A Refreshing Start to the Summer with Mint and Lemon Balm

Many people get into gardening for many different reasons. One of those reasons is getting to grow your own foods and herbs. There’s lot of choices out there, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s something out there for everyone. I’d like to talk about mint and lemon balm. Fantastic, easy to grow herbs that have a variety of uses in food dishes.

So, let’s talk mint. Everyone knows about mint! Mint, or Mentha, is a plant that is often used in drinks or as garnishes in many dishes. There’s also Lemon Balm, A.K.A. Melissa officinalis. Lemon Balm is in the mint family too and grows similarly, but they usually don’t spread as much. These plants can grow fast, so we recommend giving it some space if you decide to plant it nearby other plants. Mint will not only crawl, but they can get tall too. Usually growing around 2 feet tall and wide depending on the species. They’re resilient to our weather as well but will likely need a lot of water if you keep it in a much sunnier spot. They’re also good at assisting at repelling certain animals like cats, mice and even mosquitos.

Mint and lemon balm are great low maintenance plants. This makes it great for people new to gardening or maybe if you’re like us and have 200 other plants to look after and just need something easier. Mint pairs well with other herbs to have on hand for convenience like oregano and thyme, but due to their citrus scent, can also be used in between other fruits and vegetables to help keep away certain pests naturally. There are a few varieties of mint to choose from, but the choice usually comes down to smell and taste preference. We have varieties such as grapefruit, lime, mojito, berries and cream, and then of course the lemon balm with its lemony flavour.

If you like to use mint and lemon balm in your dishes, you’ll be glad to know that they take to pruning well. These plants can be chopped and then chopped again with no setbacks. They also propagate easily too if you want to make more from one. If you’re new to gardening or just want something easy and useful to keep, mint and lemon balm are a great way to go.

Sean Church-Bornkessel