Melissa

Family. Lamiaceae.

Origin. Mediterranean.

Description. Melissa is a perennial plant, the entire above-ground part of which dies off when frost sets in, and in the spring the bush begins to grow again from the underground root.

The stems are erect, branched, covered with pubescence. The leaves are opposite, oblong-oval or lanceolate, up to 7 cm long, with pronounced veins, green, also covered with delicate pubescence. When damaged, the leaf blades and shoots emit a very pleasant mint or lemon aroma.

The edges of the leaf blades have small serrations. In the summer months, small, inconspicuous flowers appear in the axils of the leaves - white or lilac, male and female.

There are attractive variegated forms - bushes with yellow or two-colored leaf blades (for example, with a yellow center).

In the genus Melissa, scientists count only 5 species of plants.

Height. 70 - 150 cm, grows quickly.

Useful properties of the herb and contraindications

The medicinal properties of lemon balm are due to its beneficial components. The herb not only has a pleasant aroma, but also contains volatile essential oils (geranial and neral). In different varieties, the content of essential oils can reach 0.3 - 0.8%.

Melissa contains sterols - special alcohols that regulate digestion, support cell membranes, reduce cholesterol levels and have antioxidant properties.

Saponins have emulsifying properties - they are able to bind liquid and fats, remove excess bile and toxins from the body, prevent the absorption of harmful cholesterol, and strengthen the immune system.

Plant dyes - flavonoids - are able to fight various tumors, and as antioxidants they protect the body from aging, are able to suppress the development of bacteria and have antiviral properties.

Aromatic monoterpenes stimulate the immune system and help fight various viral diseases; they are used in aromatherapy.

In addition to the above complex compounds, lemon balm contains macro- and microelements such as:

iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, small amounts of manganese and copper, zinc, chromium and nickel, molybdenum, selenium and vanadium.

The flower contains vitamins B1, B2 and ascorbic acid.

The green mass contains beta-carotene (provitamin A), which prevents the development of tumors (including malignant ones), prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, prevents age-related changes in vision, removes cholesterol from the body and protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Tannins have a beneficial effect on the human digestive system, have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, remove slags and toxins.

Coumarin is a special white crystal that has a sedative effect, has a positive effect on the respiratory system, is used as an antispasmodic and antioxidant. The substance can dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

The tincture is used in folk medicine as a tonic and sedative; long-term use of herbal preparations helps relieve nervous tension, has a positive effect on the quality and duration of sleep, and treats insomnia.

The essential oil is used both in aromatherapy and as a choleretic and expectorant. Adding the herb extract to the cream allows you to quickly get rid of herpes symptoms. Decoctions are used for bruises as an anti-edematous agent, help with toothache and headaches. Oral administration can delay the development of atherosclerosis and relieve a person from colitis, gastritis and flatulence. Baths with a decoction are indicated for rheumatism and menstrual irregularities in women.

For pregnant women, it is prescribed as an antispasmodic and analgesic; the extract improves the quality of sleep and increases appetite (which is very important when toxicosis occurs); the decoction relieves nervous tension and irritability. Diuretic properties allow the flower to be used as a vasoconstrictor. When using medications, do not exceed the dosage recommended on the package, and before the first dose, you must undergo an examination and consult a doctor.

The bush is used in homeopathy as an immunomodulator, a remedy for dysbacteriosis, and is used to treat ulcers and dermatitis.

Contraindications for use may be allergic reactions and individual intolerance. People with low blood pressure should not use lemon balm.

Tea with melissa

A refreshing, aromatic drink is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent - it is perfectly refreshing in the heat, gives strength and quenches thirst. Herbal tea with melissa will calm you down before bed, relieve stress and nervous tension, relieve a migraine attack, and pleasant citrus notes will lift your spirits. 

Melissa and thyme

The combination of melissa and thyme allows you not only to enjoy the aroma and taste of the drink, but also helps restore immunity, gives the body strength and energy, relieves chronic fatigue and relieves depression. A similar combination of herbs is used in drinks for children and helps them fight colic and improve digestion.

Chamomile and melissa

Herbal teas based on chamomile and melissa are used as an antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent, promote expectoration of sputum in respiratory diseases, support the activity of the cardiovascular system, remove harmful substances from the body, and increase mental and physical performance.

Melissa and valerian

An unsurpassed combination of these soothing herbs, in medicinal preparations they are often supplemented with motherwort. Tea with melissa and valerian herb is considered one of the best remedies for improving sleep and relieving stress.

Passiflora and melissa

As part of herbal teas, passionflower does not have a pronounced taste and the main aromatic component of the drink will be melissa. The main purpose of tea with melissa and passionflower is to relieve anxiety and stress, get rid of insomnia, and improve memory. 

