When to Plant Lemon Balm in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
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.
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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.
- Planting window
- May to Jul
- 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 Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May S
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul T/D
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
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 Tropical 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 Tropical 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
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
Pests and problems for Lemon Balm in Tropical
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 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.
When should I plant Lemon Balm in Cairns?
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.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.