Lemongrass is a fragrant herb that is often used in cooking, but it’s also a great ornamental plant. If you want to grow lemongrass in your garden, then it’s important to know how tolerant it is of cold weather and frost.
In this article, we will discuss everything related to protection against frost, including when and why it can happen, as well as what temperatures kill lemongrass plants. I also share tips on how to help lemongrass survive freezing temperatures by overwintering them indoors or out!
Can Lemongrass Survive Frost?
Lemongrass is a tropical plant that thrives in warm, humid climates. If you live in a particularly cold area of the world, then you might be wondering if it can survive frost. The good news is that lemongrass does tend to survive most frosts, but it may not do well if it gets too cold.
Lemongrass likes temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees F (21-29 C), with high humidity levels. Lemongrass also needs plenty of sunlight and even water once or twice a week. You should keep your lemongrass indoors during the winter months if possible because this will help protect it from cold weather.
How Tolerant Is Lemongrass To Cold Weather
Lemongrass can grow outside year-round in warm climates. In cooler climates, it will die back and need to be brought indoors during the winter months or planted in a pot that’s protected from frost.
If you live in an area that gets cold winters, your lemongrass may not survive unless you take steps to protect it from frost and low temperatures. If you live in zone 10 or higher (and have containers large enough for the plant), then you’re in luck—lemongrass is hardy down into those zones!
If your area gets really cold during the winter months and even into springtime, then consider bringing your plants inside before temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) or moving them into pots as soon as they go dormant.
Will Lemongrass Come Back After a Freeze?
Yes, lemongrass will come back after a freeze. Lemongrass is perennial and will grow back from its roots after it’s picked. The next year, your lemongrass will be even more robust than it was the previous year.
You can help your lemongrass survive frost by covering it with a blanket or row cover during cold weather. If you want to keep frost from hurting your lemongrass again in the future, try planting it in a pot on wheels so that you can move it into an unheated garage or shed for the winter months.
How to Help Lemongrass Survive a Frost
If you live in an area that’s prone to frost, you may want to take extra steps to make sure your lemongrass plants survive. Here are some tips:
- Covering with a blanket or sheet is one of the easiest ways to protect your lemongrass from cold weather. Just drape them on top of the plant like a cape and tuck them under the sides so nothing can get underneath. Be sure not to cover any buds if you’re trying for flowers!
- Covering with a plastic tarp is another option if you want something more durable than a sheet or fabric blanket. This would probably be best for covering larger areas where there aren’t any buds yet that could get damaged by plastic touching them.
- Covering with a row cover will give more protection but might also cause other problems because it prevents air circulation which can lead to mold growth and damp roots (yuck). If using this method make sure there are holes cut around each stem so they’re able to breathe while still staying protected against wind and frost damage.
What Temperatures Will Kill Lemongrass?
Lemongrass will not survive when temperatures are below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re looking to grow lemongrass indoors during the winter months and want it to survive the cold season outdoors afterward, then it’s best not to plant them in soil together with other perennials like mints and thyme—instead, consider planting them in their own pots. This will allow you more control over their environment (for instance: changing the potting mix) and make caring for your plants easier overall throughout the year.
Can I Overwinter Lemongrass?
Lemongrass is a perennial plant that can survive the winter, but it will need to be brought inside before the first frost of the season. It will die back to the ground in the fall and come back up again when the weather warms up.
If you have lemongrass growing in your garden, you may want to bring it indoors so that you can enjoy its wonderful fragrance all year long! To do this:
- Cut off any leaves that are still green at their bases (leaves will turn brown as they dry). This will prevent them from rotting when exposed to moisture and bacteria for an extended period of time.
- Place your cuttings on top of newspaper or cardboard; try not to let them touch each other or anything else unless they’re wrapped up tightly with paper towels/newspaper/etc., because touching plants can cause mold growth over time – especially if there’s enough humidity around like there would be during an extended period indoors (like maybe during winter months).
Do You Cut Back Lemongrass In Winter?
If you live in a cool climate, you may need to cut back on the lemongrass during the winter months so that it does not become winter-burned or die from a lack of water.
You will want to cut back your lemongrass after it has been growing for about six weeks during the winter months if you live in a cooler climate where temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) at night.
To do this, simply cut off all of the stems down to about three inches above ground level when they begin to turn brown and wither away during the winter months; this will help promote new growth later on in spring when temperatures start warming up again.
Will Lemongrass Come Back Every Year?
Lemongrass is very hardy and can withstand many different types of climates. It does need to be kept watered well during the summer months, but other than that it is fairly low maintenance.
Lemongrass will come back every year if you take care of it properly. You should divide the plant after it has reached about 12 inches tall to ensure that your lemongrass thrives for many years to come. It’s also important to keep an eye on your lemongrass plants so that you can harvest them in the fall before they go dormant for the winter months.
What Happens To Lemongrass In The Winter?
In the winter, lemongrass will lose its leaves but continue to grow new ones in the spring. If you live in a warm climate where lemongrass can be grown outdoors year-round, you can leave it out all year long without any problems.
If you live somewhere where winters get cold, however, you may want to bring your plant indoors during this time of year so it doesn’t get damaged by freezing temperatures or snowfall.
Conclusion
If your lemongrass does get too cold during the winter months and dies back completely, don’t give up hope! Just cut off any dead parts as soon as they appear and try again next year!
