Botanical portrait
Lemon herb (Cymbopogon flexuosus) - a fast-growing plant, which in tropical climates can reach a height of 180 cm, in colder regions - up to 1 m. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are in the range of + 22 ... + 30 ° C. The leaves are light green, long, smooth, narrow, sharp (you can easily cut them like sedge leaves). It grows in a bundle, does not creep. It blooms, but its flowers are invisible against the background of a huge bunch of leaves. The leaves and stems have a pleasant citrus scent. Outside the tropical zone, the plant is grown in gardens, pots and greenhouses as an ornamental plant.
Growing lemongrass
In our climate, the cultivation of lemon grass is possible mainly through seedlings.
Sowing seeds... The seeds are sown in moist nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm. The container with the planted seeds is covered with a transparent film and left in a room with a temperature above + 20 ° C. Since the seedlings need a lot of sunlight, it is better to keep the seedlings in the southern window. Landing in open ground usually occurs in late May - early June. Before planting, the seedlings must be put outside for a day for several days, and brought into the house in the evening. Then leave the seedling boxes with lemongrass outside for several days and at night. And only after such acclimatization, the seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in the open ground.
In the open field in our country, the cultivation of this plant is possible only as an annual crop. The plant is very afraid of low temperatures and dies already at a temperature of + 5 ° C.
Lemongrass can only be grown in containers or crates as a perennial plant. In summer, such a container can be easily buried in the ground or simply placed next to a resting place in the garden. Its lemon scent will not only flavor the air, but also protect you from mosquitoes.
Pick-up location... Lemon grass loves the sun, although it can grow in areas with light shade. It is better to find a place in the garden for this plant that is sunny, closed from the north winds.
The soil... Soils are preferable light, well-drained, preferably sandy, with a slightly acidic pH reaction. Plants growing in sandy soils have a higher leaf yield and a higher citral content. Lemongrass grows well in swampy areas. The soil must be nutritious and constantly moist.
Watering... To provide the roots with the constant moisture they need, it is necessary to mulch the soil under the plant with a layer of mulch of at least 8-10 cm. Watering is necessary with abundant, preferably soft rainwater or warm, settled tap water.
Harvesting... Leaves and stems are cut as needed. For drying, cut lemongrass leaves are cut into small pieces and laid out under a canopy. Leaves should be dried as soon as possible within 24 hours, a conventional dryer can be used for this. Long periods of drying, such as in the sun, will cause the leaves to lose color and the quality of the aroma to decline. Dried lemongrass should be stored in airtight containers, preferably in glass jars.
Wintering... At the end of the warm season, the container with lemongrass is returned to the room. Even if the plant grew in the open field, if desired, it can be easily transplanted into a pot and also brought into the room, where it will continue to delight with its citrus aroma. This option will allow you to always have on hand and seasoning, and tea, and medicine. And the citrus scent of lemongrass not only refreshes, but also purifies the air in the room.
