Herbs
Lemon balm
Leafy stems with their best aroma before flowering.
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 · Sep–Dec
Core months: September, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow · Sep–Dec
Core months: September, October, November, December
Possible / shoulder months: January, March, April, August
Subtropical
Sow · Aug–Oct
Core months: August, September, October
Possible / shoulder months: March, April, May, June, July, November
Tropical
Sow · May–Jul
Core months: May, June, July
Possible / shoulder months: April, August, September, October
Arid
Sow · Oct
Core months: October
Possible / shoulder months: April, May, June, July, August, September, November
Getting started
Sow seed, or divide an established clump and water the replanted sections in well.
The right conditions
Choose sun to light shade and fertile, free-draining soil; protect from harsh heat where appropriate.
As it grows
Water while establishing, then avoid prolonged waterlogging. Trim or pinch regularly to encourage useful leafy growth and airflow.
Ready to harvest
Snip leafy stems before flowering for the best aroma, leaving enough growth for the perennial clump to recover.
Related how-to guides
Take softwood herb cuttings
Choose healthy material from a correctly identified plant.
Divide a healthy clumping perennial
Confirm the plant forms a divisible clump; a single woody trunk or taproot is not a clump to split.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.