Has anyone got tips for growing lemon grass?

Helix

I’ve got three lemon grass seedlings germinated, which I reckon are ready to pot on. 

What soil would be best? All the books say as ever ‘moist and well drained’, which is an ideal I struggle to achieve.  We can’t get John Innes here so my usual is a mix of some supermarket compost, sharp sand and home made leaf & grass clippings compost.  It can be quite solid so would that do do you think?  

And in full sun or partial shade?

And all three in one big pot or separately?

Skandi

I keep it in a similar place to tomatoes, I have two in pots filled with garden soil. last year I left one infront of a south facing wall (full sun) and the other in the greenhouse (half shade) both did well but the one in the greenhouse did better, I think it was the extra heat rather than the partial shade, but either is possible! I've had mine 5 years now I keep them as a houseplant over winter, they don't seem very fussy.

Helix

I’m probably as cold as you in winter, so lots of things come indoors!  I only had one seedling last year and it never grew at all,  just sat there with 4 or 5 leaves all summer and then died.  So I’ll put them with the tomatoes and see if that helps thanks.

Obelixx

Where are you Helix?

Can't get John Innes and Levington's formulae composts here either but I do now avoid the ones that equate to multi-purpose because their texture is claggy so poor for drainage.   Best used as soil improver rather than planting medium for seeds, seedlings and even mature plants.

Helix

Eastern France, up in mountains close to swiss border.  And entirely agree re multipurpose stuff.  It baffles me why French centres don’t sell as wide a range as in UK - and trying to find peat free compost is hard too.   What do you use?

Obelixx

I'll nip out tomorrow when it's light and tell you.