Use in cosmetology and cooking

Among other things, the beneficial properties are widely used for cosmetic purposes. Since lemon balm has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, its hydrolate is added to skin care creams. Herbal additives not only give cosmetics a gorgeous aroma with citrus notes, but are also able to moisturize and nourish the skin, eliminate rashes, heal small cracks and wounds, and improve metabolic processes in tissue cells.

Rosmarinic acid, contained in shoots and leaves, has a powerful antioxidant effect and slows down skin aging, protecting it from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Masks made from fresh leaves help fight age spots. The extract effectively cleanses pores and regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands, helping to get rid of acne and blackheads in adolescence.

In cooking, the leaves are used as a seasoning for various salads. In spicy dishes, the plant is usually not as effective, since essential oils are destroyed during heat treatment. Sometimes young shoots and leaves are used to prepare meat and fish dishes, and added to brine when marinating vegetables.

Planting and growing

Melissa is grown in open ground both by seedlings and by sowing seeds in the garden after the threat of the last spring frosts has passed or in the fall, shortly before the onset of cold weather.

It is preferable to have a place where the bush can be in the sun for 3-4 hours a day. When grown in partial shade, the aroma will be less intense, and the bushes will grow taller.

Representatives of the genus do not like cold winds, so planting is carried out on the southern side of buildings and structures. Tall varieties will prefer a place protected from strong gusts of wind - the stems may not withstand and break under the influence of the elements.

The soil at the planting site should easily allow moisture to pass through after rain, breathable soil is preferable. If the soil is too dense, drainage is added to it in the form of coarse river sand, pebbles or pieces of broken brick.

Melissa prefers organic-rich substrates with a neutral or slightly acidic pH in the range from 4.7 to 7.5. If the soil on the site has an alkaline pH, then when planting, a small amount of some acid (acetic, citric, etc.) is mixed into it.

You can sow both planting material purchased in advance in a flower shop and seeds collected independently.

To collect seeds, leave the strongest shoot on the bush and let it bloom. Fully ripened seeds will turn dark brown. To prevent the seeds from leaving the capsules on their own, the shoot is wrapped in non-woven material.

The collected seeds are dried for 24 hours in a warm and well-ventilated room. The dried planting material is placed in paper envelopes indicating the date of collection and stored in a dry and cool place for 2 - 3 years. Germination will be maximum within a year after collection, then it gradually decreases.

Sowing seeds

If the seeds are sown in open ground, then such planting can be done in the fall or spring, after the last night frosts have receded. In the autumn, the planting date should be chosen so that the first shoots do not have time to appear before the onset of cold weather.

The area is dug up and leveled, and weeds are removed. Organic matter is added to the soil in the form of well-rotted cow or horse manure, a weak solution of chicken manure, or humus from a compost pit.

Using a garden fork, make small grooves 0.7 - 1 cm deep, into which the seeds are sown. Since the planting material is relatively small, it is placed at a depth of no more than 5 - 7 mm. Too much deepening will negatively affect seed germination.

The top of the crops is covered with a thin layer of earth mixed with river sand and watered with warm water. The distance between the grooves is about 15 cm.

The first shoots, if agricultural techniques are followed, will appear within a month or a little earlier. 

Before the onset of night cold, autumn crops are covered with non-woven garden material for insulation. Such beds are opened in the spring - when the snow cover melts and the sun warms up.

If seedlings are grown at home, then sowing of seeds is carried out in the second half of February. For sowing, use ready-made greenhouses with transparent lids or any containers with drainage holes at the bottom.

The first layer is drainage - small fraction expanded clay, pieces of polystyrene foam or any other drainage material. The containers are filled with nutritious soil, which is slightly moistened, and the top layer is tamped down a little with your fingertips.

Seeds are sown on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a small layer of earth 3 - 5 mm thick. The crops are covered with a lid or transparent film to maintain a high level of humidity.

Leave the greenhouses in a warm place with good lighting. The lid is raised daily for a few minutes to ventilate the seedlings. The shelter is completely removed with the appearance of the first shoots.

Since the daylight hours in February are still too short, the emerging sprouts begin to be illuminated using any LED lamps.  

Caring for seedlings

When sprouts appear in open ground, gardeners must monitor soil moisture and promptly remove weeds. As the melissa grows, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving only the strongest bushes. Weak plants are plucked out. The distance between young shoots should be about 18 - 20 cm.

Until the beginning of autumn, the young bushes will gain strength, and then, approximately 3 - 4 weeks before the first frost, they can be planted in a permanent place. When planting adult bushes, it is worth taking into account their varietal characteristics - the taller the adult plant is, the greater the distance left between the bushes.

When grown indoors, seedlings are watered with warm water that has been standing for 24 hours. Use artificial illumination of seedlings, increasing the duration of daylight hours to 14 - 16 hours a day. The sprouts are thinned out as they develop. 

