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Gardening

Microgreens - lemon balm

(17 Posts)
Casdon Tue 15-Jul-25 21:35:28

Have you grown micro greens, and if so do you know anything about micro lemon balm? I went for a lovely meal at The Ivy a couple of weeks ago, which was garnished with it, it was delicious, but I had no idea what it was, so asked.
I want to grow some for myself, I assumed I could plant seeds which would grow into a tiny leaved version of normal lemon balm, but it seems not, and that I have strayed into a new world of micro greens - can anybody explain?

Redrobin51 Tue 15-Jul-25 22:01:24

I thought they were baby plants that had just developed their first two proper leaves. I suppose the flavour would be concentrated. I am now intrigued and will have to study it more.

Casdon Tue 15-Jul-25 22:12:31

They had tiny leaves, but each stem had two or three sets of the tiny leaves, so I can’t work it out. It was a delicate sherbet lemon taste, really distinctive and lovely.

J52 Tue 15-Jul-25 22:16:40

I have lemon balm popping up all over my garden. I’ve never eaten the little plants. Might try it now.

foxie48 Wed 16-Jul-25 08:28:41

It grows like a weed in our garden too but I've never thought of using it in cooking, it smells divine. I've also got lemon verbena growing in a pot which I do use, that's also lovely and has a very strong lemon smell and taste.

Visgir1 Wed 16-Jul-25 08:47:56

I have bought Microgreen seeds from a independent Garden Center. Last year, they were lovely, to add to food. I didn't buy this year, but I saw them so sure you should be able to track some down.

Samsara1 Wed 16-Jul-25 09:27:24

We used to always plant a lemon balm wherever we are. I like to float a few leaves in the bath - smells delicious. DH makes tea with it.

DollyRocker Wed 16-Jul-25 14:41:02

Lemon balm has invaded my garden so be wary of it. I don't mind as pollinators love it & I like gardens that are a bit wild & unkempt. It's anti viral & makes nice tea, I didn't know that about the micro greens, have to look out for small shoots. I put it in a Thai green curry too sometimes.

Casdon Wed 16-Jul-25 14:51:16

I’ve already got lemon balm, I love it, but I’m wanting to know specifically about micro lemon balm. It’s not just the new growth from seed, or tips of the ordinary lemon balm as far as I can tell. Following Visgirl’s post, I’ve looked at microgreens sold by the major seed companies, but no joy so far.

Elegran Wed 16-Jul-25 18:16:18

This site sells "baby lemon balm" www.finefoodspecialist.co.uk/lemon-balm-micro They seem to just be ordinary lemon balm seedlings harvested young, just as salad mustard and cress are just seedlings of cress and mustard picked young. It looks as though you can grow "micro-greens" of all sorts of vegetables. The growers are on to a good thing - no need to transplant them and care for them until they grow up, and people will pay a fortune for tender little leaves to spice up their salads (see the prices on the web page)

If I were you I would buy some lemon balm seeds and grow a little at a time in a seed tray on the windowsill. If you start a new tray before the first is ready to use, and keep repeating, you could have a constant supply. Budget seeds sell small packets for as little as 25p. Lemon balm is 39p for 120 seeds. budgetseeds.co.uk/product/herb-lemon-balm-seeds/

AmberGran Wed 16-Jul-25 18:23:44

Microgreens are just the tiny seedlings, as others have said. Usually grown in plastic trays. I would be careful of adding it too the garden as it spreads like wildfire. But the fully grown leaves make a lovely syrup and can be rubbed on bites to stop the itch.

grandMattie Thu 17-Jul-25 14:37:18

Be careful. Lemon balm is a total thug if allowed to spread by root or seed.

Pilgrimandrew Thu 17-Jul-25 17:03:21

Good in a G + T, or so a friend tells me...

ayse Thu 17-Jul-25 17:09:50

Reminds me of mustard and cress! I might have a go at growing them as well.

Witzend Thu 17-Jul-25 17:19:42

Within seconds I’ve just found a pack of 2500 lemon balm seeds on Amazon, for £2.99.
.

Witzend Thu 17-Jul-25 17:21:52

PS, I’m assuming that you’d just harvest them when still tiny, perhaps with just the first two true leaves.

Casdon Thu 17-Jul-25 17:24:40

Thanks everybody. I have now had a look at some photos, and it looks like the harvesting has to be quite precise to get them at exactly the right stage - seed leaf, first leaf and very early second leaf so they form a small strand looks to be perfect. I’m going to have a go, and as *Elegran suggested, do succession planting.