Lemon Grass Plugs: How to Grow These Zesty Herb Plants
February is flying by, and with any luck, spring is just around the corner (fingers crossed!). As the days get longer, our thoughts turn to the garden, and in this particular case, the dream of picking fresh lemon grass to add to teas and our cooking. These aromatic herbs are a staple in Southeast Asian dishes and are surprisingly easy to grow at home.
Why choose plugs?
Lemon grass can be grown from seed; however, in the UK, this is very time-consuming. The part of the plant we want to grow is the thick stems. This is what you buy at the supermarket and carries the most flavour. When you grow from seed, this can take some time (often years) to bulk up to this stage. Growing from a plug plant will see you picking your stems in a matter of months.
Where to get your plug plants?
Lemon grass grown from cuttings is available in the UK – as a matter of fact, we sell it! (see here >>) But make sure you are quick, this is a crop we only have in stock at the beginning of the year. You can also get your plug lemon grass plants at some garden centres.
What you need:
- Compost: A good quality compost that will drain well. Added bark in the compost will both aid drainage and add nutrients to the soil.
- Some pots: Lemon grass can grow into a fairly substantial plant (around 1 metre in height). I like to pot my plants up into at least a 1-litre pot.
Now let's get growing!
- Remove the plant from its tray: Gently remove your plug plants from the tray. If need be, squeeze the tray a bit to release the root ball.
- Add compost to your pots: Add your compost to the pots. Take care not to compress the compost too much; rather, place it in the pots, leaving them just shy of the top.
- Potting on: Make a hole in the centre of the compost just slightly larger than the root ball. Then place the plug into the hole; once in, gently "tuck in" the plug.
Lemon Grass Aftercare
Now your plants are potted up, it is time to think about caring for them. Lemon grass likes a nice light position with a bit of warmth – a sunny windowsill or warm greenhouse is ideal. Keep the compost moist but not soggy. As well as watering, your plant will need regular feeding. Feed your plants every two weeks for best results. A standard feed is ideal, such as Miracle-Gro. As the weather warms up, you can think of moving your plants outside. Lemon grass will not tolerate a frost; this means in the UK, you cannot put your plants outside until at least late May or early June. You can keep your plants inside all year round, where it will make a lovely houseplant.
