Organic Lemon Balm
As low as €3,90 per package
- Traditionally valued as a medicinal herb
- Lemon Balm can be grown indoors or directly outdoors.
- Fresh or dried leaves make a great cold or hot tea
- 0.5g per pack (enough to plant 15 square meters!)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Like to grow a garden filled with the aromatic Lemon Balm herb, from freshly harvested Melissa officinalis seeds? Lemon Balm is a highly sought after herb, used mainly for its leaves. The aromatic foliage can be used to make refreshing lemon balm tea or added to soups and oils for a tangy lemon flavour. Lemon balm flowers are particularly attractive to bees giving rise to its other name, bee balm.
Lemon Balm plants will produce small white flowers, during the summer months. These flowers can attract all sorts of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees and even hummingbirds as well.
Lemon Balm is categorized as a perennial flowering herb, which produces year after year. The plants grow quickly in the first season, establishing a deep root system to later return after the killing frost has passed. Flowers for the Lemon Balm herb may not appear until the second successful growing season.
How to grow Lemon Balm from seeds
Sow lemon balm from late March to May on the surface of a good seed compost and cover with a sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 20-25C or seal it inside a polythene bag. Keep the compost slightly dry at all times. Do not exclude light as this aids germination which usually takes up to 21 days.
When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow them on in cooler conditions until large enough to plant outdoors. When lemon balm plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatize them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors in full sun on any moist, well drained soil at a distance of 30cm apart. Lemon balm plants will tolerate poor soils. This herb is vigorous, but growing lemon balm in containers will help to restrict its growth.
Watering:
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 2.5cm of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Read more frequently asked questions about growing Lemon Balm from seed
Fast Facts
- Article number:
- DB-LEM26-1
- Botanical Name:
- Melissa officinalis
- Common Name:
- Lemon Balm, Bee Balm
- Days to germinate:
- 10-14 days
- Days to maturity:
- 70 days
- Flowering time:
- June, July, August, September
- Hardiness and Longevity:
- Hardy Perennial
- Height:
- Up To 80cm
- Ideal For:
- Patio, Ground Cover, Cottage Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Kitchen Gardens
- Spread:
- Up To 45cm
- Starting Indoors:
- Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 20-25C or seal it inside a polythene bag.
- Starting Outdoors:
- When lemon balm plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatize them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days.
- Sunlight:
- Full sun