Lemon grass

Description Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus, is a perennial grass in the family Poaceae grown for its fragrant leaves and stalks which are used as a flavoring. The grass grows in dense clumps and has several stiff stems and slender blade-like leaves which droop towards the tips. The leaves are blue-green in color, turning red in the Fall and emit a strong lemon fragrance when damaged. Lemongrass produces large compound flowers on spikes when grown in the tropics, but rarely flowers when grown in more Northern latitudes. Lemon grass can reach a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) and will grow for several years, typically its economical lifespan is 4 years. Lemongrass may also be referred to as ginger grass or citronella grass and likely originates from Sri Lanka or Malaysia although a wild form of the plant is not known. Uses The stalks (leaf bases) of the plant are commonly used to flavor dishes in Southeast Asian cooking. The heart of young shoots may be cooked and consumed as a vegetable. The tougher leaves are used to flavor dishes but are typically removed before serving. Leaves may also be used to make lemon grass tea. The essential oil extracted from the leaves is commonly used in insect repellents, perfumes and soaps. Propagation Basic requirements Lemongrass is a tropical plant and as such will grow best in warm, sunny and humid conditions of the tropics and subtropics. The plants can be grown at temperatures ranging from 10 to 33°C (50-91.4°F) but will grow optimally at tempe...

271766 shares • • • Lemongrass is a key ingredient in plenty of Asian cuisines and as you will discover as you read on, it is also useful in a wide range of other ways. But if you do not live in a tropical or subtropical climate zone, you might be forgiven for imagining that this is not a plant that you can grow where you live. You might be surprised to learn that you can grow it in your garden, and can even grow it in a cool temperate climate as long as you bring it indoors or undercover during the winter months. The key to success, if you live anywhere colder than zone 9a, is to grow it in containers. That way, you can easily move it somewhere with more protection during the coldest part of the year. In cooler temperate climate zones, where even summer temperatures are not that high, it would usually be best to grow it indoors, or in a greenhouse. What is Lemongrass? Lemongrass, also known as Citronella grass, goes by the Latin name Cymbopogon citratus. It probably originated in Sri Lanka or Malaysia, though it is not known in the wild. This is a tropical, evergreen perennial grass that is commonly cultivated outdoors in the tropics, subtropics, and warmer temperate climate zones. It is also increasingly popular for growing in containers in cooler climate zones. When it is grown in ideal conditions, the plant can reach a size of 1.5m high and 1.5m wide. Though of course when grown in containers it is unlikely to get that large. Lemongrass is a plant that really does requ...

Where to Buy Lemongrass You can find fresh lemongrass in most Asian food and grocery stores. It is usually located with the other fresh produce and is often sold in bundles of two or three stalks. When buying fresh lemongrass, look for stalks that are fragrant, tightly formed, and of a lemony-green color on the lower stalk (near the bulb), then turning to a truer green at the end of the stalk. The Spruce / Diana Chistruga Remove the Tough Outer Leaves The softer, fleshier part of the lemongrass (which is what you want to use in your cooking) is located under the tough outer leaves. Peel away these layers with your fingers and discard them. What you will uncover is a pale yellow stalk that is softer and easier to slice. The Spruce / Diana Chistruga With lemongrass, very little is wasted. You can use the upper, reserved stalk to add even more flavor and fragrance to soups and curries. Simply make several superficial cuts along the length of the stalk with your serrated knife. Then, holding the lemongrass at either end, gently bend it several times to "bruise" it. This will release the fragrance and flavor. Now throw the stalk into your soup or curry pot.

Lemongrass is a versatile herb that is relatively easy to grow yourself. Featuring bright green, wispy stalks and a crisp scent, it can be grown directly in the garden, in a container, or even indoors—which means you can give it a try pretty much any time of the year. Read on to learn how to grow lemongrass on your own, discover lemongrass varieties, and receive expert harvesting tips. Growing From Seed Lemongrass seed will germinate best in warm, moist soil. You can try sowing the seeds directly outside if you wait for the danger of frost to pass, but you might have better luck starting them indoors. Give seeds a rich, organic soil, and keep them moist regularly with a spray bottle. When they are a few inches tall, thin them out. Then, at around six inches tall, move them outside. Treehugger / Lexie Doehner If you grow lemongrass in a pot, it’s best to bring it inside during colder months and keep it as a houseplant. This is a plant that grows in clumps, so as it gets established, it is easy to split; just make sure to break it up by clumps before moving it to a new garden spot or pot. Treehugger / Lexie Doehner Lemongrass is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. It does best in loamy, well-draining soil. If you think you have unideal soil, consider adding organic matter, which you can find locally or from your compost pile. This will improve your soil structure and benefit other nearby plants and veggies as well. Treehugger / Lexie Doehner It is important to know ...

