Which Variety Of Lemon Grass Is Best?

East Indian: An heirloom variety that contains many essential oils with medicinal benefits. Hardy in zones 9 to 11. West Indian: This variety is the most popular cooking variety and is often used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It’s also sometimes called Ornamental Lemongrass.

Which lemongrass variety is best?

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, the best known cultivated variety is ornamental lemongrass ​(Cymbopogon citratus)​, which is prominently featured in Cambodian, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. The plant lends a lemony aroma and flavor to soups, curries, teas and other beverages.

What are the different types of lemongrass?

LemongrassLower classificationsTwo varieties are commonly found in nurseries: West Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and East Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus). Both can be used for cooking, but the thicker West Indian variety is better.

What type of lemongrass is used for tea?

Cymbopogon citratus
The lemongrass plant is also commonly known as tanglad, barbed wire grass, citronella grass, and silky heads. The plant has many different species including citronella grass, but the species used for tea is largely Cymbopogon citratus.

Can you eat East Indian lemongrass?

The bottom bulb is the section most commonly used in savory dishes, while the green leaves are mostly used for brewing teas. East Indian lemongrass, or Malabar grass, is a great option for gardeners since it’s resistant to rust that plagues the West Indian variety and is a rigorous grower.

How do you grow lemongrass thicker?

Lemongrass likes it hot, so grow it in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Space plants 24 inches apart. Kick off the growing season by mixing several inches aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.

What soil is good for growing lemongrass?

Choose a location with full sun and well-draining, nitrogen-rich soil. Plant individual seeds six inches apart. Only put a sprinkling of soil over the seeds, as they need plenty of light to be able to germinate.

Which lemongrass is not edible?

Cymbopogon citratus
Lemon grass oil is extracted from lemon grass and the inedible type of lemon grass commonly referred to as citronella grass.

Does lemongrass keep mosquitoes away?

In any case, citronella and lemongrass are used extensively as a natural mosquito repellent. Both of them contain the compound citronella that helps to mask the scents that mosquitoes rely on to target hosts which is carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

Can you eat all of lemongrass?

You can use lemongrass whole, sliced or pounded to a paste. To use whole, slice off the very bottom of the stalk, and peel off any dried-out layers, then bash the woody top end with a rolling pin to soften, and help release some of the aromatic oils.

What happens if you drink lemongrass tea everyday?

The results of a 2015 study suggest that drinking lemongrass tea infusions daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the body.

Is it OK to drink lemongrass tea everyday?

There isn’t enough research on lemongrass tea to recommend a standard dosage for any condition. For dosing recommendations, consult your doctor or a qualified natural health practitioner. To limit your risk of side effects, start with one cup daily. If you tolerate this well, you can drink more.

What are the side effects of lemongrass tea?

Rarely, lemongrass oil might cause a rash of skin irritation when applied to the skin. However, there have been some toxic side effects, such as lung problems after inhaling lemongrass and a fatal poisoning after a child swallowed a lemongrass oil-based insect repellent.

How do I know if my lemongrass is edible?

Only the tender part of the bottom third–a tightly packed bulb–of the lemongrass is edible. This part can be sliced or pounded after the tough outer leaves or layers are removed. Once the fibrous inner stem is finely, finely sliced, you can add it raw to salads.

Is West Indian lemongrass edible?

Food: a good source of vitamin A, the leaves can be used for tea, the stem bases are used in curries and Thai cooking.

Should I cut back my lemongrass?

Pruning lemongrass plants is a good idea for keeping them a manageable size as well as encouraging new growth. Cutting lemongrass stalks for cooking will keep the plant somewhat in check, but lemongrass grows so quickly that extra pruning is often necessary.

Can lemongrass be planted in pots?

To grow lemongrass in pots, choose a 5-gallon or larger container (minimum 14 inches across). Use too small a pot, and lemongrass roots will likely break it. With ample water and fertilizer, these roots bulk up and spread out. Fill pots with a commercial potting mix designed for use in containers.

Does lemongrass grow back every year?

Lemongrass is a tender perennial meaning that it does come back every year so long as you take care of it properly. Lemongrass will die if it is exposed to cold weather and frost so while it can live outside all year round in USDA zones 8b and 9, it will need to be taken indoors in other zones.

Does lemongrass need a lot of sun?

Lemongrass should be grown in full sun and should receive a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day although it will still grow a little slower in 3-5 hours as well.

Is lemongrass easy to grow?

Growing lemongrass is super easy. Once the plants is established, it will propagate itself, new plants will start growing by the side of existing stalks. Lemongrass will grow into hefty shrub in about 4-6 months and ready for harvest. Once you get the plants growing, you’ll have almost unlimited supply lemongrass.

How do you fertilize lemongrass?

Fertilizer. As a grassy plant, lemongrass needs a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for its best growth. You can use a slow-release 6-4-0 fertilizer that will feed throughout the growing season. You can also water with manure tea, which will add trace nutrients.