As soon as each seedling boasts its first true leaves, they are picked. When picking, plant each bush in a separate small pot or glass.

It is very convenient to use peat containers for keeping seedlings - when planting in open ground, the seedlings are placed on the site directly in pots. The peat pots themselves decompose in the soil over time. Plants transplanted in this way begin to grow faster and look stronger - after all, their root system is not damaged during transplantation.

Melissa seedlings should receive enough light in the first weeks of life - otherwise, the shoots will stretch in height and look weak.

2 - 3 weeks after picking, feed for the first time with nitrogen mineral fertilizers. When feeding, the nutrient solution is diluted to a quarter or half of the dose recommended on the package. Nitrogen will allow you to build up green mass faster.

Before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened for a week - left outside for several hours. The first time, the time is limited to 3 hours, placing the bushes in a quiet place shaded from direct sunlight. Gradually, the hardening time is increased and after 7-10 days, the seedlings can be left for a day.

The seedlings are placed in open ground in the second half of May. Holes are made in the ground, the depth and height of which exceed the root ball. The bushes are transferred together with the root ball, without destroying it. After transshipment, the root collar should be flush with the surface of the earth.

The plantings are watered and, if possible, covered from the scorching rays of the sun for 3-5 days with non-woven material. It is best to transplant in the evening hours and in warm, but not hot weather - this way the seedlings will take root faster in a new place.

As soon as the height reaches 10-15 cm, pinch the main shoot. In response to this, the small lemon balm will produce several side branches, and over time the bush will look denser.

Mature plants are easy to care for and require minimal time and effort. The grass is watered from time to time (in hot and dry weather) and fed 1-2 times per season. The bushes respond to nitrogen fertilizers and organic matter. 2-3 times a year, the surface of the soil is loosened, providing air access to the roots.

Weeds are removed in a timely manner so that they do not draw nutrients and moisture from the soil. After loosening, it is advisable to lay a layer of mulch - straw or rotted sawdust. Mulch will prevent moisture from evaporating after watering and delay the development of weeds.

When plants reach the age of 6-7 years, their frost resistance decreases. Such specimens should be cut to a height before the onset of cold weather and covered for the winter.

Collecting 

The most suitable time for cutting aromatic shoots is considered to be the beginning of flowering. Before the first buds bloom, shoots and leaves accumulate the maximum amount of essential oils and nutrients. Raw materials prepared during this period will be the most aromatic.

When grown in open ground, lemon balm often self-sows, and timely pruning will prevent independent spread.

Melissa stems are cut with a sharp knife or sterile pruning shears at a height of about 5 cm. In one season, you can make 2-3 collections of green mass.

During the day, the concentration of essential oils also changes. Heat and direct sunlight contribute to the rapid evaporation of aromatic substances, so it is better to cut early in the morning, in the evening or in cloudy weather.

The cut parts are tied into small panicles and hung upside down under a canopy or in a room with good air circulation to dry. You can also lay them out in a thin layer on a table or shelf.

During the drying process, it is unacceptable to expose the brooms to sunlight - ultraviolet radiation will destroy many useful compounds. After 7 - 10 days, when the brooms are dry, they are crushed, collecting the tops of the shoots and leaves in canvas bags. Rough shoots are usually thrown away.

Store dried herbs in paper bags or fabric bags for 1-2 years, using as needed.

Propagation

Melissa is propagated generatively - using seeds, as described above, or vegetatively - by cuttings or dividing large adult plants.

Since the lifespan of each plant is about 10 years, sooner or later it is worth thinking about young offspring.

Division

The easiest way to propagate is to divide the bush into several parts. Usually, division is carried out during transplantation - in summer or early autumn - bushes aged 3-4 years are suitable for this.

A large specimen is dug out in a circle, gradually deepening into the center of the bush. The plant is taken out of the ground and the remaining soil is lightly shaken off.

The root system is cut with a sharp knife into several parts so that each part receives its own green mass and well-developed roots. The wound surface is sprinkled with wood ash for drying and disinfection.

The divisions are planted in holes. At first, you should be careful when watering - excess moisture can cause the roots to rot. Instead of watering, it is better to spray the shoots and leaves with warm water during the day, and cover the bush with agromaterial to reduce moisture loss.

Cuttings 

Melissa cuttings can be rooted even in plain water. Half-ripe shoots are cut with a sharply sharpened knife - you should not use pruners or scissors, as they will damage the water-conducting channels in the shoots. Cutting is carried out in the morning or evening - the hot midday hours are not suitable for this.

The height of the cuttings can be 15 - 20 cm. Half of the leaves from the cuttings can be removed so that they do not evaporate a large amount of water. The bases of the cuttings should be cut at an acute angle - this increases the moisture-absorbing surface of the plants. You can dust the cuttings with rooting powder, but this is not a prerequisite. 

