Lemon Grass

[gojiberry]

Has anyone grown lemon grass before. I have grown some from seed and I dont know how or when it should be harvested. I did expect it to die when it got a bit colder, and although it isn't shooting it certainly doesn't look dead. I have seen lemon grass in the shops but the stems on mine don't look as thick as the shop ones. Presumably as a grass it is perenial. It is in the greenhouse in pots.

[Protea]

Hi there,

I grew lemongrass from seed last year, and the stems were definately not big enough to harvest this summer, but probably by end of next year they would have been alright.

However, my dear husband managed to not check the quantity of parrafin in the greenhouse heater when we had that really cold snap, he just looked out of the window and saw that 'it was on' at 9pm or whatever (i was away). it was then -5 overnight, IN the greenhouse! so i'm not sure if the lemongrass is going to survive the winter, it looks a bit dead

If yours looks OK, i would keep it frost free over winter and see what happens in spring, it is a perennial and takes a few years to get big clumps like i've seen in Thailand.

[Alison]

Grew from seed last year also, sowed in Feb and they were very slow to start with. Now have a nice pot full in the conservatory for the winter. From what I've heard, you'd be better off starting from an existing stem - if you search on lemongrass then you should find instructions.

[Wortle]

My mother tried this last summer but only got stuff that looked like leek seedlings. I made a mental note not to bother. But good luck with yours, and tell us how you get on.

[Protea]

My mother tried this last summer but only got stuff that looked like leek seedlings. I made a mental note not to bother. But good luck with yours, and tell us how you get on.

They do take a while to get beyond the 'looking like grass' stage, but in one year they do look like mini-lemongrass plants. Patientce is a virtue, they'll get there is the end!