Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart.

Photo: Betty Cai, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Transplant (Spring)

From a plantRecommended from a plant
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Transplant (Fall)

From a plant
  1. Plant out13 weeks before your first fall frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors7 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Direct Sow (Spring)

From seed
  1. Sow outdoors1 week after your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Growing lemon balm

Spacing in the row
18 in (46 cm)
Between rows
24 in (61 cm)
Planting depth
1/8 inch
Sun
Partial Shade
Soil
Well-drained, adaptable to various soil types, pH balanced.
Germination
7-14 days at 65-70°F
Harvest season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Mature height
24-36 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 4
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow seeds shallowly, barely covering with soil, as light aids germination.

Watering. Maintain consistent moisture during establishment; tolerates moderate drought once mature.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Feeding

Seedlings
Apply a light balanced liquid feed after the emergence of true leaves.
Growing
Minimal; annual application of compost or a balanced granular fertilizer in spring is sufficient.
Flowering and fruiting
N/A, primary focus is vegetative growth for foliage harvest.
How often
Once a year, in early spring, for established plants.
Note
Over-fertilization can diminish the concentration of essential oils and reduce foliage quality.

Your lemon balm, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add lemon balm to your planting calendar →

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