Melissa (Melissa) is a herbaceous perennial that is popular with many gardeners and has a pronounced aroma. The plant is related to the Lamiaceae family and grows in Eurasian and North American countries.
Melissa is usually grown as a gardening plant or a home potted plant. The herb leaves are used in various dishes and are added to tea. Lemon balm juice gives a special lemon flavor to fish, meat and vegetables. This perennial has found its application in medicine due to its unique medicinal and melliferous properties. The folk names of the herb sound like swarm, honey, mother plant or lemon mint, but the latter of them should not be confused with a plant from another genus.
Description of the lemon balm plant
The lemon balm plant has a widely branched rhizome. The stems also form many shoots that grow 60-120 cm in length. All terrestrial parts of the plant are distinguished by a bright saturated color. The surface of the shoots is slightly pubescent. Ovate leaves are arranged in opposite order, ribbed to the touch with a mesh of veins. The ends of the leaves are serrated and elongated.
The ability to bloom is manifested only in bushes that have reached the age of two. Umbrella inflorescences begin to bloom from the axils in the second half of summer. Umbrellas form small corollas, colored in white or blue. The petals are placed asymmetrically. The lower tier of petals looks longer. In the center of the flower there are four stamens and a pistil.
Fruits are formed one month after the flower ovaries are pollinated. The fruits are black shiny nuts filled with seeds. The seeds remain viable for three years. The seed consumption is 1600 hemicarps per 1 kg.
The freshly harvested herb exudes a pronounced lemon scent. The intensity of the scent is acutely felt during the bud formation, i.e. at the initial stage of flowering. When the umbrellas wilt, many gardeners try to stay away from the strong-smelling grass.
Planting lemon balm in the open field
Growing from seeds
Gardeners mostly cultivate lemon balm from seeds or grow the plant vegetatively. In order for lemon balm to take root better when planted in the open field, seedlings are first grown. In the spring, wooden boxes are filled with drained fertile garden substrate, and seeds are distributed from above, trying not to thicken the sowing. The embedment depth of the material should not exceed 5 mm. The greenhouse effect can be created using plastic wrap, which is covered with containers, waiting for the first green shoots to appear. Every day, crops are moistened with a spray bottle and ventilated to get rid of condensation.
Under favorable conditions, seedlings begin to appear 20 days after sowing. Seedlings that are heavily thickened are thinned out, adhering to an interval between the bushes of 5 cm.The boxes should be in a well-lit room. It is recommended to place them on windowsills overlooking the south or east side of the building. After a few weeks, lemon balm seedlings are fed using nitrogen fertilizers. When the shoots reach ten centimeters in height, the bushes are pinched.
Three- or four-year-old bushes are transplanted, dividing into parts. The division is carried out in May or August, when the flowering process ends. The rhizome is carefully removed from the soil, shaken off the ground and cut into equal shares so that one division contains several healthy shoots and roots. Separated lemon balm bushes are planted in open ground in a previously prepared area. The renewed grass blooms in a year and easily adapts to a new place.
In addition to breeding lemon balm by cuttings, cuttings are used. To do this, make harvesting of green shoots of grass throughout the summer. To make the cuttings root faster, they are kept in water, and then transferred to loose fertile soil. Cuttings take root, as a rule, within 3 or 4 weeks.
Melissa care
Compared to other melliferous plants, lemon balm requires virtually no maintenance and is considered a hardy plant. Bushes can grow for about 10 years without transplanting. However, over time, they lose their attractiveness, are more likely to get sick and freeze. For this reason, it is recommended to replant shrubs that have reached the age of six.
They start planting lemon balm in open ground in May, after waiting until the spring frosts pass, to which the plant shows increased sensitivity.
The optimal place for growing lemon balm is considered to be areas located away from drafts, illuminated by the sun. The substrate should be loose and have a neutral environment. Loamy and sandy loam soil types are well suited. The plot is hilled in advance, get rid of weeds and leveled. Heavy soil is diluted with river sand or crushed stone to improve drainage properties. Lemongrass rhizome is capable of growing strongly. In this regard, gardeners are advised to observe an interval when planting at least 25 cm.
Bushes that have been growing in a specific location for many years are very hardy and do almost without any maintenance. Young plants should still be given time to water when drought sets in and the soil lacks water. Wet soil needs to be loosened while removing weeds. The topsoil will not dry out if the bed is covered with organic material.
When inflorescences appear, they begin to prepare for harvesting. At a height of 10 cm from the surface of the soil, leafy shoots are cut off. Most of the varietal forms of grass bred by breeders can yield several times during the season.
Upon completion of pruning, perennials are fed with solutions of mineral fertilizers containing superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride. It is not recommended to feed lemon balm before flowering. From time to time, the soil is enriched with organic fertilizers.
Wintering
Lemon grass shows resistance to cold temperatures. If the winter is snowy, there is no need to be afraid that the bushes will survive the winter safely. In regions where frosts without snow are expected, it is better to cover the roots with mulch. Gradually, adult plants lose their winter-hardy properties. Without shelter, the bushes, starting at the age of six, will die.
Diseases and pests of lemon balm
With proper care of lemon balm, diseases and insects will practically not disturb the flower bed with grass. If traces of pests are found, the branches should be treated with soapy water. In extreme cases, you will have to use insecticidal preparations, but later the grass will no longer be edible.
Types and varieties of lemon balm with a photo
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Botanical sources describe the name of five plant species.Lemon balm is often chosen as a cultural gardener of the garden, which can reach a height of 30 to 120 cm. The bushes are strongly branched and covered with hard nap. Closer to August, inflorescences bloom in the form of ring-shaped corollas. This species has a blue or purple hue. Greenish oval leaves.
In addition to the described type of lemon balm, there are other melliferous varieties:
- Quadrille -has lilac umbrella-shaped buds and leaves directed to the top, gathering in a rosette;
- Freshness- a bush, the stems of which grow to a length of about 60 cm, is distinguished by white corollas with a blue tint and dark leaf blades. During the flowering period, the plant exudes a sour aroma.
- Pearl -characterized by a network of branched high shoots and petioled short leaves. The surface of the leaves is ribbed to the touch.
- Pure gold- one of the shortest varieties. During the season, the color of the inflorescence changes from white to a pale purple tone.
Medicinal properties of lemon balm
The benefits of lemon balm herb have been proven by science; many medicinal properties have been found in tissues:
- essential oil;
- tannins;
- coumarins;
- micro and macro elements;
- vitamins;
- saponins;
- sterols.
For medicinal purposes, all vegetative parts of perennial bushes are used. They are dried and crushed. On the basis of dried raw materials, teas, decoctions and infusions are prepared.
Melissa has a strong sedative effect, can relieve spasms, treat insomnia, and is considered an excellent diuretic and choleretic agent. Aromatic lemon grass tea is recommended for people with high blood pressure. It has a calming effect, relieves inflammation of the stomach lining and heals wounds.
Lemon balm preparations are prescribed for women who experience problems with the menstrual cycle, suffer from complications during menopause. Pregnant women tolerate toxicosis more easily by taking lemon balm teas.
Contraindications
Abuse of medicinal raw materials based on lemon balm leads to drowsiness, diarrhea, and allergic reactions.
