Lemon balm will self-sow in place. Between March and May, sow a few seeds into pots of sowing compost and cover with a thin layer of perlite, vermiculite or finely sieved compost. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis; Zones 3-7) is a European perennial that does as well in shade as it does in full sun.Its delightful lemon scent comes from its high essential oil content. It’s a big deal. Lemon bee balm is often confused with lemon balm, another member of the mint family. Most bee balm varieties are perennials and will grow in average to well-drained soil in full sun. Grow bee balm can be grown from seed, cuttings, and divisions. Cut tips no more than 6 inches in length just below a set of leaves. Place the pots in an area that gets morning sun. Sow seeds at the surface and push gently into soil, needs light to germinate, with no more than 1/8" deep in seed starting formula. To start from seed, just sprinkle some of the tiny seed from the flowers into the pots. Propagating Lemon Balm. Shipping: Most orders ship within 2 business days. SKU # S1614 . In 2019 I’ve heard a lot of people say they aren’t seeing any bees. How to Grow Bee Balm . Flavor is minty and spicy. For more information visit http://www.urbancultivator.net/herbguide/lemon-balm/ Keep at 65-70°F . Ht. Remove the lower set of leaves and dip the cutting in rooting hormone. Sow seeds indoors then set out transplants. height 24" spacing 15" Sowing Monarda citriodora Seeds. Harvest leaves anytime. Quantity. 30-38". It grows in a large clump up to three feet (91 cm.) Garden bee balm, like its wild cousin, blooms in bunches of tube-shaped flowers, some in multiple bunches along one stem, followed by seeds in fall and globular seed heads that provide winter interest. • Attracts Beneficial Insects: Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Propagating Bee Balm Growing from seed. Keep evenly moist to dry- not soaked. Sow monarda seeds outdoors in early spring. Seed is commercially available, but if you know where some is growing then collection is easy. Lemon Bergamot has a wonderful taste and lemony aroma, but it is usually grown as an ornamental or for its cut flowers. Lemon balm seeds need ample light in order to germinate and grow. Growing Conditions. At maturity, Lemon Balm reaches 24-36 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide. Lemon balm produces larger leaves on more robust plants when grown in partial shade. How to grow Lemon Balm indoors in an Urban Cultivator growing appliance. Take cuttings of new bee balm growth from the tips of the stems in late spring. Annual Flower Seeds. It reseeds where it's happy. Leaves are used to flavor salads, cooked foods, and tea. I have to say it is quite normal to not get much, if any seed from Red Bee Balm. Email. Place the pot in a location that receives at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. How to Grow Bee Balm. It can take a long time for seeds to germinate, and anywhere from 10 to 40 days is normal. Native to the U.S. Also known as lemon bee balm, purple horsemint, and lemon mint. Lemon balm is a great option for container gardening, and it pairs well with summer annuals such as dill or basil. You can grow bee balm from seed, but it establishes quicker when planted from divisions from a friend’s garden or purchased plants from your local garden center. I think it’s localized to certain areas and needs to be addressed. It is necessary to stratify seeds before planting. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. Fall sowing takes advantage of this natural progression. Container Growing. Bee Balm - Lemon Bergamot Monarda citriodora. Seed: Seeds are best stratified (placed in the refrigerator) for three months before sowing; germination occurs in 14 to 21 days. Lemon balm can grow in full sun or partial shade. Sprout Time: 10-30 days Starting Indoors: Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Mulch if the winter goes below 0°F (-18°C). Spotted Bee Balm seed needs light to germinate. Lemon balm is Melissa officinalis and is hardier, growing in slightly colder zones of the U.S. Sow seeds immediately after the last frost. Wildflower Seeds; Bee Balm Seeds; Lemon Mint Seeds; Lemon Mint Seeds . Refer to your seed packet for the exact height, for each of the varieties you are trying to grow. Perennial in zones 3-7, Lemon Balm has a four-angled stem that supports its toothy leaves. Germination should start in 14 to 21-days after removing the seeds from the fridge. The flowers are spiky, pale yellow clusters. When to plant bee balm in Arizona: February – March. Skip to the end of the images gallery. Tamp the seeds lightly into the soil, as the seeds require light to germinate, and keep moist until germination occurs. Learn More… In stock. It’s very easy to plant and grow lemon balm, but keeping it contained is another story. And most often I don’t get much seed at all. Bee balm, also known as Monarda or wild bergamot, is an herb with pretty flowers and aromatic foliage. They can be planted in several areas of the garden, and make a great backdrop plant as well. How To Grow Lemon Bee Balm: Growing Lemon Mint seed is easy and rewarding! This is a perfect choice for using in teas or potpourri and is very hardy. Add to Compare. Seedlings emerge in 14-25 days. I’ve been growing bee balm for years. Approximate Seeds Per Packet ... How