Herb Lemon Balm

A bushy herb, resembling mint in appearance, with a strong lemon scent when rubbed. The leaves make a calming balm tea. Delicious added to stuffing, used with fish, poultry and even added to drinks to impart the lemon flavour. Can be invasive. Best grown in a pot/container.

Start off in a seed tray or pots indoors, with good, free-draining, seed compost. Sow seed on the surface of seed compost and cover with a sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and keep at 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination which takes up to 21 days. Keep compost on the dry side at all times. Do not exclude light.

Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Grow on in cooler conditions for a few days before planting out after all risk of frost, 30cm (12in) apart. Apply a mulch of compost for added winter protection. Can be trimmed to keep compact.

FLOWERING;-

HARVESTING;- July; August; September; October