Kitchen Garden Forum

A neighbour has asked me if she could grow lemon grass in this country. She has no greenhouse but a wide west-facing kitchen window sill and a very sunny, though windy garden. I have found quite a bit on the internet but (a) is it possible to grow it under these conditions and (b) where can one buy roots of it? Has anybody got any experience of growing it?

You must think I have gone ga-ga, but I think I can answer part of my own question because I have just found the following on a website:

"Bob Flowerdew advised the reader not to bother with seed but to buy a few stems and root them in water instead. In warm weather it takes two to three weeks for the roots to emerge, and another couple for the roots to form into a coiled ball, at which point they can be planted up. New stems shoot out from the base of the parent plant and, if they are kept in a warm and sunny spot, and fed regularly, the pot will soon be filled. Stems can easily be twisted off at the base without damaging the plant. If you like Lemon Grass it’s well worth growing your own rather than relying on the supermarkets to stock it."

That still leaves the question: does it work?

This is interesting because I generate new basil plants by this method and had no idea it might work for other stalky plants. Next time I see some commercial lemongrass in the supermarket I may give this method a try. But as lemongrass is not terribly unlike asparagus in appearance I wonder whether asparagus could also be reproduced in this way (which is probably leading this thread off another tangent - apologies !).

I've had some success with lemongrass using the Bob Flowerdew method, but no success growing it from seed. I don't need rafts of the stuff, so Bob's method of growing new plants from roots is fine, but only if you want to use it once a week/fortnight.

Suits me Sir!

Hi thanks so much for the info about lemongrass. I started to grow lemongrass from seeds this year and it does seem like they will take eternity before they grow to be lemongrass. I cook a lot with lemongrass so it's definetely worth trying the Bob's method!

I grew a batch from seed last year - quite difficult to germinate i found but the 2 plants i got going are doing well. I've planted 1 in the polytunnel and in in a pot half indoors. The plant in the poly is going a lot better and has stems thick enough for use now.

I have seeds left so am going to try agian with the seeds this year will let you know.

My australian horticultural mate reckons they don't like it much below 10c and need lots of water.

I put a few lemongrass in water in a jar and the roots started to grow now
Will keep you guys posted!!

ooooo, I'm going to try this too

I'm kicking myself now because potted lemongrass was being sold at a Garden Show we attended on Sunday for £1 a pot, and I didn't buy any because I've never used it before and wasn't sure exactly where it fitted in the herb cuisine culture. Perhaps I should have tried it. Does it actually have a citrus flavour and how do other people use it?

Primrose - it features a great deal in Thai cuisine. It has a sharp, clean flavour, it's lovely!

I was talking to a Malayan person some time ago and I asked if he grew Lemon Grass and he said no because it becomes invasive!!! I said that he obviously hadn't tried growing it here and he said no but at home once you grow it you always get too much and in the end set fire to it.
I wish!!
JB.

Why can't OUR weeds taste nice?

I bought some lemon grass from a Chinese supermarket not long after Xmas and put it in a small vase in and inch or so of water. Nothing happened and I was about to throw the green algae stained stalks out but decided to take the outer skin off and try again about a month ago. Sprouted rooted in a couple of weeks.

I have about 8 lemongrass seedlings growing from seed - first few attempts didn't work but these are coming on fine.

I was wondering how to pot them on? Do they do well in containers as even though I live in South East I am sure they won't like the winter even here??

Its a first for me as well. I will probably pot them up and keep on a window sill until established then outside for the summer - if they make it that far.