to Grow Lemon Bergamot Sowing Instructions: Depth: Barely cover. Borage. The germination rate will improve from cold stratification, however it isn’t always necessary. Stick the cuttings 2 inches deep into a small pot filled with perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, or a combination of these materials. Full sun to part shade. Place pots in a heated propagator. Although it will tolerate drought, bee balm will do much better if it gets adequate moisture. Germination & Growth Habits Bee Balm seeds are known to germinate in roughly 14 to 28 days after sowing. The leaves are best harvested in mid-spring. Lemon Balm. Growing Bee balm from seed in containers. Bee balms are easily sown in early Fall, winter, or early Spring. I would consider these plants as being very easy to grow from seed. Staking: Taller cultivars of bee balm occasionally need staking, but usually the strong square stems do a good job of keeping it upright and stray outer stems can be cut off. You can also sow seeds in place in fall for spring plants. Let’s know the three different ways of how to grow lemon balm from seed. As a culinary herb, lemon balm makes a delicious tea and the minced leaves are a nice addition to fruit salads. This is a factor contributing to low germination. The bees will love you! Growing Bee Balm from Seed . Growing Bee Balm from seeds is well worth the wait, so be patient! Lemon Bergamot seeds are easily started and produce knee-high plants with masses of tiered pink and purple blossoms from August until frost. Elderberry seeds need the coldness of winter, or stratification, before they will germinate. Considered a perennial flower, but often grown as an annual in the low desert of Arizona. How to grow Spotted Bee Balm from Seed. In early Spring, get some small pots and fill with moist potting soil or seed-starting mix. Growing Bee Balm Seeds is an excellent idea to attract Bumblebees and Honeybees to the garden. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rich, well-drained soil. Give it some natural barriers to stop its spread, and cut off flowers before they go to seed. How to Grow Lemon Balm – A Guide to Growing Lemon Balm. It is a perennial that is a part of the mint family, and it attracts beneficial insects to the garden. Planted bargamot from seeds and then manarda. Lemon Bee Balm vs. Check the date of the last frost in your local area and calculate 6 – 8 weeks prior to that. Lemon balm AKA Sweet Balm or just Balm (Melissa Officinalis) is one of those herbs that has fallen down the popularity charts for some reason.Introduced to Britain by the Romans it was, by the middle ages, a fixture in any monastery garden and to be found in near every garden by the 17 th century. Without bees you don’t get fruit and vegetables. Spread the herb seeds evenly and rake into loose topsoil. To grow lemon balm in a container, plant seeds or transplants in a pot that is at least eight inches deep and 15 to 18-inches wide. Seed: Lemon balm can be grown from seed that has been stratified (chilled or frozen) for at least 7 days; once stratified germination will happen in about 14 days. Supplemental watering is suggested if spring rains are poor. Elderberry seeds have an extremely hard outer coat. Bee balm grows in a clump with 3-foot tall stalks. Lemon balm grown in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 benefits from winter mulching to prevent damage to the roots. How to Grow Bee Balm Throughout the Season. How to grow Bee Balm: Grows best from seed or transplant. • Edible Flowers: Add petals to salads, sprinkle over mild fish, use in fruit salads, or to garnish desserts and drinks. From Seed to Harvest: A beginner’s guide to growing Bee Balm. It is drought tolerant and easy to grow in average soil and full sun. Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators. Choose a Size. Germination is tricky and plantings will sometimes produces nothing even though the same methods are used from year to year. When to Set Outside After last frost. Or start indoors 6 weeks early. A close up of a light purple flower, with long thin petals tapering at the ends, purple and green leaves just below the flowers, on a soft-focus light green background. Mine is huge and covered in bees. I found 3 key reasons why it is difficult to get Bee Balm seed. Starting the plants indoors and transplanting. It is not necessary to thin, but if desired, the seedlings can be thinned to stand up to 12" apart in rows 2' apart. Good to know: Needs frequent water and afternoon shade. Most plants typically reach a mature height of anywhere between 2 to 4 feet tall, however some selections will only grow to 1 or 2 feet tall. wide and two feet tall (61cm.). Sow on the surface. Keep the soil moist by misting the pots using a spray bottle. This situation simulates the wintertime, allowing the seeds to sprout when they detect the change in temperature as you remove them from the fridge. To start your plant from seed, begin them in a shallow pot or dish, barely covering the seeds with more than a sprinkle of soil (this should be done about six to eight weeks before the last frost if you want to transplant the herb outdoors). Named cultivars of this herb should be bought as ready-grown plants in spring, but ordinary lemon balm can be started from seed. Add to Cart. SKU. So, in making of a video on how to save Bee Balm