When to Plant Lemongrass in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Lemongrass guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 17 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
A tropical perennial grass forming dense clumps to 1.5m tall. The swollen stem bases provide lemony flavour essential to Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cooking. Frost-tender. Dies at sustained temperatures below 5C.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Plant divisions in spring once frost has passed so they establish before winter. Frost cuts it back, so choose a sheltered warm spot.
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How to Grow Lemongrass in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Needs heat and light.
- Spacing
- 60cm apart, 90cm between rows
- Watering
- Regular deep watering in growing season. Reduce in winter.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Tomato, Basil, Capsicum, Thyme
- Keep away from
- Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Fennel, Mint
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Lemongrass
Recommended Varieties
- Cymbopogon citratus
Key Challenges
- High water needs
- Frost at altitude
Pro Tips
- Needs regular irrigation, not drought tolerant
- Mulch heavily
- Can form large clumps with water
Pests and problems for Lemongrass in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Lemongrass
When ready: Harvest when stalks 1cm+ thick at base and 30cm+ tall. Usually 3-4 months after planting.
How to harvest: Twist and pull outer stalks from base. Use bottom 10-15cm (swollen white base). Peel tough outer layers.
Storing and preserving lemongrass
How to keep it
- Freezing whole stalks. Trim to 15cm, peel outer layers. Freeze whole. Slice frozen directly into cooking. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing paste. Blend stalks with a little water. Freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 6 months.
- Drying. Slice thinly, dehydrate at 50C for 6-8 hours. Rehydrate before cooking. Keeps: 12 months.
What lemongrass costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Lemongrass
When do you plant lemongrass in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Nov to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
When should I plant Lemongrass in Alice Springs?
Plant divisions in spring once frost has passed so they establish before winter. Frost cuts it back, so choose a sheltered warm spot.
How do I know when Lemongrass are ready to harvest?
Harvest when stalks 1cm+ thick at base and 30cm+ tall. Usually 3-4 months after planting.
What are the best Lemongrass varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Cymbopogon citratus.
What grows well with Lemongrass?
Good companion plants for Lemongrass include: Nasturtium, Tomato, Basil, Capsicum, Thyme.
Are lemongrass salt tolerant?
Only a little. Lemongrass are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.