I planted 2 4-inch pots of lemongrass a month ago and I have no idea when or how to harvest. Also, how do you propagate?
Lemongrass?
Zuluqueen, I'm growing it this year, too. I started mine from seed, and it germinated quite readily, even though it was probably two years old.
Here are some links that might help us both:
Harvesting: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Lemon+Grass+harvesting
Recipes: http://www.google.com/search?q=Lemon+Grass+recipe&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Propagation: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Lemon+Grass+propagation
Maybe we can share our favorite ways to use it later on :)
Thanks for the links Terry. It would be great to keep in touch about this! I love Thai food and I have all these visions of making soups and stir-frys but right now the stalks are tall but very skinny. The lemongrass I've seen in the produce section was a lot thicker. Maybe by fall...
Mary Ann
I just harvest by taking 'a little off the top' of the blades as needed. Mine is in a pot right outside the front door in my herb garden. I started with one pinkie finger-size piece from a neighbor and as it grew it separated into about 15-20 thinner stems. I don't want to mess with the stalks and roots as long as it keeps growing the blades for me. I have heard of some people having success growing it by slicing the callus off the end of lemon grass purchased at the grocery store and planting it. It starts slow and then "poof" it's there. I use about 6 blades 6 inches long to flavor a gallon of iced tea. I have not cooked with it, I use dried lemon verbena for cooking.
Mine almost got pulled up with a clump of weeds growing next to it (ever notice how weeds seem to disguise themselves as plants, just to confuse use???)
At that time, there wasn't any strong lemon scent when I touched the leaves. Fast forward a couple weeks, and now when I rake my hand across a blade, I get a nice strong lemon smell. I'm guessing that means it can now be used in cooking?
I had to show everyone in the family where the lemongrass is and explain that it is NOT a weed! Right now its about 3 feet tall and looks like Johnson grass. Mine has always had the lemon smell even when it was small. I think the heat makes the smell stronger. Mine is spreading a lot. I hope it's not an invasive plant. I keep my mints in containers because I know they would take over the bed.
its not invasive, it divides easily....
I think i had a 3 yr old plant that i divided into 250+ plants.
I tend to use the stalk, and not the leaf, as it tastes alot better, and well, you are eating something soft as opposed to a blade of grass.
Alot of times, the central stalks will begin to root up the stalk as it stays pretty humid/wet in the inside of the plant... you can cut one of these stalks and have a plant that day.
drew
I have been growing lemongrass for myself and friends for years. I keep mine in pots because we have too muck moisture in S. Florida and it does excellent. I have cut it back ground level (by accident) and it came back 3 fold if that tells you anything! I have an Asian friend that uses the green leafy part to make tea. I prefer cutting stalks, splitting them, boiling them with chicken stalk for a lemongrass soup base.
I used my lemon grass for the first time in a chicken curry last week. The recipe said cut it into 1 inch pieces and then remove before eating. Mistake! The grass blade pieces were very sharp, and fell to bits while cooking, so they were really difficult to get out and a nasty surprise when eating. Next time I will put in one or two whole pieces - so I can hook them out easily.
Natasha
(PS: mine was a transplant from the local nursery and seems very happy in a big clay pot on the patio. It has a wonderful strong lemon scent when I brush it. We'll see how it does through winter...)
If you find some relatively fresh looking lemon grass stalks in the grocery store, look for one with as much root at the bottom as you can find, and just put it in some water.
Change the water every once in a while and It will quickly sprout roots and new growth. It can be transplanted as weather allows.
You can see more plants here:
Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/283
Hi guys! This was one of my 'first' plants as a gardener. I bought it from one of the bottom 20 companies too believe it or not! It is now 12-15 years old. I keep mine in a pot to bring in in the winter. (I cut the leaves back short) In the Spring I divide as an annual. The bottom part of the stalk is the best part to use.
The pic below is of one of my many divisions that actually survived last winter! It came back this Spring and as you can see is quite large - this pic is early in the season too.
I just love this stuff!! By the way, it is on my trade list - I will also send for SASE. I have 2 similarly large clumps in the middle of the spot where my failed corn crop was supposed to be. It is going to be pulled up and thrown away soon so I can till. You don't need much of this one to have a big supply!!
That pic wouldn't enlarge - here's another try.
That's great info, gardenaddict. I'm going to do the same with mine since we are in the same zone. Hopefully my few little blades will look as beautiful as yours next year.
Natasha
Gardenaddict- that is the most gorgeous lemongrass I have ever seen. I might keep mine shorter if it will look like that. I usually let mine seed tho but I like the looks of your better.
Thanks guys! It's actually a good bit bigger than that now - I need to take another pic, Cyberageous - I would LOVE to see a pic of one that has seeds! Mine have never seeded I assume due to my Zone..
I cut the seed stalks off last year and it hasn't bloomed again. To me, it looks like the stalks weeds get on the side of the road. I will take pics when it blooms again.
Please do! I would love to see a 'mature' plant! Thanks! Maybe mine will if it doesn't frost too soon..
Sure!!!!