When to begin Lemongrass Seed
Even though lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is not commonly grown from seed, it is wonderful to know you are going to only have to start seeds after. After that, season after season, all you will need to do is divide the plants to become new ones. Lemongrass is a perennial grass used, dried or fresh, as a culinary herb. It supplies the tang in several Asian dishes and is also an attractive plant. Lemongrass grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Timing
To get a head start on the growing season, many seeds may be implanted inside and the seedlings moved outdoors after the last frost date. Lemongrass seeds, on the other hand, require warm temperatures to germinate and for your seedlings to thrive. Determine when the outdoor air temperature typically reaches 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and initiate the lemongrass seeds indoors 90 to 120 days before this season.
Planting the Seeds
The container you choose isn’t as important as what you fill it with. As long as the container has holes in the bottom for drainage, then it will get the job done. The perfect planting medium for lemongrass seeds consists of equal parts of sand and perlite or peat moss. These mixtures provide optimum drainage but they need frequent watering, and that means you ought to keep your eye on the medium so that it does not dry out during germination.
Germination
Lemongrass seeds need heat and humidity to germinate. You can provide both by covering the container with plastic wrap and then placing it on a heat mat set to 68 F. The seeds also need light, so find a spot indoors where the seedlings will get at least six hours of sun a day, or use grow lights, put 6 inches over the top of the container. Lemongrass seeds germinate sporadically — it might take from 10 to 90 days.
Later Germination
After germination, your lemongrass seedlings will need to continue to grow on indoors over the next seven weeks. To acclimate them to the indoor environment, poke small holes over the surface of the plastic covering. This enables air to circulate slowly. Three days later, remove the plastic from the container but allow the seedlings to stay on the heat mat. Consistent heat and sun will make the transition to the outdoor environment easier on the seedlings.