Lemongrass
A clumping, grass-like tropical perennial that is genuinely frost-tender, a hard frost can kill it outright, which limits reliable outdoor growing to Northland, Auckland and other consistently warm, sheltered spots. Elsewhere it does well in a large container that can be moved under cover over winter, or is grown as a warm-season annual. The tender lower few centimetres of each stem, once the tough outer leaves are peeled away, is the part used in cooking.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 60cm
- Harvest
- Ready in 120-150 days
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman
- Expected yield
- Several stems per clump, harvested as needed
- Cost to grow
- ~$8 NZD
- Grocery value
- ~$20 NZD
- Mature height
- 1m
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained or waterlogged soil
- Common pests
- Aphids
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: October-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: November.
Growing stages
PlantingLate spring, once the soil has warmed
- Wait until the soil has properly warmed before planting, as this is a tropical, frost-tender plant
- Choose the warmest, most sheltered full-sun spot available, or plant in a large container
- Outside the warmest northern regions, growing in a container that can be moved under cover over winter is the more reliable option
- Space plants around 60cm apart to allow for their clumping spread
Establishment
- Water regularly while the clump establishes; moderate, consistent moisture suits it best
- Watch for aphids sheltering among the base of the leaves
- Growth is slow to start but speeds up once the clump is established
Ongoing growth & harvest120-150 days to first usable stems
- Harvest outer stems at the base once they reach pencil thickness, leaving the centre of the clump to keep growing
- Poorly drained or waterlogged soil is the main risk to the roots
- Divide congested clumps every couple of years to keep the plant productive
Overwintering
- A hard frost can kill the plant outright, not just damage the leaves
- In cooler regions, move container-grown plants under cover or into a sheltered spot before the first frosts
- In mild, frost-free areas the clump simply slows down over winter and resumes growth in spring