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When to Plant Lemon Balm in California

California spans USDA hardiness 5b to 11a (zones 5b to 11a on this page). Plant lemon balm by your local frost date, not the calendar — pick your zone below for exact start-indoors, transplant, and harvest dates.

Jump to: Zone 5b · Zone 6a · Zone 6b · Zone 7a · Zone 7b · Zone 8a · Zone 8b · Zone 9a · Zone 9b · Zone 10a · Zone 10b · Zone 11a

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 5b

Average last spring frost

April 30

Average first fall frost

October 5

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 16

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 25

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 5b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 5 guide (both 5a and 5b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 6a

Average last spring frost

April 25

Average first fall frost

October 10

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 11

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 20

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 6a (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 6b

Average last spring frost

April 20

Average first fall frost

October 15

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 6

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 15

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 6b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 7a

Average last spring frost

April 15

Average first fall frost

October 20

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 1

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 10

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7a (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 7b

Average last spring frost

April 10

Average first fall frost

October 30

🌿

Direct sow

Mar 27

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 5

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 8a

Average last spring frost

April 1

Average first fall frost

November 10

🌿

Direct sow

Mar 18

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 27

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 8a (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 8b

Average last spring frost

March 20

Average first fall frost

November 20

🌿

Direct sow

Mar 6

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 15

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 8b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 9a

Average last spring frost

March 1

Average first fall frost

December 1

🌿

Direct sow

Feb 15

🌾

Projected first harvest

Apr 26

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 9a (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 9 guide (both 9a and 9b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 9b

Average last spring frost

February 15

Average first fall frost

December 15

🌿

Direct sow

Feb 1

🌾

Projected first harvest

Apr 12

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🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 9b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 9 guide (both 9a and 9b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 10a

Average last spring frost

January 30

Average first fall frost

December 30

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 16

🌾

Projected first harvest

Mar 27

J
F
M
A
M
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J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 10a (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 10 guide (both 10a and 10b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 10b

Average last spring frost

January 30

Average first fall frost

December 30

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 16

🌾

Projected first harvest

Mar 27

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 10b (approximate)

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days. Full zone 10 guide (both 10a and 10b) →

Lemon Balm planting calendar for California, Zone 11a

Zone 11a doesn't get a seasonal frost — lemon balm plants on a warm/cool-season calendar instead of frost dates.

🗓️

Best planting window

Year-round

🌴 Your zone never frosts, so planting is timed to the cooler vs. warmer seasons rather than a frost date.

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🌿 Planting windowTodayZone 11a: frost-free; timed to seasons, not frost

Lemon Balm is ready to harvest in about 70 days.

Not sure which half-zone you're in? Set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.

Varieties to grow

1 variety of lemon balm in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.

Lemon Balm →

Common problems with lemon balm

What to watch for, with identification and treatment for each

Tobacco BudwormBroad and Cyclamen MitesBlack Vine WeevilBlister BeetlesFour-Lined Plant BugCommon Stalk BorerFusarium WiltAster YellowsCercospora Leaf SpotAlternaria Leaf SpotTomato Spotted Wilt VirusBacterial Leaf Spot

🌱 Grow lemon balm with a calendar built for your exact yard

HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.

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lemon balm — full zone guide

All zonesZone 5 →Zone 6 →Zone 7 →Zone 8 →Zone 9 →Zone 10 →