Richters ProGrowers Info
Richters ProGrowers Info | |
Lemon Balm
(Melissa officinalis) |
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Market
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Products:  (herb);  (herb);  (herb); 
Market size: 1000 hectares (world), 75 ha (North America)
Prospects: prices up, volume stable
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Culture |
Seed density: 2000 seeds/gram
Exposure: sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained clay or sandy loam, pH 6 to 7.5
Crop duration: 2-4 years
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Sowing rate: 7-9kg/ha (direct), 250-400g/ha (indirect, in plugs).
Planting: sowing in plugs in greenhouse in early spring till mid-summer is most common method; sow 6-8 weeks before transplanting to field. Direct sowing is not as common because weed control is more difficult; sow in early spring or late fall (to come up next spring).
Field spacing: 50-75cm between rows x 18-30cm within rows.
Yield: dry herb 5000kg/ha, fresh herb 10-25t/ha (years 1-3).
Pests: whitefly, spider mite
Diseases: erisyphe powdery mildew, septoria blight, puccinia rust.
Buyers want: dry carefully to conserve oil in dried herb.
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Sowing rate: 3-5g/1000plants.
Planting: sow in flats or plugs 11-14 weeks before sale.
Seeds to finished plugs: 6 weeks.
Plugs to saleable plants: 5 weeks.
Pests: whitefly, spidermite, thrip
Diseases: mildew.
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– Dried Production
– Fresh Production
– Oil Production
– Potted Plant Production
Back to ProGrower Herb List
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