Herb growing guide
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Sun
Full sun
Season
Cool
Maturity
70 to 90 days
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.5 to 7.5
Spacing
18 to 24 in
Planting lemon balm
Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost or sow directly in spring. Like its mint relatives, it spreads; containers or dedicated corners suit it best.
Planting details
- Seed needs light; press into the surface
- Spacing: 18 to 24 inches
- Self-sows freely if flowers go to seed
Growing requirements
Lemon balm tolerates sun or partial shade and ordinary soil. It asks for little beyond occasional water and space to spread.
Harvesting and care
Shear back midseason to renew tender growth and prevent seeding. Harvest young leaves for tea; older leaves turn coarse and lose fragrance.
Common mistakes
- Letting it go to seed, which peppers the bed with volunteers
- Planting in rich beds where it outgrows and crowds neighbors
- Harvesting old growth, which has little of the lemon scent left
Companion plants
Give lemon balm its own corner or container, as with other mint-family plants. Bees visit the small white flowers heavily if you let it bloom.