Bee Balm

Bee balm, or Oswego tea was used as a tea substitute for American colonists who were boycotting black tea just before the Revolutionary War.

Try making some and you will see how easy it was to hold the Boston Tea Party.

Some cultivars and relatives of bee balm include Cambridge Scarlet, Croftway Pink, Lemon Mint, Marshall's delight, and Wild Bergamot.

All of these have either red, pink, purple, or lavender blooms.

This herb can be used for cooking, and also for arrangements and crafts.

Description

A perennial herb that grows 3 to 5 feet tall in zones 3 to 9.

Flowers: Its tubular flowers bloom in showy tiered whorls at the stem tips for several weeks in midsummer.

Leaves: It has dark green opposite leaves that have toothed edges.

Flavor and fragrance: Tastes and smells like mint with citrusy undertones.

How To Grow

When to plant: Start the seeds indoors eight weeks before the last spring frost date, then transplant to the garden one week before the last spring frost. Divide the plants or layer the stems in early spring.

Where to plant: Prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun.

Soil and fertility: Plant in well-drained, moist fertile soil. Apply about a 1/2 inch of compost each spring.

Plant spacing: This herb spreads rapidly, so give it at least 2 square feet to start with. Mulch the surrounding area heavily to help control its spreading, but be prepared to pull or dig out new sprouts.

Pests: Usually pest free

Diseases: Rust; powdery mildew is common in the late spring.

Harvesting

When to harvest: Harvest small quantities of leaves anytime when the dew is dry. For drying in quantity, cut the leaves before they bloom in early summer and again in late August or early September. You can cut the flowers for drying when the blooms are almost fully open.

How to harvest: Snip individual leaves or fresh flowers for salads. For drying in quantity, cut the stems about 1 inch from the soil. For dried arrangements, cut the stems at least 1 foot below the blossoms.

Drying: Strip the leaves from the stems and dry them on screens or in a dehydrator. You can hang the flowers to dry.

Uses

Cooking: You can sprinkle fresh florets is salads. Fresh and dried leaves make good teas alone, or in combination with other herbs.

Arrangements and crafts: Use the dried flowers to brighten potpourris and add dried or fresh stems of the flowers to arrangements.

Tips

Bee balm can enhance the growth of tomatoes and peppers in your garden.