In my opinion, no herb garden is truly complete without lemon balm. This versatile herb doesn’t just add a fresh zing to your favorite dishes; when prepared correctly, it also packs some pretty impressive healing properties. Ready to add some to your backyard? Here’s everything you need to know to get your lemon balm thriving.
Planting Lemon Balm: The Essentials
Growing lemon balm is a total breeze, even if you don’t have a green thumb. To get the best results, we’re going to dive into these four key areas:
- Starting your seeds the right way
- Finding the perfect spot in your garden
- Timing your planting perfectly
- Step-by-step planting tips
With just a little bit of TLC, you’ll be harvesting this fragrant herb in no time.
Starting Your Seeds
I always recommend starting your lemon balm seeds indoors. This gives the young plants a head start so they can grow nice and strong once they hit the garden. You can start this process as early as March. Grab a small pot, fill it with seed-starting mix, and give it a good misting.
Here’s a pro tip: Lemon balm seeds need light to germinate, so just press them lightly into the soil rather than burying them deep. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse effect.
Keep your pot in a bright spot at about 68°F to 77°F (20-25°C), and you should see sprouts in two to three weeks. Make sure the soil stays consistently moist. Once those first little leaves appear, you can ditch the plastic bag. About a month later, your seedlings will be ready to be moved to their next home.
The Perfect Location
Location is everything! Lemon balm loves a spot that gets plenty of sun or at least partial shade. You’ll also want to pick a place that’s sheltered from harsh wind and heavy rain. As for the soil, these plants crave nutrient-rich, humus-heavy soil that drains well. If you’re growing your lemon balm in containers, standard potting soil mixed with a little quartz sand works wonders.
When to Plant
While established lemon balm is actually quite hardy, young plants are a bit more delicate when it comes to frost. To play it safe, wait until mid-May to move them outside. By then, the danger of a ground frost has usually passed, giving your lemon balm plenty of time to settle in before its first winter.
How to Plant Like a Pro
Before you put your plant in the ground, give the root ball a good soak in water for about 20 to 30 minutes. While it’s soaking, loosen up the soil in your garden bed. Mixing in some mature compost is a great way to provide natural nutrients.
Dig a hole that’s about twice the size of the root ball. Place your lemon balm right in the center, making sure it sits at the same depth it was in its previous pot. Firm the soil down well with your hands and give it a generous watering to help it settle in.
