Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Rich soil that holds moisture well.
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Position
Morning sun with partial afternoon shade.
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Frost tolerant
A cold-hardy perennial, monarda can survive temperatures to -20F (-30C).
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Feeding
Topdress the dormant plants with good compost in winter.
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Companions
Monarda thrives with other sun loving perennial flowers and looks lovely with cosmos.Bbeloved of the bees it is also known as Bee Balm and is excellent for attracting pollinators.
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 1' 7" (50cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Start with purchased plants, set out in spring. Many selected cultivars are resistant to powdery mildew, a common problem with this species. 12" (30 cm) each way (minimum) is a good spacing for an initial planting of 3 plants. Monarda is a slight spreader, but not invasive like mint. Over time, a happy plant will form a mount 4 feet (120 cm) high and wide.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Pastel flower colours look especially cooling in partial shade. Leaves are excellent for tea.
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Harvesting
Harvest stems to dry for tea in early summer, before the plants bloom. The plants will regrow after cutting, then bloom.
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Troubleshooting
Moving clumps every few years may help limit problems with powdery mildew.
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