Lemon Balm and Oregano

[clairebear]

I went for a wander around the local garden centre yesterday and came home the proud owner of a Lemon Balm and Oregano. Now I've no experience at all of growing these so can anyone give me any pointers, especially how to over winter them. I've transplanted them out into containers that are going to live on the patio.
Also if anyone's got any recipes for the Lemon Balm that'd be great too. Should be ok with uses for the Oregano as I love Italian food and breads

[veggiechicken]

Lemon balm tea - that's how I use it. Both lemon balm and oregano are very hardy in my garden, die back in winter, sprout anew in spring. Both spread too!

[Piggle]

Lemon balm is like a weed in my allotment I have to go at it with the shears! I think I also have oregano as well that someone gifted to me - it is also like a weed ( although it could be majoram )..... can anyone tell me the difference?

[Bren In Pots]

I'm growing oregano for the first time this year and here's a info link i bookmarked:-

Oregano plant growing tips and nutritional facts

[alex-adam]

Origano and Marjoram are related herbs, the latter is probably a bit more hardy in our climate. - Lemon Balm (melissa oficianalis) is a lovely plant for bees (melissa = honey) but can become invasive, rather like mint.

a-a

[clairebear]

After reading what you've said about Lemon Balm being a bit invasive and a bit like a weed I'm glad I put it in a pot! Nice to know that the two of them should survive ok over winter

[Two_Sheds]

They both grow like weeds: if you let either of them go to seed, they'll be everywhere

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ses_18517.html
Lemon balm wine

[GardenFaery]

Lemon balm is wondeful though, I go out and rub the leaves on hands and inhale for an instant pick-me-up if tired... have planted lemon balm near/under plum and apple trees for companion planting and looking forward to making tea etc

[Thelma Sanders]

all I can say is don't let the lemon balm set seed or you'll find it growing everywhere Origano is much less of a problem in my garden and only seems to seed around itself. Occasionally I just pull out the old plant and let a few seedling carry on

[Rocketron]

Oregano and Golden Marjoram now cover most of my front lawn.

[eirish]

I've adopted a garden patch that's been completely neglected for the last few years. Last year I'm told there was a meter of snow that stayed on the ground for a month. And still there's lemon balm and oregano all over the place.

My advice is to go buy something else to coddle over the winter!

[GardenFaery]

ohh Two Sheds like the sound of lemon balm wine!

[Ananke]

I plan on drying some of my lemon balm leaves and putting them into capsules, with a view to talking my Dad into taking them as a memory boost.

BBC NEWS | Health | Lemon balm 'boosts memory'

I love the sound of lemon balm wine, must have a look at that link.

I drink lemon balm tea too but the best thing I ever made with it was a lip balm for cold sores. I don't suffer from them but OH and eldest Son do and they both thought it worked extremely well. I got the recipe from the James Wong's Grow Your Own Drugs programme.

[GardenFaery]

Lemon Balm leaves just rubbed on your skin is effective mosquito repellent too (apparently as I never get bitten by mosquitoes anyway - have funny skin haha)

[Chef_uk]

I've got lemon balm, which i've tried to get rid of but have failed so far. Thankfully its just growing in the same spot along the edge of the garden to the first bed but yea, i've dug at it loads yet it still comes back.

Never used it though. Guessing its fine to eat? So might put some on some chicken breasts with fresh thyme and poach them in the oven. Or i might just dig it up again lol