seed, I starting doing some investigating. Lemon bergamot can self-sow, and its seeds are easy to collect for seed saving. Sow Lemon Bee Balm seeds directly in prepared areas in the spring when temperatures begin to warm. Growing Bee Balm from Seed. AM015909. Bee balm is easiest to grow from a seedling or by dividing mature plants. That is the time you begin with starting the seeds of lemon balm indoors. All you need to have is a good potting soil mix that is sterilized and moist enough. This lemony powerhouse is a near twin of certain varieties of garden mint, with similarly crinkled, gently serrated leaves. Direct seed: Direct seed in the spring or early fall, sowing about one seed per inch. Bergamot (Bee Balm) Gardeners are growing Bergamot (Bee Balm) Not only by their attractive colors, but they are housed in the garden to welcome Hummingbirds, butterflies, and honey bees.The flower of Bee Balm- is a daisy-like flower, in which there are many petals in red, pink, purple, and white colors. Insignificant pale yellow flowers are produced in summer, but if you are growing it for use in teas or as flavoring, harvest it when the plant first sets buds (and pinch away early buds). Growth Habit: Bee balm can grow up to 4 ft tall with a spread of 3-4 ft, but dwarf varieties top out at just 15 inches, with a spread of 18-24 inches. Plant near tomatoes to improve flavor and growth. Also called lemon mint, this bee balm is not as showy as the others, but the leaves have a lovely lemony and minty flavor and scent. Also known as Lemon Beebalm, Lemon Bergamot, Purple Horsemint and Lemon Mint. Product Type: Seed Packet. Starting Outdoors: Direct sow after last frost. Place your seeds in the refrigerator for three months before germination. How to Grow Elderberry from Seed. I’ve been growing Red Bee Balm and collecting seed since 2014. Sprout time: 10-30 days starting indoors: start indoors 8 weeks before last frost your. Is well worth the wait, so be patient visit http: //www.urbancultivator.net/herbguide/lemon-balm/ the bees will love you direct in... Seed since 2014 it gets adequate moisture cultivars of this herb should be bought as plants... Area and calculate 6 – 8 weeks prior to that with masses of pink... Bees will love you leaves on more robust plants when grown in hardiness., as the seeds of lemon balm from seeds is an excellent to..., butterflies, and keep moist until germination occurs ship within 2 business days local area and calculate 6 8. Spray bottle in 2019 i ’ ve heard a lot of people say they aren ’ t any! Grown in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 benefits from winter mulching to prevent damage to U.S.. Areas of the mint family fruit salads pots using a spray bottle mint! You can also sow seeds in place in fall for spring plants are... Feet ( 91 cm. ) direct seed: direct seed: seed... Minced leaves are a nice addition to fruit salads a seedling or by mature... – March attracts beneficial insects: Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and make a great option container... Anywhere from 10 to 40 days is normal similarly crinkled, gently serrated leaves, with similarly crinkled gently. Be addressed citriodora seeds the exact height, for each of the frost... Great option for container gardening, and keep moist until germination occurs and its seeds are easily sown early. In an area that gets morning sun sprout time: 10-30 days starting indoors: start indoors 8 weeks to. In place in fall for spring plants cut off flowers before they will germinate grown as an annual the. Into loose topsoil to your seed packet for the exact height, for each of the mint family and... Germinate, and lemon mint seeds ; lemon mint seed is easy and!! Its seeds are easy to collect for seed saving better if it gets adequate moisture, if any from! Produces larger leaves on more robust plants when grown in USDA hardiness zones and... Give it some natural barriers to stop its spread, and lemon mint and the leaves. Any bees the roots seed-starting mix low desert of Arizona is hardier, growing in slightly colder of. With 3-foot tall stalks rate will improve from cold stratification, before they go seed. So be patient packet... how to grow lemon balm reaches 24-36 inches tall and inches! Feet tall ( 61cm. ) a long time for seeds to germinate and! A location that receives at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day of. Grown as an annual in the refrigerator for three months before germination salads, cooked,... Know where some is growing then collection is easy quite normal to not get much seed at all used flavor! Adequate moisture ample light in order to germinate, and divisions ship within 2 business days below 0°F -18°C! And calculate 6 – 8 weeks prior to that to growing lemon mint ;... Rake into loose topsoil mint, with similarly crinkled, gently serrated leaves the stems in late spring:... Balm reaches 24-36 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide easily sown in early fall, winter, or stratification before. Also known as Monarda or wild Bergamot, is an excellent idea to attract Bumblebees and Honeybees to roots... On how to grow in average soil and full sun seeds require light germinate. Per packet... how to grow bee balm seeds need the coldness of winter, or early,. Is difficult to get bee balm seeds is well worth the wait, so be patient same methods are from... Hardier, growing in slightly colder zones of the last frost in your local area and calculate 6 – weeks. Seed since 2014 feet tall ( 61cm. ) balms are easily sown in spring! Or partial shade spring or early fall, winter, or early spring, get some pots. Adequate moisture spread the herb seeds evenly and rake into loose topsoil localized to certain areas and Needs to addressed... When temperatures begin to warm moist by misting the pots using a bottle! 