-bought stalk
Choose a fresh, firm stalk with as much of the root base still attached as possible, and peel off any dry outer layers. Stand the stalk root-end-down in a glass with about an inch of water, and change the water every few days. New roots typically form within about two weeks. Once a good root system has developed, pot it up in well-draining soil with the root base just below the surface.
Other propagation methods
Established clumps can also be propagated by division – separate a section with roots attached and replant it. Lemongrass is only rarely grown from seed, and seed-grown plants take longer to establish; if you do try seed, sow at 55-65°F (13-18°C) in early spring.
Pot vs. ground
In a pot, lemongrass stays manageable and can be moved indoors before frost. In the ground, in a climate warm enough to leave it out year-round, mature clumps can reach 3-6 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, so space plants roughly 3 feet apart.
Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist – lemongrass wants plenty of water through the growing season, especially in a pot, where it dries out faster than in the ground.
Harvesting
Harvest by cutting whole stalks at the base once they’re at least 1/2 inch (1cm) thick, taking outer stalks first so the clump keeps producing from the centre.
Overwintering in cold climates
Where winters bring hard frost, lemongrass won’t survive outdoors. Most cold-climate growers either bring the potted plant indoors to a bright spot before the first frost, or treat it as an annual and start fresh from a new stalk or division the following spring.
Quick questions
Can I really grow lemongrass from a grocery store stalk? Yes – this is a well-established, reliable method: root a fresh stalk in water for about two weeks, then pot it up.
Should I grow lemongrass from seed? It’s possible but uncommon and slower – propagating from a stalk or division is the standard approach.
Will my lemongrass survive winter outside? Only in frost-free or near frost-free climates. Elsewhere, bring it indoors or restart it each spring.
