When to Plant Lemongrass in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Plant year round in Cairns. That includes right now, in September.

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 Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne 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 Tropical

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

P = Planting window

Plant year-round. Vigorous perennial.

Want a nudge when it is Lemongrass sowing time in Cairns?

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How to Grow Lemongrass in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant year-round. Vigorous perennial.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for Lemongrass

Recommended Varieties

  • Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian)
  • C. flexuosus (East Indian)

Key Challenges

  • Can become very large

Pro Tips

  • Set and forget
  • Divide clumps every 2-3 years

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 tropical zone this September: Ginger, Cucumber, Basil and Okra.

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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:

Does lemongrass grow all year round in Cairns?

Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Plant year-round. Vigorous perennial.

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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.