Cut the stalks at ground level using a knife or you can hand-pull it by grabbing and twisting the stalk. Now that you know a little more about lemongrass harvesting, you can pick this interesting and tasty herb to use for your own cooking. Start harvesting as soon as plants are 12 inches tall and stem bases are at least ½-inch thick. The lemon crop is chopped into small pieces before filling in the stills. After you have harvested your lemongrass stalks, remove and discard the woody portions, as well as the foliage (unless you intend on using and drying the leaves for teas or soups). As a tropical grass, it’s hardy to USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11, though the roots may be hardy to zone 8. Lemongrass is an evergreen in climates in which it grows as a perennial. If you’ve done everything right, you’ll soon realize that it’s time to harvest stalks of your lemon grass! How to grow lemongrass. It is typically sold fresh, but it's also available dried and powdered. Lemongrass seeds germinate easily in warm, moist soil. The plants can be put back in the ground after the danger of frost has passed. How to propagate lemongrass. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. Here’s what you need to know to get started. Your email address will not be published. Then, take stems whenever you need them. Lemongrass is commonly used to add flavor and aroma to food. The inner, white core is what is used in cooking, though the leaves can also be used to make a light, lemony tea. First you want to harvest your herbs in mid day when they have had time to dry up from the morning dew. thick. Keep the bag in the freezer. You can also freeze your lemongrass harvest to preserve it for future use. It’s commonly cultivated in the Southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for use in curries, soups, salads and other regional dishes, but the essential oil can be extracted for use in soaps, lotions, perfumes and deodorants, as well. However, seeds saved over multiple generations from the same region do tend to develop qualities that are uniquely suited to their growing zone. After a few days, your stalk should begin to grow roots. How to grow lemongrass in a pot Choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and deep and position in a sunny or part shade. Cut the leaves down to about 1 inch above the base of the stalk, and place it in a dish or glass of fresh water—roots do not need to be attached. How to Harvest Lemongrass Harvesting Lemongrass Stalks. Harvest lemongrass by snipping the entire stalk at its base. At the end of its growing season, cut lemongrass plants back to only 6 inches tall and reduce watering and discontinue fertilizing. You can also twist and pull the stalk. To harvest your own lemongrass, you want to get to the inner, white core of the stalk. If you harvest more lemongrass than you need for one recipe or you have an ample supply leftover from an end-of-season harvest, you can freeze or dry the stalks and leaves for use throughout the winter. Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock. During the growing season, feed it a half-strength solution of a balanced soluble fertilizer—once per week if in a pot and once per month if in the ground. How to harvest lemongrass? If you plan to grow lemongrass as an annual plant, you need to harvest your lemongrass before frost sets in. Grasp an outside stalk on the plant with a gloved hand, selecting a stalk that's about one-half inch thick. Preserving Lemongrass. Once established, it also outcompetes weeds, though young plants may still require some weeding. The easiest harvesting method is to pick whole stems and separate the leaves and the stalks afterwards. Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock. How to harvest lemongrass Wearing gardening gloves, I use my herb scissors to snip the leaves from the base of the outside of the clump to dry for tea. Don’t harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at a time. How To Harvest Lemongrass. When plants are about 3 inches tall, thin them to a foot apart. The latter really is quite straightforward: to grow lemongrass from stalks, simply trim about 5 cm off the top of lemongrass stalks and peel the pieces that look dead. Harvesting lemongrass is simple. Cut out the tender portion and use the rest to make compost. Take extra care when harvesting as the grassy blades are sharp! Chop the lemongrass on a cutting board so you don't dull your knife blade or damage your countertop! The most tender part is at the bottom, so remove it as close to the ground as possible. In colder regions where lemongrass is grown as an annual, harvest the remainder plant in the fall, before the first frost sets in. You can grow lemongrass from seed, but we do not recommend this method