Lime Balm: smaak en teelt

How to create your own herb-growing space

Put common lemon balm and Lime Balm in two labelled pots together. Bruise and smell one leaf each before making drinks. Little harvest is needed to compare. A jug of cool water with fresh leaves gives a simple summer-afternoon trial.

Choose a suitable growing position

Golden-yellow and variegated forms can visually brighten a dark corner, but they are not plants for deep shade. Choose a spot with enough daylight and avoid drying out. A pot makes containment easier; also check outside the pot for seedlings if you have left flowers in place. A self-sown plant does not necessarily retain the characteristics of a named cultivar.

From plant to kitchen

Large old plants offer many leaves, but young fresh material is nicer to use. Cut part back and leave another part standing, keeping harvest and flowering areas together. Note time to usable new tips after cutting.

Scent, flavour and use

Lemon-scented leaves; Lime Balm has a lime-like scent. Colour variants are not assigned invented flavour differences.

Care, cutting and harvesting

Sun or light shade, enough moisture and drainage. Yellow-leaved forms prefer to avoid the strongest sun.

Cut back during active growth for fresh leaves. Remove spent stems if you want to limit self-sown seedlings.

Pick young leaves or short tips. Fresh leaves make a fragrant addition to water, salad or herbal tea.