Taking care of your plants

Overview

A leafy herb with a fresh lemon scent. Grow in sun and well-drained soil, and pick little and often to keep plants bushy. Lovely in teas, salads and summer drinks.

• Vegetable Type: Lemon Balm
• Key Characteristic: Lemon-scented leaves for teas and desserts.
• Hardiness: Hardy (tolerates normal UK winter conditions).

PLANTING ADVICE

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil or compost. Suitable for both ground and pots.

• Outdoor cultivation

Grow outdoors in a sunny, well-drained position.

• Greenhouse cultivation

Not usually required for greenhouse cultivation.

CARE & HARVEST

Keep soil moist and weed free. Harvest little and often to keep plants bushy and productive. Remove flower stems where leafy growth is preferred. Trim back lightly after flowering to maintain shape. 

• Watering: Water during dry periods to keep plants healthy and productive.
• Feeding: Feed lightly with a general-purpose fertiliser during active growth; avoid overfeeding.
• Cutting and prunning: Trim lightly after flowering to keep plants compact and encourage fresh growth.
• Harvesting: Snip leaves regularly, ideally before flowering, for the strongest flavour.
• Pest and diseases: Generally trouble free, but check for aphids and mildew in humid conditions.

Verve recommends...

• Harvest little and often to keep plants productive and performing at their best.