When & How to Harvest Lemongrass
Harvesting lemongrass is a matter of thinning stalks from an established clump rather than pulling a whole plant, which lets one healthy clump supply the kitchen all season. The goal is to take the mature outer stalks while leaving the center to keep growing. With regular cutting, a single well-fed plant produces steadily from midsummer until frost.
How to tell it is ready
Stalks are ready when they reach about the thickness of a pencil up to roughly half an inch and the base feels firm and slightly swollen. A mature stalk has a pale, bulbous lower section that is the part used in cooking. If the base is still thin and grassy all the way down, give the clump more time.
How to harvest
Grasp an outer stalk low near the soil line and cut it off at the base with a sharp knife, or twist and pull it free from the clump. Always take the oldest, thickest outer stalks first and leave the younger central shoots to mature. If you want to move or multiply the plant, dig up a section of the clump with roots attached to use as a division.
Timing
Lemongrass is typically ready to start harvesting about 75 to 100 days after transplanting, and you can keep cutting through summer and into fall until frost threatens. Harvest in the morning when the stalks are hydrated and the aroma is strongest, and make repeated passes every week or two as new stalks size up. In cold regions, take a final larger harvest before the first frost, since the plant will not survive freezing weather outdoors.
After the harvest
Trim off the grassy green tops and the root end, then rinse the stalks to remove any soil. No curing is needed, so use them fresh, or refrigerate them wrapped in a damp cloth, or freeze the tender base for later. Peel away the tough outer layers just before cooking to reach the softer core.
Tips
Cut a few extra stalks when you harvest and freeze them so you are not left short in winter. Keep the plant well watered and fed so it continually pushes new stalks to replace what you take. Save the fibrous tops and outer peels for simmering in stocks and teas instead of throwing them away.
General guidance for US home gardens. Timing varies by variety and region; check your local frost dates. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.