| Lemon grass is one of the wonder plants. It has many | | | | Synchronize the site preparation with the purchase of |
| benefits. It can easily be grown at home for personal | | | | the seedlings. Planting is preferred to be done in the |
| consumption or commercially in a large farm. It is | | | | raining season, to reduce the need of watering. Clear |
| widely used in the Asian cuisine to provide the specific | | | | the land and plough is twice, the final is using the rotor. |
| taste and smell, peculiar to lemongrass. The oil | | | | 3. Planting and first month. Planting stage can be done |
| extracted from its leaves is used in the manufacture | | | | two weeks after the soil preparation stage. Align the |
| of soaps and candles and for thousands of years, it | | | | holes in grids of 3 by 4 feet and insert three seedlings |
| had been used to cure various ailments ranging from | | | | into each hole. Water it immediately. The plants will |
| stomach cramps to arthritic pain. | | | | need daily watering for initial 7 days. Then weekly |
| Planting it on commercial scale is rather easy as the | | | | round for a month to replace the dead seedlings. After |
| plant can grow effectively in almost any soil condition. It | | | | the first month, the replacement of the dead seedlings |
| requires a warm tropical weather with a lot of | | | | should stop. |
| sunshine. As it is easily grown, it had created a high | | | | 4. Growing Stage: Lemon grass does not require close |
| market competition causing a drop in price. | | | | attention while growing. Fertilize is monthly for the first |
| The followings are the suggested steps to grow it on | | | | three month. Clear the weeds manually. The plants |
| commercial basis: | | | | does not have natural enemies and insets do not |
| 1. Planning stage:a. Secure the market. As the planting | | | | attack the leaves or roots. |
| cycle is about 6 months, securing buyers is one of the | | | | 5. Harvesting and marketing: Harvesting is the most |
| critical elements of the project.b. Equip yourself with | | | | difficult and time consuming task as has to be done |
| the necessary skills and knowledge. It will be a good | | | | manually. Depending on the contract with the buyer, |
| idea to attend courses and seek advice from the | | | | the lemon grass can be harvesting in 3 ways |
| agricultural authority.c. Familiarize with the list of | | | | depending its usage. For oil extract, cut the leave about |
| suppliers of seedlings and equipments. They can be a | | | | one foot from the ground. You can repeat this cycle |
| source for information and advice.d. Plan the detail of | | | | monthly for 4 times (4 months). For seedlings, when |
| the project. The project can be divided into 4 steps.i. | | | | harvesting, leave a small amount of roots and cutoff |
| Site preparationii. Planting and first month.iii. Growing | | | | the leaves leaving about a foot length of the stalk. If it |
| Stageiv. Harvesting and Marketing. | | | | is to be marketed for consumption, the harvesting is |
| 2. Site preparation. Evaluate the site with an expert to | | | | similar to that for the seedlings except the roots have |
| check for suitability of the soil. Although lemongrass | | | | to be cut-off. |
| can be grown in a wide range of soil conditions, it | | | | With proper planning and controlled implementation, |
| would require specific treatment and fertilizing | | | | growing lemongrass can be a profitable proposition. |
| techniques for different soil type. This treatment can | | | | The demand for the product has increased as the |
| add up to the cost. | | | | Asian foods are widely accepted by the West. |