Lemon Balm

I decided I needed a break from writing about music and Glastonbury. I was in the garden putting the tealeaves in the compost bin and brushed past the lemon balm it inspired me. Lemon balm, Melissa offinalis mmmmm that smell. Lemon balm contains a wonderfully lemon scented volatile oil. Lemon balm grows easily in fact a little too easily sometimes as it seeds itself all over the garden. Still I pot up the small plants and sell them at the school fete. I think I got my original plant from my dad lemon balm can be grown from seed, cuttings or root division.It can be bought in garden centres Lemon balm is a hardy perennial it forms a clump ...  Read the complete review

Lemon balm can grow to about 4 ft tall. The leaves are oval in shape. When they are crushed, they have a lemony smell. There are little white flowers. Lemon balm is a bee plant, and comes from the word 'balsam', meaning balm for your sorrows. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It can be good for a number of conditions:- ~ Nervous complaints ~ Internally for viral complaints, such as cold sores, shingles, cold and flu ~ Externally for cold sores ~ In menopause, to ease symptoms ~ To help regulate periods and reduce period pains. The parts used are the leaves and flowers. You can take ...  Read the complete review

Lemon balm is a delightful herb. I first came across growing happily in my new house's garden. Just brushing past it releases a wonderful scent. Imagine lemon, but without the tartness. I love watering it in the evenings, not because it needs it, but because this releases more of the scent. It grows very fast after being cut, but not so fast so that it's invasive. In the autumn, it starts to die off. Cut the stems as they will never grow leaves again. What I do is is scatter the cut stems on a path, and stepping on them releases even more of the lovely scent. Don't worry about the remains of your lemon balm ...  Read the complete review

Lemon balm is very easy to grow and once established in your garden it will self seed around the plant. Lemon balm needs a fair amount of area to reach its true potential height of about 3 - 4 feet. In summer it produces tall spikelets of white/yellowy cream flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It needs free draining soil in a sunny position and will withstand full sun although it approves of gentle watering through the dry summer months. It also thrives on arrid soil without a hint of organic matter so you will be surprised where the seedlings grow. It will also appreciated some well rotted organic compost. It needs to be cut back in Autumn after the ...  Read the complete review