You have the choice of sowing lemon balm in the bed or on the windowsill. Each of the two methods has individual advantages. The following guide explains both procedures step by step.
How do you sow lemon balm?
For successful lemon balm sowing, we recommend pre-swelling the seeds and sowing them in the bed from mid-May or in seed trays on the windowsill from March. Make sure there is sufficient moisture and warmth to increase the germination rate.
This is how direct sowing works
The time window opens in mid-May to sow lemon balm directly into the bed. Direct sowing scores with less work, but is associated with risks. First and foremost, it is the poor driving force that leads to germination rates below 50 percent. Follow these steps:
- Pre-soak the seeds in water or on moist filter paper for 1 day
- mix the seeds with fine sand to improve spreading ability
- sow in a bed prepared with fine crumbs at an appropriate location at a maximum depth of 1 centimeter, press down and spray with water
- do not cover the light germinators with soil, but with transparent film
Depending on the weather, germination begins within 2 to 4 weeks. During this time the earth must not dry out. Emerging weeds are weeded daily. Since less than half of the seeds germinate, separation is usually unnecessary.
Sow lemon balm on the windowsill like this
Sowing behind glass is more promising. The starting signal is given in early to mid-March so that the young plants are ready for planting in the bed after the Ice Saints. This is how it works:
- Fill the seed tray with peat sand or seed soil and moisten it
- sow and press the previously soaked seeds
- put in the heated indoor greenhouse (€58.00 on Amazon)
- Expect germination in a partially shaded window seat at 20 to 25 degrees
Under ideal conditions, the seeds germinate after 1 to 2 weeks. The temperature can then be reduced to 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. When the seedlings have reached a height of 5 centimeters, they are transplanted into individual pots.
Tips & Tricks
Young plants grown behind glass enter a hardening phase that lasts 10 to 14 days at the beginning of May. During this time they spend the days in a frost-free, partially shaded place in the garden before moving into the house or greenhouse for the night. This preparation is essential for surviving delayed ground frosts without damage and for a quick start to growth in the bed.
