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Melissa is a fragrant flower grown in all regions of the country. Tea, infusions, and seasonings are made from it. For its medicinal properties, the plant is called lemon balm. The perennial contains many beneficial oils that have a calming effect. You can plant lemon balm in open ground or on a windowsill; with all methods, gardeners do not experience any difficulties with agricultural technology.
Planting lemon balm seeds for seedlings
There are eight plant varieties listed in the State Register of the Russian Federation. The most common is lemon balm; the crop is grown at a certain time. It takes root well in the harsh Russian climate, and adapts even faster in indoor conditions.
The Lemon Tea, Pure Gold and Fresh varieties are great for planting at home.
When to plant lemon balm seedlings in 2023
Planting material must be older than two months. Mature seedlings show rapid growth.Due to the cold weather, lemon balm is planted in mid-spring - in the last ten days of April.
You can grow lemon balm on a windowsill at any time with sufficient light and air temperature. Most varieties have a tendency to branch, so the container should be voluminous. To use a medicinal crop, six seedlings are usually enough.
Soil selection
Like any plant, medicinal herbs need soil rich in nutrients. Its seeds are not characterized by rapid development, so you need to sow lemon balm for seedlings in light, loose soil.
Typically, plant growers limit themselves to store-bought soil. If desired, it is mixed with humus (in equal proportions). To ensure moisture removal, drainage is laid before planting. Holes are also made in the container.
Before planting, the raw materials are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate - the procedure will soften the hard shell of the seed, increasing the germination rate
Preparing containers
When sowing seeds, you should expect lemon balm to gain volume of green mass. For growing, use containers with a depth of at least 25 cm. The ideal option is 40-50 cm. The main thing is that the pot is deep and not wide.
For the first planting, a small tray is enough. This will allow the plant's roots to grow. After 12 months, the lemon balm is replanted, and the container is selected to be larger. There are no strict requirements when choosing a pot - you can take any one you like.
When using an ECO container, you must make the holes yourself
Scheme of sowing lemon balm for seedlings
To grow lemon balm from seeds at home, make rows. Planting is usually done in March. The culture has high winter hardiness, but it is better to wait for suitable weather.
Planting technology:
- Prepare the container, lay drainage, cover it with store-bought soil and make shallow furrows – up to 15 mm.
- The land is watered, after which they begin sowing. The seeds are not placed too close to each other.
- After a month, the raw materials should hatch. After germination, shoots are removed at intervals of 20 cm.
Sowing lemon balm seedlings at home is easy. They germinate in about four weeks.
How to plant lemon balm with seeds in open ground
You can grow lemon balm from seeds in the garden in a similar way. To do this, form rows, maintaining a distance of 35 cm. Plant growers also advise placing seedlings in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 50 cm. The more space the lemon balm has, the stronger the growth.
First of all, the soil is disinfected. To do this, place a lump of earth in an oven preheated to 180 °C. It is kept for 30 minutes. In the case of store-bought soil, you can skip this operation - the soil is already disinfected.
Picking is carried out after the appearance of sprouts with four leaves. When the lemon balm grows to 14-16 cm, pinch it off. After 40-50 days, planting is carried out in open ground.
To find lemon balm among small shoots, use radishes. It develops a little faster, thanks to which it allows you to determine the location of the crop. After sprouting, the vegetable is removed.
Reproduction
Melissa can be grown in a pot on a windowsill or in open ground. This plant is universal in this regard. The same can be said about methods of reproduction. The crop is grown in four ways: seeds, cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. Since all of them are practiced by gardeners, each one should be examined separately.
Cuttings
Planting technology is simple and accessible. The method is practiced traditionally, as it gives quick results.
Landing instructions:
- Buy a bunch of lemon balm at the store - the plant should be young and fresh.
- The upper part is cut off, and the lower part is placed in water at room temperature.
- In two weeks, roots should appear. Then she is planted in a permanent place.
By layering
No less popular method. Planting is carried out in June or the first ten days of July. The main thing is that lemon balm does not form buds.
Landing instructions:
- Young stems 12-16 cm high are bent to the ground and lightly sprinkled. For reliability, you can nail a bracket to the ground or use a spear.
- The planting is moistened and cleared of weeds. After 2-3 weeks, roots should form. Young bushes are separated with a sharp instrument.
- Melissa is transplanted into a pot and placed in the shade. After two days, move it to the windowsill. After half a month, shoots will appear.
Dividing the bush
Reproduction is successful on seedlings over three years old. Planting is done in April or May, some divide the bush in August.
Landing instructions:
- The most viable samples are selected, dug up and cut into several pieces.
- They are placed in different containers (or planted in the ground) and watered.
When cutting, it is necessary to leave several roots and about five shoots. This way you can sow lemon balm at home for seedlings. The bushes grow quickly and take root firmly in the ground.
Caring for lemon balm in open ground
The medicinal herb feels great in open ground. When planting lemon balm with seeds, prolonged exposure to direct rays and deep shade should be avoided. Despite the low demands on the nature of the soil, the plant requires constant care.
Melissa prefers when the soil is moderately moist. Watering is carried out when the top layer of soil dries. During periods of drought, the plant needs abundant moisture and irrigation of the leaves. Before the onset of frost, the procedure is reduced. At the same time, drying out is avoided if there is little rainfall. Before watering, the liquid is allowed to settle for 24 hours.
The leaves of the plant can be affected by rust, powdery mildew, another common disease is fusarium.
Diseases and pests
When grown in open ground, lemon balm can be bothered by pests. However, insects do not like the pungent odor of the plant. The only visitors to the leaves are caterpillars, spider mites and scale insects. For protection, use a soap solution.
If there are a lot of pests, insecticides are used
All varieties have stable immunity, so they rarely get sick. The cause of the disease is improper care. You can tell that the crop has weakened by falling leaves, dryness, white or yellow bloom, and black spots.
How to grow lemon balm at home on a windowsill
Melissa can be planted as seedlings on a windowsill. The perennial will please the owner for at least 2-3 years. At the same time, it exudes the same aroma as when grown in open ground.
Planting is done in August or September, and equipment is prepared. The necessary tools can be purchased at a garden store. You will need drainage (can be collected outside), a nutrient substrate, a pot and seeds. Follow the planting instructions already described. The seedlings are placed in a lighted place and wait for germination.
With constant contact with the sun, the shoots may begin to turn yellow, so periodically the crop is removed from the windowsill or covered with a net.
Planting is carried out strictly point by point. This way, a newbie has a better chance of successfully completing the job. For seedlings on the windowsill, it is better to use store-bought soil - there are fewer problems with it.
On the windowsill the bush grows up to 35 cm. If necessary, you can trim the top part. This will provide a set of green mass, making the variety more lush and attractive.
Conclusion
Both an experienced gardener and a beginner can plant lemon balm. Parts of the plant are used in cooking - this is a great way to relieve depression or insomnia. In order for a crop to grow healthy, it is necessary to provide it with moisture and sun. For a set of leaves, pruning is carried out. The fragrant plant not only decorates the house, but also maintains health.
