Herbs
Bee balm
Young leaves and fresh flowers, with blooms left for pollinators.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Jan-Mar,Oct-Dec
Core months: January, February, March, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow · Jan-Apr,Sep-Dec
Core months: January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Apr-Sep
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September
Tropical
Sow · Apr-Sep
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September
Arid
Sow · Apr-Sep
Core months: April, May, June, July, August, September
Getting started
Sow seed in the recorded five-zone window. Use clean seed and follow the packet's depth and spacing for the named species or cultivar.
The right conditions
Choose a position with good light, fertile free-draining soil and protection from harsh heat; provide winter chill where the crop requires it.
As it grows
Water consistently while establishing, mulch without burying the crown or stem, manage weeds early and provide support where the mature habit needs it.
Ready to harvest
Pick young leaves as needed and flowers soon after opening, leaving enough bloom for pollinators.
Important cautions
Use correctly identified, unsprayed leaves or flowers in culinary quantities. The plant can spread by rhizomes.
Plant guidance: P11a propagation, food-safety and plant-specific guide audit. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.