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How to Grow Lemongrasses UK | Regional Planting Calendar
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USU: plant after the danger of frost has passed; applied here as a May planting window given lemongrass's frost tenderness.
Midlands - detail & sources
USU: plant after the danger of frost has passed; applied here as a May planting window given lemongrass's frost tenderness.
Northern England - detail & sources
Same May planting window as elsewhere in the UK. A real caution kept honest: RHS is clear this tender perennial will not survive an unprotected UK winter anywhere in the country and must be brought indoors below 7C (45F), so no meaningful north/south distinction applies -- it is always treated as tender.
Scotland - detail & sources
Same May planting window as elsewhere in the UK. A real caution kept honest: RHS is clear this tender perennial will not survive an unprotected UK winter anywhere in the country and must be brought indoors below 7C (45F), so no meaningful north/south distinction applies -- it is always treated as tender.
Fertile, free-draining soil (RHS); USU: well-drained, moist, rich loam with high organic content.
Lifecycle
Clump-forming, tender perennial grass. RHS states it needs at least 13C (55F) to thrive and must come indoors before overnight temperatures fall below 7C (45F) -- it will not survive an unprotected UK winter. USU agrees it is a tender perennial, grown as an annual in cooler areas unless overwintered indoors; USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
Plant after the danger of frost has passed, or grow in containers indoors (USU). RHS: choose a container slightly wider and deeper than the current pot, using peat-free compost; in-ground spacing at least 30cm (1ft) apart. USU: 3ft apart in the ground, since plants reach 3-6ft tall and 3ft wide.
Establishment care
3
USU: water regularly and mist, hand-watering or flood irrigation (avoid overhead sprinklers); fertilize weekly at half strength June-September for containers, monthly for ground plants. Needs full sun and warm, humid conditions to thrive (RHS; USU).
Harvest
8
RHS: harvest May-September, selecting stems with swollen bases at the clump's edge, cut or pulled off low down; use only the lower 10cm (4in) of stem for the best flavour. USU: alternatively wait until stalks reach about 1/2in thick, or harvest at the end of the season just before the first fall frost; cut at ground level or twist and pull.
Overwintering and propagation
0
RHS: must move indoors before overnight temperatures fall below 7C (45F), kept in a bright spot above that threshold -- will not survive an unprotected UK winter. USU: save a 6in section of the bulbous shoot base with roots to overwinter indoors. Propagate by dividing established clumps in spring, each section with a good set of roots and several strong stems (RHS); USU notes it is rarely grown from seed.
When to pick: RHS: harvest May-September, selecting stems with swollen bases at the edge of the clump, cut or pulled off low down; USU adds an alternative trigger -- once stalks reach about 1/2in thick, or at the end of the growing season just before the first fall frost.
Storage
RHS: use only the lower 10cm (4in) of stem for the best flavour. USU: freezes for up to 6 months.
Named directly by USU as "little leaf/grassy shoot," causing stunted growth -- a phytoplasma disease, left at genus level since USU does not specify further.
Lemongrass rust
low
Named directly by RHS as occasionally damaging foliage; no pathogen species specified.
Lemongrass leaf blight
low
Named directly by USU: reddish-brown spots; no pathogen species specified.
Site: warm sunny position, full sun, fertile free-draining soil; needs at least 13C (55F) to thrive. Planting: container slightly wider/deeper than current pot, peat-free compost; in-ground spacing at least 30cm (1ft) apart; plant at the same depth as previously grown. Overwintering: bring indoors before overnight temperatures fall below 7C (45F); keep in a bright position above 7C; won't survive unprotected UK winters. Harvest: growing season, usually May-September; select stems with swollen bases at the edge of the clump, cut or pull off as low as possible; use only the lower 10cm (4in) of stem, best flavour. Problems: glasshouse whitefly on greenhouse-grown plants; rust occasionally damages foliage. Propagation: divide established clumps in spring, cutting the rootball into sections each with a good set of roots and several strong stems.
Soil: well-drained, moist, rich loam, high organic content; work fertilizer into top 6in, no more than 1in well-composted organic matter per 100 sq ft. Light: full sun. Climate: warm, humid; tender perennial, grown as annual in cooler Utah areas. Spacing: 3ft apart, plants reach 3-6ft tall and 3ft wide. Planting: after danger of frost has passed, or grow in containers indoors. Propagation: division of clumps or nursery starts, rarely from seed; for overwintering, save a 6in section of the bulbous shoot base with roots. Watering/feeding: regular watering and misting, hand-water or flood irrigation (avoid sprinklers); fertilize weekly at half strength June-September (container), monthly for ground plants. Harvest: end of growing season just before first fall frost, or once stalks reach 1/2in thick; cut at ground level or twist and pull off; freezes up to 6 months. Pests/diseases: spider mites (mainly indoor problem, treat with insecticidal soap); leaf blight (reddish-brown spots); little leaf/grassy shoot (stunted growth); generally free of pests and diseases when grown correctly.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow lemongrasses in the UK?
In Southern England, from early May. In Scotland, wait until early May. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow lemongrasses?
Sow early May to late May.
What problems affect lemongrasses?
Our data links 3 diseases and 2 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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