When to plant Lemon balm
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Overwinters outdoors in a temperate garden.
Practical notes
It self-seeds enthusiastically — cut the flowers off before they set unless you want it everywhere. Best in a pot or a corner where spreading does no harm.
Knowing when to pick
Pick young leaves before flowering, when the lemon oil is at its strongest. Cut the whole plant back by half in midsummer for a fresh flush.
Storing the crop
Loses a lot in drying — freeze the leaves in ice cubes, or steep fresh for tea straight from the plant.
Crop rotation
Mostly perennial — give them a permanent sunny spot rather than a rotation slot.
Grows well with
Watch for
Full guide: lemon balm diseases and pests (2) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.