How to Grow Lemon Balm (Badranjboya) and Keep It Alive in Heat
Lemon balm grows like mint’s polite cousin in a Lahore winter and sulks the moment April turns hot. So the trick to how to grow lemon balm in the plains is timing and shade: start it from cuttings, a nursery plant or fresh seed between October and December, give it full winter sun, then move it to afternoon shade before the 40C days arrive. Do that and a single 25 cm pot gives lemony leaves for tea most of the year.
In brief
- Plant: Melissa officinalis, a mint family perennial
- Start (plains): October to December; cuttings also in February to March
- Pot: at least 25 cm (10 inches) wide and deep, about 8 to 10 litres
- Mix: 2 parts soil, 1 part compost, 1 part cocopeat
- Sun: full winter sun; afternoon shade from early April
- Best method: stem cuttings or division; seed works but is slow
- Harvest: young leaves, a third of the plant at a time
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Is badranjboya the same as lemon balm?
Usually, but not always. In Unani books and pansari shops, badranjboya can mean lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) or a related Nepeta. If you want true lemon balm in your pot, buy a plant or seed labelled Melissa officinalis, and crush a leaf: it should smell clearly of lemon. Our post on badranjboya in Unani tradition explains the naming tangle and the traditional uses. This page sticks to growing.
When to start it, city by city
| Zone | Start | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi, coastal humid | November to January | Bright shade, good air; mildew risk in humidity |
| Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur | Late October to December | Hard: shade cloth, inner verandah, and expect a rest |
| Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi | October to December | Morning sun only from April |
| Islamabad, Peshawar | October to November, February to March | Comfortable with light afternoon shade |
| Hills | March to May | Easy; dies back in hard winters, returns in spring |
Three ways to start lemon balm
Cuttings (most reliable)
- Pick soft, non flowering shoots 8 to 10 cm long in October to November or February to March.
- Cut just below a leaf joint and strip the lower leaves.
- Stand them in a glass of clean water on a bright windowsill, changing the water every two days, or push them into damp cocopeat.
- Roots usually appear in one to three weeks.
- Pot up when roots are 2 to 3 cm long, keep in bright shade for a week.
Division
Lift an established plant in October or February, pull it into two or three rooted pieces and replant at the same depth. It is the easiest way to get exact copies of a variety.
Seed
- Sow in October to November on the surface of a damp seed tray (see the seed starting guide).
- Press the tiny seeds in but cover only with a dusting: they need light to germinate well.
- Keep damp and warm; seedlings appear in roughly 1 to 3 weeks.
- Transplant at 4 to 6 true leaves into the final pot.
Seed is slower and patchier, and imported packets vary in freshness. If a nursery has a plant, buy one and take cuttings from it.
The April move
Shift the pot to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade in the first week of April, before the first heatwave rather than after. Scorched lemon balm leaves turn yellow and crisp at the edges and the taste goes flat. Pots on bricks, not hot floors, with a thin straw mulch, hold up far better through May and June.
Pot, mix and watering through the year
Use a pot 25 cm wide or more with holes. Lemon balm spreads by seeding more than by runners, so a pot keeps it tidy. The mix is a standard herb blend; the potting mix ratio guide has the details.
- Winter: water when the top 2 cm dries, every 3 to 4 days.
- Frost nights: it tolerates light cold; on a hard frost, move under a roof edge.
- Spring: every 2 days.
- Summer (40C to 45C): every morning in shade; don’t let it dry and wilt repeatedly.
- Monsoon: only when dry; good airflow against mildew.
- Feeding: compost every two months. Heavy feeding makes big, bland leaves.
How to harvest lemon balm without killing it
Pick the youngest leaves and shoot tips, which have the most scent. Cut stems just above a pair of leaves so two new shoots form. Take about a third of the plant at a time and let it regrow for two to three weeks.
When it starts flowering (small white flowers, usually spring), leaf flavour weakens. Cut the whole plant back to a few centimetres above the base after flowering. It regrows with fresh leaves and you stop it scattering seed. Dried leaves keep for winter tea but are much milder than fresh. For the herb garden layout around it, see the balcony herb garden guide.
Why is my lemon balm plant dying?
| Sign | Likely cause | First response |
|---|---|---|
| Crisp brown edges, May to June | Sun scorch and heat | Afternoon shade, morning water, mulch |
| Yellow lower leaves, wet soil | Overwatering, poor drainage | Let it dry more; check the hole |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew | Remove affected leaves, more space and air |
| Speckled, dull leaves, fine webs | Spider mites in dry heat | Spray leaf undersides with water every few days |
| Leggy stems, few leaves | Too little light in winter | Full sun October to March, cut back |
Seed saving
Let one stem flower and dry on the plant. When the calyxes turn brown, cut the stem into a paper bag and shake out the tiny dark seeds. Store cool and dry and sow in autumn. Seed from named varieties may not match the parent.
Lemon balm leaf tea is a traditional household drink, but it is not a substitute for medical care. Anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, with a thyroid condition or taking sedating medicine should ask their doctor before drinking it regularly, and it is not a drink to give young children. Make sure you are growing the right plant: crush and smell before you brew. Keep chemical sprays off a herb you drink; if needed, use one labelled for edible herbs, follow the waiting period, and wear gloves.
Grow it or skip it?
Grow it in Lahore, Delhi, Islamabad and the hills, in a pot. In Multan or Sukkur, grow it as a winter plant and accept that summer may finish it; take cuttings in February as insurance. In the ground in heavy clay, it rots in the monsoon. Explore more herbs in Kitchen Garden.
Lemon balm growing questions
How do you grow lemon balm at home?
Start from a cutting, divided clump or seed in a 25 cm pot of well drained mix, give full winter sun and afternoon shade from April, and water when the top dries.
Can you grow lemon balm from cuttings in water?
Yes. Soft shoots 8 to 10 cm long usually root in a glass of water within one to three weeks. Pot them once roots are 2 to 3 cm.
How long does lemon balm seed take to germinate?
Roughly one to three weeks in warmth. Barely cover the seed, because light helps it sprout.
When should I plant lemon balm in Pakistan?
October to December in the plains, with cuttings again in February or March. Spring in the hills.
Why are my lemon balm leaves turning brown?
Usually sun scorch and heat from April onward, or drying out between waterings. Move it to afternoon shade and water in the morning.
Can lemon balm grow indoors?
Only on a very bright windowsill with several hours of direct sun. Indoors it grows leggy and weak. A balcony is better.
Does lemon balm spread like mint?
It spreads mostly by seed, not runners. Cutting it back after flowering stops most self seeding.
Is badranjboya lemon balm?
Often, but the name is also used for a Nepeta. Buy plants labelled Melissa officinalis and check for a clear lemon smell.