Quedlinburger Niederliegende is higher in essential-oil content than other lemon balms. The list of reasons to love and grow lemon balm is endless – it has culinary, cosmetic and medicinal values, and a beautiful lemon scent. The tongue-twister of a name hails from the town of Quedlinburg, which sits just north of the Harz mountains in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt region. Meanwhile, ‘Niederliegende’ can be translated from German as ‘procumbent’, a botanical adjective meaning ‘growing along the ground without setting roots forth’. This easy-to-grow perennial belongs in every garden!
LATIN NAME
Melissa officinalis
VARIETY
Quedlinburger Niederliegende
PLANT SIZE
Height 30 cm
Width 40 cm
SOWING
Indoor Not required
Outdoor Feb-July
TIMING
Germination 7-15 days
Harvesting 40-60 days
SPACING
When sowing 2-3 cm
When thinning 3-5 cm
GROWING
Sunligth Full sun to partial shade.
Soil Well drained, light and moist soil.
Watering Regular watering, not overdone.
Feeding Addition of fertilizer is not necessary.
CARING
Expert tip To keep lemon balm vibrant, trim the plant to about 30 cm high after the plant has stopped blooming for the season.
SUPPORTING
Pollinators
Attracts bees, butterflies and ladybirds.
Pests
Repels mosquitos and fleas.
HARVESTING
Lemon balm can be picked at any time, but some of the flavour is lost after flowering. Choose young, bright-green and tender leaves to appreciate the citrusy flavour at its peak!
EATING
Medicinal properties Place lemon balm sachets under your pillow for a refreshing, relaxing night’s sleep. Why not give it a go? The smell alone is sure to lift your spirits.
How to eat Add lemon balm to fruit salads, herb butters and sorbets, or use it to add a citrus hint to refreshing fruit drinks and cocktails like the delicious Lemon Balm Honeysuckle. Its lemony flavour also makes it a perfect choice for sauces and marinades for fish.
