Lemongrass – 10 Seeds

Lemongrass Seeds. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tropical fast growing perennial grass that thrives in summer heat. It has a fresh, lemony aroma and a citrus flavor. It is a herb that is native to Sri Lanka and South India.
Lemongrass grows in a clumping habit, with multiple stalks emerging from the same base. It can grow up to five feet tall with a spread up to four feet wide.

It thrives in warm growing conditions with well-drained soil and is drought tolerant so don’t need much water. You can grow lemongrass in a pot or your herb garden but it also makes a great addition to garden beds.

Lemongrass Culinary Uses

• The white section of the stalk has the strongest flavor whereas the green leaves at the tips have a subtler flavor.
• Its lemony stalks are most commonly used in East Asian cooking to add flavor to broths, soups and curries.
• The green leaves are most often used to make tea

Lemongrass Medicinal  Uses

• It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for its healing effects in treating cough and cold.
• Along with other beneficial components, the vitamin C content present in it helps in providing relief from nasal blockages, flu and other respiratory disorders such as bronchial asthma.
• It is used for treating digestive tract spasms, stomachache, high blood pressure, convulsions, pain, vomiting, cough, achy joints (rheumatism), fever, the common cold, and exhaustion.
• It is also used to kill germs and as a mild astringent.

Growing Lemongrass

Indoor Sowing: Late Winter.

Direct Sowing: Spring.

• Sow Lemongrass seeds indoors in late winter. Transplant outdoors only when night time temperatures are above 10°C .
• For direct sowing, plant lemongrass in spring, once all chances of frost have passed.
• Press the seeds gently 5mm into moist, sterilized seed starting mix.
• Seeds should germinate in 5 to 21 days.
• Once seedlings appear, move them into full sun.
• Lemongrass likes it hot, so grow it in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
• Space plants 24 inches apart.
• It will naturally propagate itself, once it is established. Small stalks of new plants will begin to grow off the side of existing stalks
• Cut back any dead foliage in late winter / early spring.