Melissa officinalis |
Zone Range: 5-9
Preferred Climate: Full/semi sun; average well draining soil.
Harvest Date: Monday 29 October, 2007
Seed count: 200-250
Description:
Can form clumps in the excess of 1 meter tall with half the spread. Pale green puckered leaves burst with lemony scent and flavor. Great for tea or in potpouris. Flower spikes top each stem and blooms from mid to late summer. Dead head if you don't want it to self seed. Not as invasive as mint.
Notes:
Another great nectar plant. Deer proof, disease free. I've never watered my plants and they've thrived under our summer drought. Attacts pollinators to the garden. Yeah, I know everyother person offers Lemon Balm seed, but like all things in our garden, its organically grown.
Cultivation:
Sow 4 mm deep. Keep moist; success greater with plastic cover. Opt. germination temp: 15-22 C. Days to germ: 14-21. Easy to grow. This is one of the few varieties I offer that I can say you can simply broadcast into a prepared bed with good results. Of course, you wouldn't get as many if you started them in pots (as with all seed).
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