When to Plant Lemon Balm in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Lemon Balm guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Jan
- Days to harvest
- 56 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
A vigorous perennial herb with lemon-scented leaves related to mint. Easy to grow, spreads by runners and self-seeding. Can become invasive like mint. Mainly used for herbal teas, salads, and desserts.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan T
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep S
- Oct S/T/D
- Nov S/T/D
- Dec S/T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Lemon Balm included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Lemon Balm in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Any reasonable soil with organic matter. Tolerates most conditions.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade. Tolerates more shade than most herbs.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Regular watering for best growth. Tolerates some drought once established.
- Good companions
- Onion, Shallots, Gooseberry, Marshmallow, Sweet Granadilla
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Lemon Balm
Recommended Varieties
- Standard Melissa officinalis
Key Challenges
- Short active season
Pro Tips
- Hardy perennial that survives most frosts
- Mulch crowns for winter protection
Pests and problems for Lemon Balm in Cold / Highland
Organic prevention (Powdery Mildew): Thin plants for airflow. Cut back regularly.
Harvesting Lemon Balm
When ready: Harvest once plant is 20cm+ tall. Best flavour before flowering.
How to harvest: Cut stems 5cm above ground. Entire plant can be cut to ground 3-4 times per season.
Storing and preserving lemon balm
How to keep it
- Drying for tea. Hang bundles in dark dry place 1-2 weeks. Strip leaves. Makes excellent herbal tea. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing. Chop leaves, freeze in ice cube trays with water. Keeps: 6 months.
- Lemon balm syrup. Simmer 2 cups leaves in 2 cups sugar + 2 cups water for 15 minutes. Strain. Use in cocktails and desserts. Keeps: 4 weeks refrigerated.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Lemon Balm
When do you plant lemon balm in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Mar to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
Can you grow lemon balm all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Lemon Balm in Canberra?
A hardy perennial that dies down in winter and reshoots in spring. Sow or plant in spring and cut back tall stems to stop it flowering and self-seeding.
What soil temperature do Lemon Balm need?
Lemon Balm germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Lemon Balm are ready to harvest?
Harvest once plant is 20cm+ tall. Best flavour before flowering.
What are the best Lemon Balm varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Standard Melissa officinalis.
What grows well with Lemon Balm?
Good companion plants for Lemon Balm include: Onion, Shallots, Gooseberry, Marshmallow, Sweet Granadilla.
Are lemon balm salt tolerant?
Only a little. Lemon balm are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.