unless you’re a farmer looking to grow acres of lemongrass plants for minimal cost. While you can harvest lemongrass pretty much at any time throughout its growing season, in cooler regions, it is normally harvested towards the end of the season, just before the first frost. How to Harvest Lemongrass 1. Begin with older stalks first and look for those that are anywhere between ¼- to ½-inch (.6-1.3 cm.) Indoor lemongrass plants will benefit from regular feedings every two weeks, as they will quickly use up the nutrients in the potting soil. It’s an easy-care plant that will increase the curb appeal of your home and the flavor of your meals. Keep your potted lemongrass as a houseplant near a bright, sunny window, ideally with southern exposure; in a heated greenhouse; or under artificial lights. Start harvesting as soon as plants are 12 inches tall and stem bases are at least ½-inch thick. Sow seeds 5cm deep and 50cm apart. When completely dry, store in a jar in a cool, dark place. Harvesting lemongrass by gripping a stalk near the base and pulling straight up. You then snap the stalk off, which will eventually include the bulb and some of the roots. Tips for Using Lemongrass. Lemongrass stalks can be frozen whole or in smaller pieces for about 6 months. Don’t worry if you wind up with some of the bulb or roots. How to Harvest Lemongrass. While you can harvest lemongrass pretty much at any time throughout its growing season, in cooler regions, it is normally harvested towards the end of the season, just before the first frost. Lemongrass creates a tall, billowy plant with long blades that resemble blades of grass that sway in the wind. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. Lemongrass is ready to harvest when the stalks are at least 1/2 inch thick, dark green and at least 18 inches tall. Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock. You’ll just need a sharp knife or a very sharp (and sturdy) pair of scissors. Cut your leaves above the stalk. To harvest a stalk of lemongrass, grasp firmly near the base of the stem and pull. Lemongrass is regarded in herbal medicine as a diuretic, mild sedative, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, stomachic, anti-parisitcal and anti-microbial. Other than pulling off a … This time around I also chopped some of the tender reeds for stir-fry, but it was labor intensive. To do this, take the rinsed, dried prepared stalks and use a sharp knife to cut the stalk into slices 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Where to Grow Lemongrass It may be treated as an annual, or overwintered indoors. She lives in the New York City area with her family and two cats. In the garden, lemongrass usually grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, but in tropical areas, it can grow to as tall as 9 feet. Thank you for choosing this service. So, you need to harvest your lemon grass in fall. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a sensitive perennial herb that is easy to grow in home gardens. If you cultivate it indoors in northern growing zones, you will have a permanently green ornamental, but if you're only interested in its culinary uses, you can grow it outdoors in the late spring and summer and harvest the leaves before the frost sets in. That’s how to harvest lemongrass but there’s actually more for you to do. Then, carefully give the lemongrass a rough chop. Harvest the outer stalks when they are at least 1/2 inch thick. Harvesting lemongrass is simple. Extra lemongrass can be refrigerated or frozen. Using Lemongrass in the Kitchen Slice them off at soil level. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a commonly grown herb. You’ll just need a sharp knife or a very sharp (and sturdy) pair of scissors. Both its stalk and foliage are used in many prepared dishes such as teas, soups and sauces. Set the dish near a sunny window, and change the water daily. The stalk is the tender part at the base of the plant. Lemongrass is harvested for both the stalk and foliage. Pick one stalk to harvest and hold it firmly, preferably closer to its roots. While it is easy to grow and care for, some people are not sure about when or how to go about picking lemongrass. Use a sharp blade to cut the stalk about one inch above the ground. However, it is typically the stalk which is most often utilized and edible. Harvest and Storage. