When to Plant Lemongrass in Alaska

Growing Lemongrass in Alaska: Complete Guide

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a warm-season crop that needs a head start indoors before Alaska's last frost. Depending on your zone, Alaska gardeners start seeds indoors between April 1, 2026 (Zone 1b) and March 23, 2027 (Zone 2a), then move transplants outside once their zone's last frost has passed — the zone table above has your exact dates.

Because Alaska stretches across 16 USDA hardiness zones (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b), planting windows can shift by as much as six to eight weeks from one end of the state to the other. Gardeners in the warmer southern zones can start earlier, while those in cooler northern zones should wait until the zone table above shows their last frost has passed.

With 100 days to maturity, Lemongrass needs the indoor head start that Alaska's growing season requires. Starting indoors ensures you have strong transplants ready the moment outdoor conditions are right.

Lemongrass requires full sun (6-8 hours) and moderate-high (1-2 inches/week) moisture. Alaska's long summer days accelerate growth, but frost can arrive early in August — season extension with row covers is essential.

For the most precise planting dates tailored to your exact location, enter your ZIP code on our planting calendar or use the zone table above to find the schedule for your area of Alaska.