Propagation
There are many ways to
propagate lemon balm, but many of HSA's gardening experts find that the
species' easy self-seeding
makes planned propagation unnecessary (59, 67, 88, 101). If starting new
plants from seed, however,
remember that lemon balm germinates best uncovered (67) or covered citrus packing machine
lightly with vermiculite
(62) and will germinate in 5-9 days if temperature is 65-70o F (62). The
species,
Melissa officinalis
'Quedlinburger Niederliegende,' and M. o. 'All Gold' (Golden) will come true to
type if
isolated (62). For M. o.
'Aurea', the variegated cultivar, however, Andy Van Hevelingen suggests
propagating by division or
softwood cuttings since it will not retain variegation when grown from seed
(101).
If propagating from
cuttings, Andy takes 3-4 inch softwood tip cuttings in spring. He removes 2/3
of the
leaves and pinches out the
growing tip to prevent wilting. Andy recommends dipping in rooting hormone
powder and placing in
sterile medium amended with coarse sterile sand to provide support and citrus packing machine moisture
retention. The cuttings
should be watered immediately and kept out of direct sun, and will root in 3-4
weeks (101).
Mark Langan takes 1. to
1.-inch tip cuttings and roots them in sterile potting soil over a heat table
set
at 70-75oF. Using this
method, Mark has found that cuttings will root in about a week (62). Note that
bottom heat can decrease
rooting time (101) but heat is not required to induce rooting (12).
Cuttings can be taken in
spring or fall. Although spring cuttings can be taken from flowering stems,
fall
cuttings should come from
tips at the base of the crown which don't have flowers (62). Mark uses a razor citrus packing machine
blade for all of his
cuttings, rather than scissors. A razor blade makes a clean cut, allows water
to absorb
quickly and prevents
wilting (62).
Deni Bown suggests
treating lemon balm “like any hardy perennial, digging up a clump when dormant
and dividing into small
pieces, either for replanting in the ground or in pots” (12). Her favorite
propagation method,
however, is “to take stem cuttings in the spring... choosing basal stems that
have
the odd root already or
vestigial roots” (12). Water & Drainage
New plants should be
watered immediately after transplanting (5). Madalene Hill has found that in
her
Round Top, Texas, garden,
established plants in-ground or in large containers can be watered once a citrus packing machine week (45). Mark Langan, on
the other hand, waters his potted plants daily in summer, but his general
rule for lemon balm
(especially in-ground plants) is to water only if the plant is wilted in a
drought
situation (62). Frequent
watering may be necessary, however, if plants are grown in full sun and high
temperatures (101).
Although lemon balm likes
moist soils (97), good drainage is also important (45, 97). Mulching will aid
drainage and protect from
hot weather (especially important if you garden in the South) (45). Planting citrus packing machineon
a hillside can also
promote good drainage (45).
Fertilizer
Lemon balm is such a
prolific and vigorous grower it rarely needs fertilizer (5). Preparing soil
with leaf
humus or compost is
usually sufficient (5, 62). Adding calcium in the form of lime or gypsum every
3-4
years can also be
beneficial (62). Container plants, however, may benefit from organic liquid
fertilizer
four times per year (67).
Advice
for Beginners
Lemon balm is such an easy
plant to grow, Rex Talbert advises beginners to “stand back” after sowing
seeds (94). Dr. Art Tucker
cautions that the plant can be invasive (96). Mark Langan suggests
preventing lemon balm from
going to seed if you want to avoid spreading (62). Another option is to
choose the sterile
variety, Melissa officinalis 'Compacta' (61). Susan Belsinger says beginning
gardeners should remember
that a plant that starts out in a 4-inch pot will be 1. to 2-feet tall and wide
by the end of the season.
Put the plant where it will have ample room and cut it back as needed (5).
(See Pruning &
Harvesting section for additional information). Maintaining good air
circulation can be
challenging since lemon
balm can spread so rapidly (5). Susan Belsinger started with two lemon balm
plants near the foundation
of her house and now has about 30 plants. If plants become too crowded,
simply thin to the desired
spacing (5). Lorraine Kiefer suggests growing lemon balm under trees; “the citrus packing machine
natural leaf cover in
winter acts as a mulch and becomes compost” (59).
Indoor
Cultivation
If grown as a potted
indoor plant, lemon balm will need 5 hours of direct sunlight or 14-16 hours of
artificial light per day
(92). Most of HSA's experts don't recommend growing lemon balm indoors,
however. According to
Madalene Hill, although lemon balm will grow indoors in a sunny window, the
flavor won't be as
intense. It's best to think of lemon balm as a seasonal, summer plant (45).
Pests
& Diseases
13
Lemon balm does not often fall prey to
pests and diseases, but there are a few to watch out for.
Indoors and in the greenhouse, aphids
and spider mites can infest lemon balm, but hard washing with a
hose (or in the sink) can help remedy
the problem (62). Mark Langan also suggests dusting undersides
of leaves with wettable sulfur,
waiting 24 hours, and then washing off. This can be especially helpful in
the Southwest where sulfur can help
acidify the soil (62).
European red mite and two-spotted mite
can cause leaf bronzing and stunted growth (70). Whitefly can
be a problem in the greenhouse,
especially with poor ventilation and inadequate sunlight (94). Rex citrus packing machine
Talbert has a creative solution to
combat whitefly, spraying a board with a yellow color that attracts
whiteflies, covering it with a sticky
substance and placing the board near the plants (94). One disease associated
with lemon balm is not necessarily a concern, but may actually be related to a
desirable ornamental characteristic of
one lemon balm variety. A 2005 article in Plant Pathology
reported an association between
variegation in lemon balm and the presence of Tulip Virus X (TVX)
(98).
Less benevolent diseases of lemon balm
include powdery mildew and Septoria leaf spot. Powdery
mildew is a fungal disease that gives
leaves a whitish powdery appearance and can be a problem in
areas with hot, humid days and cool
nights (12, 31). This disease can be controlled by providing good
air circulation and regular
harvesting/pruning (88, 104). To avoid mildew, try growing the cultivar M.
officinalis ‘Citronella,’ which is
mildew-resistant (12).
Septoria leaf spot, a fungus that can
infect lemon balm, causes dark brown or black 1-2mm angular leaf
spots.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder