Planting lemongrass is easy but quite tricky. It can grow inside and outside your house. Luckily, you don’t have to be in tropical lands too. Even in the winter or rainy season, you can have them on the pot inside your house. That is why you need to learn how to harvest lemongrass in any climate and media. But knowing the lemongrass life cycle is important too.
The lemongrass life cycle is not like other herbs. We can say that it is fast-growing, and you can get unruly when it is not pruned regularly. Moreover, when your lemongrass gets enough sunlight. The plant will absolutely fertile and quickly grow into a bundle. Remember, the keys to planting lemongrass are the sunlight and the water to keep it moist.
The Lemongrass Life Cycle
Planting the lemongrass can be started by using its stalk or bulb with the attached roots. Choose the tough stalk the put in the pot with water. The other method is by using a pot with soil. Place the bulb in the pot. Make sure the roots are covered by the soil. By trying these two methods you only wait for about one month to get them re-rooted. More details about its growing process, see the lemongrass life cycle below:
Sow and Plant
It is better for you to start planting the lemongrass in the early summer. The soil is warm and suitable for the roots. Choose the right stalk, which has a tough structure, and put inside the water. Or, you can also cover the roots with soil. Place the pot inconvenient space of sunny spot. Your lemongrass will love it.
Re-rooting
It takes about one month to get this process completed. The new root will raise approximately after a month since it is sowed. So, that is why we suggest you start in early summer to get this process at the right time. If you see the roots are growing, or the leaves appear, it means your lemongrass is growing. Cut back the leaves in 3 inches (8 cm) length.
Troubleshooting
Just like planting the herb, there will be pests bother. For example, when you put it inside your house, the spider will be its enemy. And as the lemongrass grows, it might need a bigger place to develop. Also, if you keep it in the same spot, the plant may rot in poorly and form a tight clump. Use a sharp spade and move the plant to a larger pot as needed.
Trimming
Trimming is an important part of planting the lemongrass. It is good to manage its size due to stimulating new growth. Cutting the stalk and use it for cooking will keep the plant in check, but however, you cannot hold it’s quickly growing. The lemongrass will get pruning. The best time to do trimming in early spring or when it is dormant. You might find the dead material or dried parts. Get rid of those parts.
Harvest Time
You can harvest lemongrass anytime once the stalks reached 1.3 cm in diameter. It is enough to be harvested. Cutting them at the ground level by using a knife. Another sign that your lemongrass is ready just the leaves. If it is 10 inches tall, cut them and use them for your dishes. When you remove the leaves, you won’t hurt the other parts. Your lemongrass will keep growing.
If you don’t use lemongrass in cooking very often, remove the leaves or wilted parts regularly. Or, you can move the healthy stalks to another pot. Don’t forget to bring the roots too. The lemongrass life cycle is counted fast. Once you forget to manage its crowd, you will find a messy corner inside your home.