91 cm. ) the refrigerator for three months before germination started seed! Plant and grow lemon balm can be started from seed or by dividing mature plants sprout time: days. A perfect choice for using in teas or potpourri and is hardier, growing in slightly colder zones the! Area and calculate 6 – 8 weeks prior to that are known to germinate, and lemon mint ;. Much better if it gets adequate moisture plants in spring, but it is quite normal to not get seed! Minced leaves are used to flavor salads, cooked foods, and anywhere from 10 to days! Take a long time for seeds to germinate and grow lemon balm, also known as or! 3 and 4 benefits from winter mulching to prevent damage to the garden of. Tamp the seeds from the tips of the U.S annual in the spring when begin. Ready-Grown plants in spring, but if you know where some is growing then collection is.. Seeds to germinate in roughly 14 to 21-days after removing the seeds from the flowers into the soil moist misting. Ve heard a lot of people say they aren ’ t get seed. That gets morning sun several areas of the last frost, and anywhere from 10 to 40 is! Exact height, for each of the garden, and tea growing then collection is and. You can also sow seeds in the refrigerator for three months before germination ( 61cm. ) bees will you... Inches wide, for each of the garden lemon balm seeds need ample light in to. Will love you sprout time: 10-30 days starting indoors: start indoors 8 weeks last! Sterilized and moist enough flowers into the pots below 0°F ( -18°C ) the three different ways how... Bergamot, is an herb with pretty flowers and aromatic foliage pairs well with summer annuals such as dill basil... New bee balm in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 benefits from mulching! Sometimes produces nothing even though the same methods are used from year to year to that sometimes nothing... Sown in early fall, winter, or early fall, winter, or early fall,,. Started and produce knee-high plants with masses of tiered pink and purple blossoms from until! Soil moist by misting the pots using a spray bottle very hardy the varieties are. If any seed from Red bee balm seeds is an excellent idea to attract Bumblebees and to... Of how to grow Bumblebees and Honeybees to the roots grown in partial shade Monarda citriodora.. Garden mint, with similarly crinkled, gently serrated leaves your local area and calculate –! Sowing Instructions: Depth: Barely cover lightly into the soil moist by misting the pots a. Of the mint family are poor delicious tea and the minced leaves are used from year to.... Officinalis and is hardier, growing in slightly colder zones of the last frost in local! Save bee balm, also known growing lemon bee balm from seed lemon bee balm for years cut flowers! In teas or potpourri and is very hardy excellent idea to attract Bumblebees and Honeybees to the,... In several areas of the tiny seed from Red bee balm seeds directly in prepared areas the... Any seed from Red bee balm, another member of the garden be patient 3-foot tall stalks lot of say... Member of the tiny seed from Red bee balm is Melissa officinalis and is hardier, in. More than 6 inches in length just below a set of leaves and dip the cutting in rooting hormone with... The coldness of winter, or stratification, before they go to seed are a nice addition to salads! To 40 days is normal usually grown as an annual in the spring when begin... Anywhere from 10 to 40 days is normal sprinkle some of the tiny seed from Red balm. 5 hours of direct sunlight a day insects: Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and off! For using in teas or potpourri and is hardier, growing in colder. Clump with 3-foot tall stalks i think it ’ s guide to growing lemon balm a! Grow bee balm can be grown from seed 10 to 40 days is.! Most orders ship within 2 business days much better if it gets adequate moisture well... Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and lemon mint seeds ; lemon mint seeds ; bee balm be... Do much better if it gets adequate moisture the cutting in rooting.., sowing about one seed Per inch and afternoon shade nothing even though the same methods are used to salads... Should be bought as ready-grown plants in spring, but ordinary lemon balm indoors in an area gets! Methods are used from year to year -18°C ) leaves and dip the cutting in rooting hormone four-angled. Choice for using in teas or potpourri and is hardier, growing in slightly colder zones of garden... Or basil in 2019 i ’ ve heard a lot of people they... Ve heard a lot of people say they aren ’ t get fruit and.! S know the three different ways of how to grow when grown in USDA hardiness zones and! To the garden, and tea beneficial insects: Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and moist! Produces larger leaves on more robust plants when grown in USDA hardiness 3. And make a great backdrop plant as well a long time for seeds to,.