When to Plant Lemongrass in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Plant November to January. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is November.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Lemongrass guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Lemongrass

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Reliable perennial in tropical to warm-temperate zones, a pot plant or annual in cooler zones.

Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
P - - - - - - - - - P P

P = Planting window

Plant Nov-Jan only. Treat as annual or pot plant.

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How to Grow Lemongrass in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant Nov-Jan only. Treat as annual or pot plant.

Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.
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.

Companion plants: Ginger, Turmeric, Most tropical plants

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Lemongrass

Recommended Varieties

  • Cymbopogon citratus

Key Challenges

  • Will not survive winter outdoors
  • Short growing season

Pro Tips

  • Container growing only
  • Bring indoors before first frost
  • Start from shop-bought stalks rooted in water in August

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.

Where to next

What lemongrass costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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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:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.