How I use herbs - Lemongrass

Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus is a fragrant tropical grass. It can be grown in the sub-tropics and has many uses in the garden, as well as the kitchen. There are a few different species and I note that Australia has a native lemongrass. I think I'm actually growing the related Cymbopogon flexousus, due to the red stems of my plant, they all have similar properties though.

eight acres: how I grow and use lemongrass

dried lemongrass

How to grow lemongrass

Lemongrass grows in clumps and is easily propagated by division. I got my plant from my father-in-law who has some prolific specimens in his garden near Bundaberg. I'm not sure why my plant doesn't do as well, maybe I'm not watering it enough, or just in a slightly cooler climate here. It does die back in frost, but regrows in spring. Its in a drier corner of the garden, so it does well to keep growing even when I don't give it as much attention as I should.

When lemongrass grows in thick clumps it can be useful for stabilising erosion and for protecting other plants from pests or small grazing animals (such as rabbits). More information about using lemongrass in a permaculture food forest here. It would also be useful as a mulch plant if it was growing well.

its really hard to photograph grass

How to use lemongrass

Beekeepers have found that lemongrass essential oil mimics pheromones that attract swarms, so it can be used in bait hives to help with catching swarms.
Lemongrass is used in asian cooking and goes well with coconut milk and curries - I use it in a paleo pumpkin soup recipe with galangal and turmeric
I dry lemongrass and use it in tea, its very nice with ginger, both being good for digestion - this is the main way that I use this herb.
Lemongrass essential oil is used to repel insects (although not bees!) and I use it in my insect repellent with neem oil.
It is used topically for its anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties, and is thought to relieve pain from arthritis (either using the essential oil or a poultice of the fresh herb).
Lemongrass essential oil is known as a mood lifter.

Comments

MargaretPJune 15, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Thanks for the tips .....yes it does like to be a bit damp, you could try an unglazed terracotta pot (plug the drain hole with a cork,or silicone first) filled with water (it will seep out gradually into the soil) or a large plastic container with a drip hole, either way you just fill them up every so often while they sit near the plant.

Have you tried to extract the fragrance in any way to,use in your soap making? that would be a lovely refreshing soap.
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Nanna ChelJune 15, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Liz, I just checked Green Harvest to see which one we bought and it is the same as yours and they call it East Indian. Ours goes crazy here and hardly gets watered. There is a huge clump down the back which I really should do something with. I also have some growing near the back door in the herb garden.
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EllenJune 15, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Hi,Liz. Yes, I grow lemongrass in a couple of spots in the garden. I find it's very hardy and thrives under our back verandah next to our little watertank where it gets some early morning sun but where I also give it the odd drink, when I remember, as I'm filling my watering can.
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Phil PoggeauxJune 15, 2016 at 8:22 PM
I love making lemon grass and ginger sauce for asian style lamb with water chestnuts
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Mountain MumaJune 16, 2016 at 7:09 AM
I grow it in an area that gets hard frosts and sometimes even snow! It's in a big pot that lives on a sheltered north facing fence and is moved in the winter ( first frost to a south facing porch ). It looks ghastly by the end of winter, but comes good again in mid spring. I also have a curry leaf tree that I do the same with :) I use the lemon grass in hot drinks ( fresh usually ) and in Thai curries and Asian slow cooker dishes. I have also used the stems to infuse in a syrup to drizzle over a coconut cake!
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africanaussieJune 17, 2016 at 3:13 PM
I was growing the East Indian one the same as you, and found that it didnt create the nice big bulbs that I like to cook with. Our local market had some of those bulbs and I purchased those, rooted in a bit of water and planted out. so now I have both types. The East Indian type grows really huge here in the tropics and I often would cut it way back down and use it as mulch. I never watered it any differently to any of the other plants. (I water deeply with a soaker hose once or twice a week if there has been no rain.) I like to add some chopped lemongrass bulbs and coconut cream to my rice as I am cooking it. Yum
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Jembella FarmJune 17, 2016 at 9:37 PM
I couldn't be without my lemongrass. I love making a refreshing tea from it with dried nettles added, and in Thai curries. Dogs love to eat it too, :( so I have it growing in a couple of large pots that I move about to avoid the frost and the dogs.
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