• Acèh • Afrikaans • العربية • Asturianu • Banjar • Български • Català • Cebuano • Cymraeg • Dagbanli • Dansk • Deutsch • Eesti • Español • Euskara • فارسی • Français • Galego • 한국어 • हिन्दी • Bahasa Indonesia • Íslenska • Italiano • עברית • Kapampangan • Kiswahili • Kreyòl ayisyen • Latina • Lietuvių • Македонски • Bahasa Melayu • မြန်မာဘာသာ • Nederlands • 日本語 • Norsk bokmål • پنجابی • Polski • Português • Română • Русский • Sakizaya • संस्कृतम् • සිංහල • Simple English • سنڌي • Српски / srpski • Sunda • Suomi • Svenska • தமிழ் • తెలుగు • Lea faka-Tonga • Türkçe • Українська • Tiếng Việt • Winaray • 吴语 • 粵語 • 中文 ( • Andropogon sect. Cymbopogon (Spreng.) Steud. • Andropogon subg. Cymbopogon (Spreng.) Nees • Gymnanthelia Andersson Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of Citrus limon). The name cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe ( κύμβη, 'boat') and pogon ( πώγων, 'beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes." Uses [ ] Culinary [ ] C. citratus from the tanglad Citronella grass ( 6 + 1⁄ 2 feet) and have magenta-colored base stems. These species are used for the production of East Indian lemongrass ( C. citratus is more suitable for cooking. In India, C. citratus is used as a medical herb and in perfumes. C. citratus is consumed as a tea for anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine, Medical [ ] Medicinal...

Lemongrass Benefits Lemongrass can help with a variety of common ailments, like anxiety, common colds, fever, inflammation, and insomnia. When taken orally, lemongrass is often used to calm stomach discomfort and other gastrointestinal issues, including cramps and vomiting. Lemongrass tea is known to treat stomach ailments, indigestion, and gastric ulcers by protecting the stomach lining. While animal studies and very limited lab studies have supported some of these lemongrass uses, human evidence is lacking to support these wide-ranging medicinal benefits. There are a few studies, however, that support certain limited lemongrass benefits. Preliminary research has suggested that lemongrass oil added to a hair tonic may be able to reduce dandruff. More studies are needed to confirm this benefit. Lemongrass Essential Oil Benefits Lemongrass essential oil has been studied for its many benefits beyond what can be gained from consuming the plant matter. Lemongrass essential oil contains a significant amount of various bioactive compounds, such as citral, isoneral, isogeranial, geraniol, geranyl acetate, citronellal, citronellol, germacrene-D, and elemol. These compounds have antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Lemongrass Nutrition One tablespoon of fresh lemongrass provides about five Lemongrass is a source of fiber, carbohydrates, and vitamins A, B, and C that strengthens the body's immune system, repair tissue damage, and promote cell...

• Dried and cut stalks of lemongrass: Compared to fresh lemongrass, dried lemongrass has an earthier flavor with less brightness. But it does retain some of the complexity of the fresh variety, and it is a solid option for simmering in soups and curries. • Dried lemongrass stalks ground into a powder: Ground lemongrass or lemongrass powder is ideal for soup, curry, or stir-fry. Start with just a pinch, as the ground form is quite potent. • Slice off the bottom root of the stalk. • Cut several inches off the top of the stalk to remove the woody ends. Depending on the size of the lemongrass, you will likely be left with four to six inches of remaining stalk. • Peel away a few layers of the stalk until you reveal the pale, inner core. When you've reached the inner core, you should be able to slice into the herb with little resistance.