The cuttings are immersed in water so that the leaves do not touch its surface and left in a warm place shaded from direct sun. The first roots can be seen within 2 weeks after cutting. In the first year, the bushes are usually left indoors and planted in the garden the following spring. 

Formation of air layers

With this method of propagation, similar to cuttings, up to 10-15 daughter specimens can be obtained from each mother bush in one season.

To form layers, the lower shoots are bent toward the soil surface at the beginning of summer and pinned with wire. The layers are sprinkled with a 2-3 cm layer of soil on top and watered evenly throughout the season.

By autumn, young branches and roots appear in each buried leaf node. If the seedlings have managed to gain strength over the summer, then in the same year they are separated from the mother bush and planted.

Varieties and types

Melissa officinalis

The only type of melissa used for medicinal purposes is widely used as a garden crop. The height of the bushes, depending on external conditions, can vary from 30 to 150 cm.

The shoots are vertical, strong, with clearly defined edges and slight pubescence in the upper part. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, on short petioles.

The leaf blades are glossy, soft, slightly pubescent, covered with a whole network of veins. The edges of the leaves have semicircular projections. This species is characterized by the fact that when damaged, the plants emit a distinct aroma of lime or lemon.

In the summer months, the shoots are decorated with small flowers with bilateral symmetry - white, pinkish or purple. After flowering, in the second half of August, small seed pods form in place of the buds. 

Melissa turkish - Dracocephalum moldavica

In fact, this snakehead is a close relative of melissa and also has numerous beneficial properties.

Snakehead or Turkish melissa are perennial, less often annual, compact herbaceous plants with creeping or erect stems. The leaves are simple, opposite, dark green, often have a pleasant aroma of mint and lemon, and are oval. The flowers are intricate, dragon-head-shaped, tubular, white, blue or blue. 

Monarda

Another closely related plant of the Lamiaceae family. 

Monarda is a perennial or annual herbaceous plant with erect, branched, tetrahedral stems.

The leaves are arranged oppositely, green, oblong-lanceolate, up to 14 cm long, and when damaged they emit a pleasant aroma. Some varieties have leaves covered with sparse bristles. The leaf blades have jagged edges. 

During the flowering period, large inflorescences appear in the upper part of the stems, consisting of pink, red, burgundy, and less often white or purple flowers. The inflorescences reach a diameter of 8 cm.

During the flowering period, monarda emits a pleasant aroma, and each adult bush is capable of forming up to 100 flower stalks.

After flowering, the flower forms small fruits - nuts. 

The plant received its second name - “garden bergamot” for the characteristic pleasant aroma of the leaves. 

Melissa - home care

Temperature conditions

During the growing season, melissa tolerates a wide range of temperature conditions, and in the winter months it needs a cool dormant period at a temperature of 5 - 7 ° C, but not higher than 10 ° C.

Lighting

Indoor melissa does not like direct sunlight and is preferable to growing in partial shade. 

Growing melissa at home

An unpretentious and very useful plant. Melissa needs to be pruned 2-3 times during the growing season to give it a beautiful compact shape; it tolerates pruning easily. Flowers from indoor plants are usually removed to prevent the formation of seeds that germinate when they fall into the soil. 

Soil

The plant thrives in almost any soil and tolerates even nutrient-poor substrates with good drainage. 

Transplanting melissa

Replant annually, in a larger pot, in the spring.

Feeding

Feed monthly during the growing season with water-soluble fertilizer.

Purpose

Melissa leaves have a very pleasant aroma and are used for preparing all kinds of dishes and for refreshing drinks; it is better to collect them before flowering. During the flowering period, which can take several months, melissa serves as an excellent honey plant. Currently, the use of melissa as a microgreen is gaining popularity.

Melissa flowering time

 The buds form over a long period of time - from  June to August, but flowering is not of particular interest.  Usually the first flowers open 80 days after sowing the seeds.

Air humidity

In spring and summer, if the indoor air becomes too dry, you can increase the humidity using a room humidifier or by placing the plant on a tray with damp pebbles. It is not advisable to spray.

Wiring

Watering should be plentiful during the growing season; it is better to use bottom watering, immersing the pot with the plant in a large container of water for several minutes and allowing excess moisture to drain. During the winter dormant period, the soil is simply protected from complete drying out. 

Pests and diseases

Powdery mildew, leaf spotting, rotting due to insufficient drainage. Septoria and rust can also arise from diseases. The flower can be tasted by pests such as leaf beetles, aphids, garden bugs, whiteflies, slugs and snails, mint flea beetles, green beetles, cicadas, slobbering pennies, wireworms, and various caterpillars.