Plant for you to think about planting " Lemon Balm"

image from mfseedbank.in

A plant that you should try this season " Lemon Balm." 

Good morning.  We are having a blue, clear sky and reports say it is going to be a very pleasant day.  Highs in the 70’s(20C) All I can say is enjoy. 
 
Australia family and friends for their April 17th Friday will have also 75F(24C) today but they have wind gusts up to 23mph so it will feel cooler for them.  Stay warm, I am thinking as they stay safe. 
 
I love the smell when I rub the leaves of this herb lemon balm.  Also, I will have one called orange balm which is just as nice to have in your garden.  Give it a try.  It also helps as a pollinator plant.
Lemon balm from our garden Attracts Pollinators Attracts Bees
Written By:  Samantha Johnson
Are you familiar with lemon balm? If not, it’s time to discover this beneficial herb. Plant around the border of your garden to attract bees because lemon balm has a special relationship with these pollinators. Learn all about growing lemon balm—it’s easy to love!
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) likes to grow and isn’t shy about expanding its footprint in your garden; it IS a member of the mint family, after all! Thankfully, it is easily corralled, and the benefits lemon balm provides far outweigh any inconveniences caused by its exuberant growth.
Lemon balm is grown widely across the United States and is native to Europe and Africa. It’s generally hardy to about Zone 4. It tends to be a short-lived perennial, lasting a few years in the garden.
In looks, the leaves are not dissimilar to mint. When crushed, the leaves have a lovely lemon-like scent! An attractive, bushy herb, lemon balm reaches about 2 feet in height at maturity. Most varieties have green leaves, although some cultivars exhibit variegated or yellow leaves.
 Another thing you should know about lemon balm: bees absolutely love it. If you’re interested in attracting pollinators to your garden, lemon balm is a beautiful choice that will delight all the bees in your neighborhood.
Where to Plant Lemon Balm
Lemon balm prefers full sun, so aim for that if possible. Partial shade can also be okay, but even though lemon balm can handle a bit of shade, sunlight is important for top flavor. It performs best in rich, well-draining soil, and it also likes frequent watering. According to Cornell University, lemon balm prefers a soil pH of 4.5 to 7.6.
Try planting this herb around the border of any garden bed to attract pollinators and repel pests. With its spreading ability, it’s also a good ground cover, especially in rock gardens, and works well in a small pot or patio planter.
Avoid overwatering. Lemon balm is particularly sensitive to root rot.
Organic mulches like grass clippings, leaves, or compost can help keep the soil moist but not oversaturated, which can help avoid root rot.
Mulch can also act as a natural fertilizer, feeding the soil as it slowly breaks down.
Ready to harvest lemon balm? Here are a few tips:
When to Harvest
You can harvest lemon balm just about any time! It tolerates being cut back so you can harvest frequently and regularly throughout the growing season.
When your plant has reached 2+ inches tall, you can begin harvesting small amounts. As the plant continues growing, you can harvest larger portions at a time, but never more than one-third of the plant at a time.
How to Harvest
You can harvest lemon balm by pinching leaves by hand, or you can use pruners to snip entire stems.
Use fresh lemon balm when possible, but you can also dry lemon balm by hanging bundles of sprigs upside down to save for later. Freezing is also a fine option.
Store dried leaves in an airtight container.
Best Time to Harvest for Best Flavor
It’s said that lemon balm flavor peaks right before the plant begins flowering.
Harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated.
For maximum flavor, select the youngest lemon balm leaves for fresh use. New growth has more flavor.
A bundle of freshly harvested lemon balm
It’s easy to harvest and dry lemon balm in bundles.
Mammals generally avoid lemon balm. Deer are resistant to the scent/taste of lemon balm, and rabbits usually aren’t interested either.
Some gardeners actually use lemon balm as a deterrent to keep deer away from the garden.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/lemon-balm
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse