When to Plant Lemon Balm in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow May to July. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is May.

Planting window
Plant in the dry season, from May to July, in part shade. It struggles in wet-season heat, so keep it in a pot you can move.
Days to harvest
56 days
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates more shade than most herbs.
Water needs
Regular watering for best growth. Tolerates some drought once established.
Spacing
30cm apart, 45cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Lemon Balm guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Lemon Balm

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Tolerant of shade and a wide range of conditions. One of the most beginner-friendly herbs.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - S S/T/D T/D - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.5°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Lemon Balm in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant in the dry season, from May to July, in part shade. It struggles in wet-season heat, so keep it in a pot you can move.

Soil
Any reasonable soil with organic matter. Tolerates most conditions.
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.

Companion plants: Most vegetables and herbs, Fruit trees

Tropical Growing Tips for Lemon Balm

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard Melissa officinalis

Key Challenges

  • Humidity causes mildew
  • Can spread aggressively

Pro Tips

  • Grow in containers
  • Cut back regularly
  • Afternoon shade

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.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this October: Ginger, Lemongrass, Basil and Okra.

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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:

Does lemon balm grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are May to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.