Lemon Mint Seeds - Monarda citriodora

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

USDA Zones 2-11 - Lemon Mint is a hardy and adaptable North American native flower. It grows as a fast-maturing annual in all zones and will readily self-sow to return year after year, creating a beautiful, naturalized stand.

Best Performance in Zones 6-9 - Thrives in the long, hot summers typical of these zones. Full sun and well-drained soil will result in the most robust plants and a spectacular floral display from early to mid-summer.

Northern Zones (2-5) - For the longest possible bloom season, seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Alternatively, direct sow seeds outdoors once all danger of hard frost has passed. The plant will easily complete its life cycle in one season.

Hot Climate Zones (8-11) - Sowing seeds in the fall is the ideal method in these regions. Fall-sown seeds will establish strong root systems over the mild winter and erupt into growth in the spring, producing larger, more floriferous plants. Spring sowing is also successful.

Soil Temperature - For spring sowing, seeds germinate best when the soil temperature is between 65-75 degrees F.

Growing Season - This is a fast-growing annual. From a spring sowing, plants will typically begin to bloom in 70-90 days, providing a long season of color and pollinator activity.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

When to Sow:

Fall Sowing (Recommended for Zones 7 and warmer): Direct sow seeds onto the prepared garden site in late fall. This mimics the plant's natural life cycle and often produces the strongest plants.

Spring Sowing (All Zones): Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

How to Sow:
Lemon Mint seeds require light to germinate, so the sowing method is very important.

Prepare Site: Choose a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sun. Clear the area of all weeds and grass. Rake the soil surface to loosen it.

Surface Sow: Scatter the seeds directly onto the surface of the soil. Do not cover the seeds with soil.

Press for Contact: Gently compress the seeds into the soil by walking on the area or pressing down with your hand. This ensures good seed-to-soil contact.

Water Gently: Water the area carefully with a fine mist or a gentle shower so you don't wash the seeds away. Keep the seedbed moist until germination occurs.

Germination & Seedling Care:

Germination Time: Expect sprouts to appear in 10-30 days, depending on conditions.

Thinning: If you direct-sowed thickly, thin the seedlings to stand 12-18 inches apart once they are a few inches tall. This gives each plant room to mature.

Growing Conditions:

Sunlight: Full sun is non-negotiable for strong stems and abundant flowers.

Soil: This is the most critical factor. Lemon Mint must have well-drained soil. It excels in sandy, rocky, or average garden loam but will perform poorly and can rot in heavy, wet clay soil.

Watering: Water the seedlings regularly until they are established. Once mature, Lemon Mint is highly drought-tolerant and requires very little supplemental watering, except during prolonged, severe drought.

Fertilizer: Do not fertilize. This native plant is adapted to lean soils. Adding fertilizer will likely cause weak, floppy growth with fewer flowers.

Maintenance:
To encourage the plant to self-sow for the following year, leave the flower heads on the plant to mature and drop their seed in the fall. If you wish to control its spread, simply deadhead the spent flowers before they set seed.