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. You can begin harvesting individual lemongrass stalks from the plant whenever you want to use them. Learning how to harvest lemongrass is easy. The inner stalks are white, tender, and juicy, and can be chopped for immediate use or the stalks can be frozen whole for later use. To harvest a stalk of lemongrass, grasp firmly near the base of the stem and pull. Thirdly, you can buy a lemongrass bush and use as desired! Harvesting lemongrass isn’t difficult, but you still need the proper equipment and information to get the job done. Lemongrass plants can grow up to 6½ feet tall, but in the supermarket you’ll find them cut down to size without their leaves. With lemongrass growing, you can either grow lemongrass from seeds or from stalks. While most people pick lemongrass to use right away, it can be frozen for up to six months if needed. These pieces of lemongrass stalk with roots can be used to propagate lemongrass as well. Just after a couple of months, you will have a large cluster of green blades shooting up. Preserving your harvest of lemongrass for recipes and herbal tea Here are some suggestions for making it a staple in your kitchen. You can begin harvesting lemongrass as soon as the plant is about a foot tall. Press seeds lightly into sterile potting mix, and keep moist until germination occurs, usually within about 10 to 14 days. You can harvest lemongrass once it has produced thick stems. How to Harvest and Store Lemongrass. It will tolerate average soil if it has enough moisture and good drainage, but does best in soil with a pH of 6 to 7.8. Keeping in mind that the most edible part is near the bottom of the stalk; this is where you’ll want to snap or cut off your lemongrass. Select the Right Roots. You can start harvesting lemongrass when the stalks are at least a foot tall. Only the tender part inside is considered edible, so once it’s cooked, it can be sliced and added to various dishes. Harvest lemongrass by snipping the entire stalk at its base. Please try again. Harvest and Storage. Required fields are marked *. Cut, twist or break off a stalk that is at least 1/4 inch thick. Always give your lemongrass enough time to grow, so allowing it to at least reach 12 inches high is best. How to Use Lemon Grass. When harvesting, wear thick gardening gloves and long sleeves. If you're using home-grown lemongrass, you can use the leaves to make the tea. The next key to how to harvest lemongrass is about selecting the right roots. There’s no need to bruise the leaves, though. There is error while submitting your request. (New stalks will form in their place.) Remove the outer green leaves and finely chop or grate the lemongrass. In fact, lemongrass harvesting is easy and can be done nearly anytime or year round when grown indoors. Do be careful as the leaves are sharp and can give unexpected papercuts! Simply cut stalks that are at least a half-inch thick and use them for fresh cooking. Steep the leaves in hot water to make lemongrass tea. Cut the foliage down to the lighter-colored stalks, and then cut or break them off, discarding the roots and any discolored portions. Commonly people wait for five until six months to cut the lemongrass. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). After the plant has grown to at least one foot tall, you can begin to harvest your lemongrass plant. Site it in a location with full sun or at least 6 hours of sun per day. Right time to harvest lemongrass for recipes and herbal tea. But, several are patience... 2. In cooler growing zones, lemongrass is often grown as an annual or can be overwintered indoors in pots. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How to Harvest Lemongrass. Indoor plants can be harvested throughout the year. Make sure the plant has developed thick stems before you harvest. Non-chemical fertilizers that are high in nitrogen include composted chicken manure, blood meal and feather meal. Cultivating and harvesting lemongrass oil: Lemongrass is native to the tropical countries of India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. In two weeks, if you see good root growth, plant it in soil either outdoors or in a pot. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. The pieces should be about 1 ⁄ 2 –1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) long. If you want to increase your lemongrass supply or simply start over production in the spring, you can propagate the plant from a stalk harvested from a plant or purchased from a grocery store or Asian market. Lemongrass is harvested for both the stalk and foliage. Learning how to harvest lemongrass is easy. Lemon grass is a tropical grass with a lemony scent and taste that's used in cooking. Follow her on Instagram: instagram.com/bluelotusbotanicals/, Cold Weather Care For Your Farm’s Livestock. