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Lemon balm - how do you train/support yours?

M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
in Plants
Bought my first lemon balm from Morrisons last year and I must say I am impressed at its growth rate and adaptability. Even gently brushing against it raises wafts of lemon smell into the air. I grew it in between a hedge and noticed it almost tries to climb it. 
  1. What's its growing habit?
  2. Do you train/support it?
  3. Does it spread each year?
  4. Can it be propagated into other plants and if so how?


I wish I could garden all year round!

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2023
    I cut it hard back to a couple of inches after flowering and it reshoots fresh foliage, otherwise I let it get on it. 
    Be warned, if it’s happy it’ll make itself very much at home … 😆 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Dovefromabove said:
    I cut it hard back to a couple of inches after flowering and it reshoots fresh foliage, otherwise I let it get on it. 
    Be warned, if it’s happy it’ll make itself very much at home … 😆 

    When does it flower Dovefromabove?

    Yes you're right about it going for it when it's happy  :)
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    As far as I know I've never bought one but have had them in my garden for 20+ years.
    They self seed a lot and the parent plants seem to come through every winter unscathed.
    I rarely use the leaves so usually pull them up when I spot them.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Luckily they're not hard to pull up. But I would advise cutting them down when they flower to discourage self seeding! Cutting down to the base will also reinvigorate fresh growth.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Tiny white flowers close to the stem (like tiny White Deadnettle flowers) in the summer. Bees love them. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Is it too late to cut back?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Cutting back now is fine. We have loads down the allotment because the bees love it so much. 
  • pr1mr0sepr1mr0se Posts: 1,193
    Culinary tip: if you are making a lemon tarte au citron or lemon meringue pie, bake the pastry blind but, before you line it and weigh it down with baking beans, lay lemon balm leaves over the surface of the pastry.  Remove them when you remove the greaseproof paper (or whatever) with the baking beans, return to the oven to crisp slightly, fill the pastry case as per recipe:  extra lemon flavour in the pastry!
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    edited April 2023
    Honestly, having seen how it pops up everywhere in my garden, I would treat it like mint and contain it in a pot rather than let it run riot.  It is a nice plant I agree, but quite invasive. If you follow @Loxley 's advice you might be OK though. 

    To your original question it doesn't need any support or help whatsoever; it's an extremely tough plant (including very drought-resistant, as I found out last year). 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I grow lemon balm in a pot because otherwise, like mint, it will mount a world take-over bid.  It has many uses - https://www.healthline.com/health/lemon-balm-uses 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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