Melissa lemon - growing from seeds in the country
Content:
Lemon balm is one of the oldest herbs that science knows about. It is successfully used not only in medicine, but also in cooking. It goes well with both meat dishes and fish. In the wild, this herb can be found in many countries of Europe, Ukraine, Africa, America, the Caucasus, Asia, etc. The medicinal herb is rich in essential oils, which contain vitamins and minerals essential for the human body. It can be grown not only in the open field, but also at home.
What lemon balm looks like
Lemon balm belongs to the essential oil type of herbal plants. Belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This is a perennial herb that reaches a height of 30 to 120 cm. The main stem is strongly branched, most often covered with a light downy, but it can be bare. The leaves are also covered with fluff, light green, oval in shape with a pronounced relief. She begins to bloom in the second year of life. Inflorescences are umbellate, formed in the leaf axils, the flowers are not symmetrical, the lower petals are longer than the upper ones. The ovary is formed on a pistil surrounded by 4 stamens.
Lemon melissa
Fruits appear 1 month after the flower has been pollinated. The fruit is ovoid, glossy, slightly elongated. There are 4 seeds inside. This herb is named Lemon because it has a pronounced citrus aroma, which is most strongly felt during the ripening of the buds. After the flowers are dry, the smell can become unpleasant.
Other varieties
In nature, there are only 5 species of this plant:
- Melissa officinalis, it is also lemon - inflorescences are white or light lilac. The leaves of the plant smell like sliced lemon;
- Square dance - light pink inflorescences, located in a rosette of leaves, saturated green;
- Freshness. This species also has a lemon scent. The color of the leaves is dark. Inflorescences are white, bluish tinge may be present. It grows in height no more than 60 cm;
- Pure gold - white inflorescences formed on a bush, the size of which is about 60 cm.By the time of fruit formation, the color changes to purple.
Melissa variety Pure gold
- Pearl. The leaves of this species have a pronounced corrugated surface. The color is saturated green. Leaves adhere tightly to the stem. Inflorescences are small in size, white. Reaches 110 cm in height.
Melissa is confused with the herb, which also belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is called catnip. At first glance, they cannot be distinguished from each other. Despite the external similarity, these two plants still have differences in composition. According to the description, the most important is the amount of essential oils in the catnip, which reaches only 3%.
Healing properties
Lemon balm has a very broad spectrum of action. It affects almost all systems of the human body. Its most common properties are sedative and antidepressant. Decoctions from it soothe the excited nervous system, have a hypnotic effect. Due to its citronelall content, the herb has antispasmodic propertiesAlso beneficial to the body are trace elements that have an antiviral, antimicrobial effect, and increase immunity.
The plant also has contraindications. It is not recommended for people suffering from peptic ulcers, as well as hypotensive patients.
Mint and lemon balm: differences
Mint and lemon balm differ not only in appearance, but also in the content of trace elements.
Botanical differences
The root system of lemon balm is branched, in contrast to the roots of mint. The same difference can be observed in the structure of the stem. In mint, it is not so branched. Lemon balm fruits are smooth, ovoid, in mint fruits are very rare, have a fleecy structure. Mint has a pronounced menthol aroma, lemon balm has a citrus scent.
Lemon balm root system
Difference in composition
Mint contains a lot of essential oils, up to 6%, while lemon balm contains 0.8%.
Differences in application
Melissa is widely used in cooking. It gives the dishes an exquisite taste and aroma. It is added to various dishes as a condiment. The taste of peppermint is much lower. It is most often added to ready-made meals to add a mint flavor. In addition, during heat treatment, mint leaves can harm the finished dish in the form of bitterness.
Mint and lemon balm seeds
Seeds of mint and lemon balm have a germination rate of only 60%. This must be taken into account when planting plants. Both those and other seeds are very small in size. They are covered with a dense, smooth skin, so it is advisable to soak them in hot water for a day before planting. A growth stimulator can be added to the water, then the seeds will germinate not 3 weeks after planting, but 2 times faster. For comparison, you can soak part of the seeds in ordinary hot water, part in water with the addition of a stimulant. After a few weeks, check which seeds are more germinating.
Growing lemon balm from seed
Melissa reproduces in several ways:
- By dividing the bush;
- Seeds.
The simplest and most common way is seed propagation. The grass is completely unpretentious to care for. It is recommended to prepare the soil for planting seeds in the country. You can sow seeds both in autumn and spring. Before planting, the soil should be loosened, remove all weeds, and fertilize. If the soil is highly acidic, it is recommended to mix it with sand or peat, as the plant prefers neutral soil more. You can also add a drainage layer in the form of crushed stone or broken small bricks. Basically, drainage is necessary when the land is too dense, clayey, and the water does not drain well. Seeds are sown on a small hill so that the water from precipitation does not stagnate and does not provoke root rot.
Optimal location
Lemon balm loves sunlit places. Regardless of whether seeds are sown in open ground or in a pot at home, there should be a lot of sunlight for its development. Indoor melissa grows well on a window that faces the northeast. It is recommended to choose a place away from through winds.
Sprouting lemon balm at home
The plant has an average drought resistance, therefore it is undesirable to allow the soil to dry out strongly. It is recommended to water abundantly, but not allowing water stagnation. After watering, the soil is loosened. You can add mulch to a depth of no more than 5 cm.
Step-by-step planting process
How to plant lemon balm and mint in the soil to get the maximum number of shoots? In open ground, lemon balm and mint seeds are sown in mid-May, when the threat of frost has passed, and the soil has time to warm up.
How to plant mint and lemon balm, step by step guide:
- The seeds are soaked in hot water for a day. At the end of the day, all floating planting material is removed and removed.
- Furrows are formed on the soil, the depth of which is about 2-3 cm.
- The soil is watered;
- The seeds are sown in formed furrows;
- From above, they must be lightly sprinkled with earth;
- After the seeds have sprouted, they must be thinned out. The distance between the shoots should be 20 cm.
In order to accelerate the growth of lemon balm, it can be germinated at home. You can start germinating the plant at the end of March. The resulting shoots are planted in open ground at the end of spring. Many gardeners are concerned about the question: is it possible to plant mint and lemon balm nearby? These two medicinal plants do not interfere with each other.
Lemon balm care
Lemongrass Melissa does not require scrupulous care. Particular attention should be paid to it only in the first year after planting. The rest of the time the grass grows well on its own.
Watering mode
The medicinal herb needs abundant watering only during the first month after germination, and especially on dry days. The rest of the time, watering should be moderate.
Top dressing
Fertilizers are applied to the soil after each cut of the plant. As a top dressing, liquid complex agents are used, which include ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium chloride. Organic fertilizers can be applied to the mulch layer.
When to collect mint and lemon balm
Mint and lemon balm leaves are harvested from June to late August. Leaves are plucked in the morning.
Lemon balm retains all the beneficial properties when the leaves are dried. It is not customary to freeze it. You can dry the grass in the microwave, oven, outdoors, in the room, etc. Store dry grass for 1-1.5 years. Melissa can not only be added to food as a seasoning, but also fragrant and healthy decoctions and teas can be prepared.
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