Hardy lemon balm retreats into its roots and waits deep in the ground for spring. However, the herb plant cannot survive completely without protection. Find out here when and how winter protection is recommended.
Is lemon balm hardy and how do you protect it in winter?
Lemon balm is hardy and survives temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius in the bed. Winter protection is necessary in the pot: cut back branches, insulate the pot and place it in front of the south wall, cover the substrate and water when there is clear frost.
Malissa in the pot is at risk of death from cold - this prophylaxis helps
If frost enters the garden, the above-ground parts of lemon balm plants in the bed die off. Even low temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius cannot harm the roots in the ground. However, this does not apply to herb plants in pots. Due to the exposed location of the root ball, it is at risk of freezing. To prevent this from happening, prudent hobby gardeners take the following precautions:
- cut the branches back close to the ground
- carry the bucket in front of the south wall of the house
- place on insulating material, such as wood or Styrofoam
- Wrap the planter with bubble wrap (€14.00 on Amazon)
- cover the substrate with leaf mold, straw or pine fronds
- ideally move to a frost-free winter quarters
All protective measures will be ineffective if the lemon balm dries up due to frost. If snow fails to provide moisture, hardy lemon balm is at risk of drought stress. On frost-free days, both the plants in the bed and in the pot are watered.
Do not cover lemon balm in the bed
Well-established lemon balm in the bed is cut off just above the soil surface at the beginning of winter. Alternatively, leave the withered shoots until early spring and then cut them back. No cover is required.
Seedbed needs winter protection
Since lemon balm produces winter-hardy seeds in autumn, there is nothing wrong with direct sowing in the sun-warmed bed. This has the advantage that extremely resilient young plants will emerge next year. To ensure that the seeds get through the cold season well, the ground is covered with coconut mats or brushwood. It is important to note that this winter protection is removed in good time next year.
Tips & Tricks
Does the excessive root growth of a lemon balm threaten to blow up the bucket? Then take the root ball out of the container in autumn and cut it up with a spade or knife. Repot the most beautiful segments with at least two shoots. This uncomplicated form of propagation also works very well in spring, shortly before the new shoots appear.
