Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass is the fragrant heart of Thai and Vietnamese cooking and grows surprisingly well in the UK — given warmth and a sunny spot. The easiest start is to root supermarket stems: stand fresh stalks in 2cm of water on a windowsill until roots appear (2–3 weeks), then pot up. Grow on in a 5–10 litre pot in gritty multipurpose compost; move outside to the sunniest spot from June to September. Water generously and feed monthly with a balanced liquid feed. Harvest individual stems by twisting off at the base from August onwards. Overwinter indoors at 10°C+ on a bright windowsill — plants are tender and will die outdoors below 5°C.
Plan where to grow Lemongrass using our vegetable garden planner.
When to Plant Lemongrass
Plant lemongrass in March, April, May.
Time to Harvest Lemongrass
Expect to harvest approximately 5 months after planting, usually from July to October.
Companion Plants for Lemongrass
- Sweet Basil
Lemongrass and basil both need warmth and shelter, so they suit the same greenhouse or sunny patio.
- Coriander (Cilantro)
Grown together in pots for Asian cooking, though coriander prefers slightly cooler conditions and lighter shade.
- Chilli Pepper
Both are tender, heat-loving plants that do well together in a greenhouse, polytunnel or sunny pots.
Expected Yield
A 5-litre pot yields 6–10 usable stems per year.
Pruning Lemongrass
Cut the leaves back to about 15cm before bringing the pot indoors for winter, and remove brown leaves in spring.
Common Problems with Lemongrass
Yellow, slow growth
Lemongrass is hungry and thirsty. Water generously in summer and feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser.
Plants dying over winter
Lemongrass is tender. Bring indoors before September nights drop below 10°C and keep on a bright cool windowsill, watering sparingly.
Pot-bound, clumping stems
Divide congested clumps in spring: tip out, slice the rootball into 2–3 pieces with a spade, and pot up separately for a fresh burst of growth.
Lemongrass: common questions
When should I plant lemongrass in the UK?
Plant lemongrass from March to May.
How far apart should I plant lemongrass?
Space lemongrass about 40cm apart. It grows to around 1m tall.
When is lemongrass ready to harvest?
In the UK, lemongrass is usually harvested from July to October. It's ready about 5 months after planting.
Does lemongrass come back every year?
Not in a typical UK garden. Lemongrass is a perennial in warmer climates but is killed by frost here, so it's grown as an annual and started again each year.
When should I prune lemongrass?
Cut the leaves back to about 15cm before bringing the pot indoors for winter, and remove brown leaves in spring.
What grows well with lemongrass?
Good companions for lemongrass include Sweet Basil, Coriander (Cilantro) and Chilli Pepper. See the companion plants section above for why each one helps.
Is lemongrass frost hardy?
No. Lemongrass is tender and is damaged by frost, so keep it under cover until all risk of frost has passed and bring it in, or grow it under glass, when nights turn cold.
Plan your lemongrass in the allotment planner
Drag and drop plants onto your plot and get personalised sowing reminders.
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