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Wet leaves, warm temperatures and high humidity can predispose plants to this disease, but it

can be combated with proper spacing (for good air circulation), disinfecting pots, crop rotation and

watering earlier in the day if overhead watering is necessary (8).

Pests can be combated with beneficial insects, insecticidal soaps, traps and manual removal (24).  citrus packing machine Mark

Langan suggests planting in well-drained, fertile soil to prevent disease. Using this method, Mark doesn’t citrus packing machine

have a problem with pests and diseases in the landscape (62). Soil-borne diseases can be prevented

with crop rotation. Drip irrigating or “watering early in the day” can help prevent diseases that affect

damp leaves (24).

Pruning & Harvesting

14

There are many options when it comes to pruning and harvesting lemon balm. Leaves can be harvested

as needed. Susan Belsinger suggests thinning plants in the summer to improve air circulation. This is

particularly important during hot and humid weather. To thin plants, simply snap a stem off from the citrus packing machine

base. If plant has 30 stems, about 10 should be removed. The thinned stems can then be hung to dry

(5).

In addition to thinning, Susan cuts her plants nearly to ground level for the three major harvests in

spring, summer and fall. Susan has found that she can get new growth even in cool weather after the

plant has bloomed and leaves are turning yellowish-green (5). In Southern California, Theresa Loe  citrus packing machine cuts

her lemon balm plants to the ground in late fall or early winter but they never become dormant and she

can harvest year-round (67).

Plants may brown around the edges due to excess heat, cold, dryness or high winds (45). Madalene Hill

and Gwen Barclay trim 1 or 2 inches all around the plant to remove browning and finds that in just a few

days new growth will appear. For plants that are very large, try trimming one side one week and the

other side the following week. If the plant has been subjected to more extreme conditions like hurricane citrus packing machine

winds or drought, they would cut it back to 4 or 5 inches in late winter or early spring(45).

It’s nearly impossible to over-prune/over-harvest lemon balm (61). According to Lorraine Keifer, in midsummer,

a large patch can even be pruned with a trimmer/edger or a mower set on high. She suggests

watering and fertilizing following this aggressive pruning if soil is poor or plants look “sparse” (59). Mark

Langan has also noticed that lemon balm can be mowed to the ground and will rebound, but for Mark a

safe rule is to remove up to half of the plant’s total height (62).

Be sure to prune flowering stalks before the plant goes to seed to keep lemon balm from spreading citrus packing machine

(101). Andrew Van Hevelingen also suggests dividing three-year-old plants and replanting, since lemon

balm plants can “die in the middle and creep outwards like French tarragon” (101).

Essential oil content is reportedly highest in the top one-third of the plant (76), and one study that took

place in the Ebro-Delta of Spain found that harvesting in the morning during August and September

produced the best essential oil content (1).

Many herb enthusiasts believe flavor is best prior to flowering (12, 45, 81, 87, 88) but for essential oil citrus packing machine

production, plants are harvested at flowering (92). If harvesting for essential oil production, Mark Langan

suggests cutting plants to the ground in spring as the first 5-25% of flowers open. Mark points out that

seed production, not flowering, affects oil production and leaf flavor (62). According to Susan Belsinger,

if the plant is cut back after flowering, new leaves that appear will have the flavor of spring growth (5).

Drying citrus packing machine

The flavor of fresh lemon balm is superior to dried (5, 45, 62, 87, 88), but depending on the season and

your location, drying lemon balm leaves can provide access to the herb year round.

Lemon balm can be dried by hanging in bunches, then stripping off leaves (12, 59, 67). It can also be

dried on trays (45, 104) and should be dried in a dark place (101, 104) with good air circulation (58,

101). Dry within 2 days or leaves may turn black (87, 104).

Dried leaves can be stored for 1 year in glass containers in a dark, dry place (43, 67). They can also  citrus packing machine be

stored in the refrigerator for a few days or in double bagged food storage plastic bags in the freezer for

the short term (45).

Freezing

For fresh flavor, even in winter, Susan Belsinger prefers freezing chopped lemon balm leaves in

vegetable oil. The lemon balm and oil combination can be added to baked goods (5). Another option is

to freeze whole or chopped leaves and water in ice cube trays (62).

Culinary Uses citrus packing machine

Lemon balm is a surprisingly versatile culinary herb which can be used to flavor many different types of

dishes, from beverages, to appetizers, main courses and desserts. It can be added to salads,

sandwiches, soups, stews, butters, cheeses, fish, stuffings for poultry, pork and veal, egg dishes,

vegetables, fruit cups, jams, jellies, sauces, marinades, dressings, herb vinegar, wine, punch, cakes,

custards, tarts, sorbets, ice cream, cookies, crepes, pies and cheesecakes (5, 67, 92).

Lemon balm complements many fruits, including honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, apples and pears

(5). For fruit salads, try mixing fresh lemon balm with pineapple sage (81). For vinaigrettes or salad

mixes, lemon balm combines well with parsley or basil. It can also be included in fines herbes mixtures citrus packing machine

with dill, tarragon, parsley, chervil and chives. In springtime, combine lemon balm with fennel and thyme