A herb garden is incomplete without fragrant lemon balm. If you want to plant the aromatic kitchen herb in the bed, you will get the necessary know-how for error-free cultivation here. The elementary questions are answered in a practical manner in the following.

How is the cultivation implemented in the best possible way?

We recommend sowing indoors so that the young plants start the season with a head start in growth. The time window for cultivation opens from the beginning/mid-March so that the seedlings are mature by mid-May. Here's how to do it:

  • fill small pots with seed soil or peat sand and moisten
  • sow the seeds and just press them as light germinators
  • put a plastic bag over each pot

At a bright window seat at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the lemon balm species selected. During this time, keep the substrate constantly moist. When the first cotyledons protrude from the seeds, the hood falls away. After a further 4 weeks, the seedlings are pricked out.

Which location is suitable?

The cultivation of lemon balm will be successful if you plant the young plants you have grown yourself or bought ready-made in this location:

  • sunny to semi-shady position
  • protected from wind and rain
  • nutrient-rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil

Lemon balm thrives in commercial herbal soil in the bucket, the permeability of which is optimized with a handful of quartz sand (€15.85).

When is planting time?

Regardless of its hardy nature, lemon balm planting season begins in mid-May. Until then, there is a risk of delayed ground frosts. Young lemon balm cannot stand up to frosty temperatures.

What are the steps in planting?

Before planting lemon balm, ideally soak the root balls in water for 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the bed soil is weeded and thoroughly raked. To optimize the soil, add mature compost or granulated cattle manure (€18.80). This is how it goes on:

  • create a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball
  • Insert the stuffed lemon balm in the middle
  • Plant it exactly as deep as it was previously
  • trample and water the earth

Cultivation in tubs is similar, but drainage above the bottom opening is important here. Spread a 5-10 cm layer of pebbles or grit (€46.95) to prevent waterlogging.

tips and tricks

In view of the sprawling growth, the balcony box is out of the question for lemon balm. For the installation on the balcony, we recommend a large mortar bucket from the hardware store, in the bottom of which you drill an opening for water drainage.

Category:

Vegetable garden