Zone 7 · Herbs Growing Guide

When to Plant Lemongrass
in Zone 7

A tropical grass that doubles as a dramatic ornamental clump. Harvest stalks for curries, soups, and teas. In warm zones it's a large perennial — in cold zones, grow in a pot and bring indoors in winter.

Plant outdoors
Apr 1 – May 1
Start indoors
Feb 1 – Feb 15
Last Frost
~Mar 15
Days to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Easy
Growing — Zone 7
Harvest window: Jun – Nov

Planting Calendar

In Zone 7, Lemongrass should be planted outdoors Apr 1 – May 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Mar 15. Start seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 15 for a head start.

Can survive Zone 7 winters with very heavy mulching in mild years. Container overwintering safer.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
24–36 inches
Soil
Well-draining, fertile, moisture-retentive
Days to maturity
90–120 days
Soil pH
5.5–7.0
plant tip · Zone 7

Can survive Zone 7 winters with very heavy mulching in mild years. Container overwintering safer.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
high nitrogen
Key timing
throughout growing season

Tropical grass that loves nitrogen. Feed monthly during the growing season. Reduce feeding in autumn.

Companion Planting for Lemongrass

What you plant next to lemongrass makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Basil
  • Mint
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
Keep away from
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 7, start lemongrass seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 15, then transplant outdoors Apr 1 – May 1 after your last frost around Mar 15. Can survive Zone 7 winters with very heavy mulching in mild years. Container overwintering safer.
Zone 7 has an average last spring frost of approximately Mar 15 and a first fall frost around Nov 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for lemongrass include Basil, Mint, Tomatoes, Peppers. Avoid planting near Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Lemongrass typically takes 90–120 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 7. Expected harvest window: Jun – Nov.

Free app · iOS February 2028

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Lemongrass in other zones
Crop Guides