Find out how to harvest lemongrass and when this popular herb is at peak flavor .
Andre Baranowski
When you know how to harvestlemongrass(Cymbopogon citratus)correctly , you ’ll have a fresh supply of this popular herbaceous plant to enhance tea , soup , and other dishes with its citrusy redolence and nip . To help you get the most out of your plant , this guide explains when to harvest , which part of the industrial plant to harvest , and the best technique for harvest lemon grass . You ’ll also find ideas for using lemongrass and summit on propagating this herb to enlarge your harvest home .
Credit:Andre Baranowski
When to Harvest Lemongrass
Harvest lemongrass anytime during the growing season after the works ’s stalks hand ½ inch thick . The heating plant of summer centralize lemongrass crude oil and increase the intensity of its flavor so if you’re able to wait until the ending of summertime to harvest , you ’ll get a more flavoursome harvest time .
Lemongrass is too tender to survive cold weather , so unless you exist in a warm climate ( USDA Zone 8 or warmer ) or want tooverwinter this herb , you have one growing season to utilize the plant life before the winter ’s chilly temperature arrive .
If you live in a frost - prone area , make trusted to harvest lemongrassbefore the first drop frostarrives and wipe out the plant . Ortransfer the plant to a potto overwinter indoors . When warm temperature return in spring , you could move the flora alfresco again and begin harvest again once new stalks have strive the correct heaviness .
Credit:Jason Donnelly
If you ’re a ardent climate nurseryman in frost - free areas , you could pass on lemongrass oil outdoors for the winter . Then cut the plants back in the springtime to bestow them back after their wintertime dormancy . Wait to harvest again until the new growth has had a chance to meet in .
Jason Donnelly
How to Harvest Lemongrass
It ’s best to glean just a few lemongrass stems at a sentence from the outer border of the clump . you could harvest a large amount of stem and leaves before the industrial plant run dormant for the winter .
Use a knife or scissor hold to cut just below the lower , whitish portion of the shuck nigh to the ground . The depleted part of the stem is the part that ’s most used for cooking . The plant will continue sending up new stalks from the root through the uprise season .
After cutting the shuck from the plant , peel out the tough outer part to reveal the tender white component part that will look a little like agreen onion plant . Remove the unripened foliage too , and either compost them or expend them for tea .
Before harvest lemongrass oil , put ongardening glovesso you do n’t foreshorten your hand on the sharp edges of the leaf .
How to Use Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a pop plant for both the garden and kitchen because of its many United States . Here are some ways you may savor lemongrass :
Propagating Lemongrass to Increase Your Harvest
If you ’d like to expand your lemongrass oil harvest , you’re able to propagate the herb in water with stems you purchase at market stores .
When the weather warm up , you may put the pot outside . However , you must bring the heap indoors before your region ’s first frost because lemongrass oil ca n’t withstand freezing temperatures .
Frequently Asked Questions
Lemongrass is considered toxic to dogs and cats , causing upset stomach if eaten .
Three pinch ( about a teaspoonful ) of unfermented or dry lemongrass leave of absence is enough to make a flavourful teatime . Steep in a cup of boiled water for 3 minute .
Cut the leaves into humble pieces and lay them on a engagement filmdom to dry out . Set the screen door in a warm place out of direct sun for 12 hr or until the parting are completely dry . After the leaves are ironical and crispy , hive away them in a seal glass container in a dry , dark area .
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lemon-grass
