Description
75-100 days. Lemongrass lends a fresh, fine, fragrant lemony tang with hints of ginger and mint. Adds bright, grassy, floral kick to curries, fish, shrimp, soups, stews, marinades and stir-fries. Use a ¼ teaspoon to make a refreshing tea, hot or cold. Or use in place of grated lemon rind in cookie and cake recipes. Lovely grass-like plant grows to 4 ft. in the first year. KITCHEN TIP: Before adding to dishes, slice lemongrass into rings or strips and bruise segments to release the flavor. Freezes well.
How to Grow
Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For herbs, an organic mulch of aged bark or shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant’s stems to prevent possible rot.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.
Tips
Harvest leafy tops when they are about 10-12 inches tall. The leaves may be used to flavor teas and soups.
Collect stalks at the end of the season before frost when they are about a half inch in diameter.
Snap stalks off at their base. Only the bottom of the stalk is edible.
Use the inner part of the stalk, slice into rings or strips and bruise segments to release their flavor.
Chopped pieces of stalk may be frozen in ice cube trays for future use.
Lemongrass may be dried for storage. Place stalks in a 120 degree F oven for 2-3 hours, with the oven door cracked open. Check to make sure the stalks are not getting singed.
