Melissa officinalis L.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a member of the Mint family and is an easy to grow hardy perennial to zone 4. We will teach you how to grow lemon balm today. This is a great herb to start your herb garden with. It has many medicinal benefits and smells great. You might want to put it in a pot outdoors, (although you can grow it indoors too,) because it spreads like crazy.
Plant seeds in soilless seeding medium like Pro Mix or similar 6-8 weeks before transplanting outdoors, barely covering seeds with the soilless medium. Keep seeding medium slightly moist but not wet. I prefer to bottom water my seeding pots and trays by placing them in solid, water holding bottom tray.
If you direct seed outdoors you’ll get some to grow too, and eventually the plants will become prolific and spread. You may also purchase seedlings at a garden center during springtime. This plant grows 24-48 inches and can take full sun or part shade. Dead head flowers if you do not want Lemon Balm to spread in your garden.
Lemon Balm in open 8×4 trays with Soilless Potting Mix
New Seeds Emerging from Soilless Potting Mix (these are actually lettuce seeds)
Lemon Balm seeds are readily available. I buy my lemon balm seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Use leaves as tea, tincture or essential oil.
Use a sprig of fresh stem with leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried leaves to 8 oz. hot water. In our family we use about double this amount in order to get all the medicinal and vitamin kick we can.
Have a great time exploring with and growing with medicinal herbs. If you would like help with natural and alternative wellness solutions let me know.
Author/Herbalist/Organic Farmer
Brendan is a certified Family Herbalist through the school of Natural Healing and is available to help those seeking natural and herbal alternatives for their health. He offers in – office and phone consultations. Brendan offers one on one and group wellness coaching. He currently offers a 10 Day Herbal Detox for $175.00 including herbs and two coaching meetings.
Information contained herein is for educational purposes. Herbal materials are not approved by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure. See your healthcare professional for such.
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