Richters ProGrowers Info
Richters ProGrowers Info |
Lemongrass
(Cymbopogon citratus, C. flexuosus) |
Market
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Products: (leaf); (stem); (herb);
Market size: 50,000 hectares (world), 2,600 ha (North America)
Prospects: prices stable, volume up
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Culture |
Seed density: C. flexuosus 2000-2400 seeds/gram
Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained, sandy loam, pH 5.5-6.5
Crop duration: 3-5 years
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Sowing rate: C. flexuosus 5-10kg/ha (direct).
Planting: C. citratus grown from cuttings only. Sow C. flexuosus in spring. Heavy feeder. Oil quality of C. citratus highest at 18-24 months.
Field spacing: C. citratus 100cm between rows x 45cm within rows; broadcast C. flexuosus, or sow in rows 60-100cm apart.
Yield: C. citratus dry herb 4-6t/ha, oil 30-40kg/ha (years 1-5); C. flexuosus dry herb 10-15t/ha, 80kg/ha (years 1-5).
Pests: no data
Diseases: C. citratus himantia web blight, myriogenospora tangletop, helminthosperium eyespot, papularia.
Buyers want: high citral content.
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Sowing rate: 5g/1000 plants.
Planting: sow C. flexuosus in plugs 13-14 weeks before sale. C. citratus grown from cuttings only.
Seeds to finished plugs: 10 weeks.
Plugs to saleable plants: 3-8 weeks.
Pests: spider mite, whitefly, mealybug
Diseases: few problems.
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Dried Production
 
Fresh Production
Oil Production
Potted Plant Production
Back to ProGrower Herb List
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