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a culinary and medicinal herb native to Southern India and Sri Lanka. Using garden pruning shears i cut the reeds as lose to ground level as possible. Once it gets going, there’s almost no stopping it. This tender portion also tends to be located towards the bottom of the stalk. Slice the tender part of the stalk, and add as needed to your recipe. Cut through the separated stalk with a sharp knife to remove it near the base. How to harvest your lemongrass Save the leaves to dry, or compost them. The inner, white core is what is used in cooking, though the leaves can also be used to make a light, lemony tea. Bee Hives & Zero Waste Practices Keep Things Buzzing At The Living Home, Getting Started: 3 Other Reasons To Raise Chickens. Pruners just kind of bend the leaves, rather than cut through them. How to Harvest Lemongrass. Your lemongrass will remain fresh tasting for up to a year. The easiest harvesting method is to pick whole stems and separate the leaves and the stalks afterwards. Inga Munsinger Cotton/Flickr. Lemongrass prefers fertile, loose, well-drained loam soil that is moist but not too wet. Younger stalks tend to be fibrous, so harvest stalks only when they are more than half-inch in thickness. Once you successfully grow lemongrass at home, there’s going to be a lot of lemongrass to harvest by the end of the summer. When harvesting lemongrass, be sure to wear gloves as the stalks can irritate the skin. Your email address will not be published. Like other grasses, lemongrass needs great deal of nitrogen. I use lemongrass to perfume chicken stock & add depth to marinades. Don’t be intimidated by harvesting lemongrass You simply cut individual stalks as needed as close to ground level as possible. Place them in a freezer bag or container labeled with the date and amount stored. Then either snap it off as close to the roots as possible or cut the stalk at ground level. How to Harvest Lemongrass. Lemongrass stalks will be ready for harvest in 55-80 days and can take a bit longer if you grow them from seeds (75-100 days). Post-harvest management: Drying: The lemongrass has been allowed to wilt for 24 hours before the distillation as it reduces the moisture content by 30% and improves oil yield. As a tender, tropical plant, lemongrass will not survive cold temperatures outdoors. Remove the outer green leaves and finely chop or grate the lemongrass. Alternatively, pull the stalk toward... 3. You’ll have just about as much fun using your lemongrass as you will growing it. Lemongrass can be harvested once it reaches 12 inches (30 cm) in length and stalks are 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) wide. 6. Because of its high essential-oil concentration, lemongrass is generally pest-free and, in fact, is commonly used as an ingredient in natural insect repellents. 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Harvesting lemongrass isn’t difficult, but you still need the proper equipment and information to get the job done. Use these tips for growing your own and learn and how to harvest lemongrass. You can start harvesting lemongrass when the stalks are at least a … Grab the base of the grass and pull out the plant to harvest stalks. How to Harvest Lemongrass Use a hand-held garden trowel to remove individual stalks, roots and all, from a clump of lemongrass. How to Grow Lemongrass: Growing lemongrass is super easy. To do this, simply cut off a few outer stems as close to the soil as possible. They resemble fat scallions, with a pale yellow-green stalk that fades into a tough white root.When shopping for fresh lemongrass, look for stalks that are green, firm, and fragrant and with outer leaves that aren’t too desiccated (indicating a longer time in storage). Once the plants is established, it will propagate itself, new plants will start growing by the side of existing stalks.Lemongrass will grow into hefty shrub in about 4-6 months and ready for harvest.Once you get the… Only harvest lemongrass stalks as you need them, and leave the rest of the plant to continue growing. Keep the plants moist, but do not overwater them, as potted plants are subject to root rot if the soil remains soggy. Lemongrass is a tropical plant, so it would be difficult to hybridize one that is truly winter hardy. You’ll want to cut off the entire stalk near the soil (below the swollen ends) from the outside of the plant. It is an aromatic herb that is commonly used for cooking when harvested. Steps of How to Harvest Lemongrass 1. Harvesting Lemongrass. Once the plant is at least a foot high, you can begin harvesting lemongrass. 41330 / Pixabay. Indoor plants can be harvested throughout the year. Ensure the Time. Collect these round slices into a freezer bag and freeze. Start harvesting as soon as plants are 12 inches tall and stem bases are at least ½-inch thick. While there are 55 varieties of lemongrass, only two are used in cooking: East Indian Lemongrass (also known as Cochin or Malabar Grass) and West Indian Lemongrass. Harvest it once it’s about a half-inch in diameter. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden.