Richters ProGrowers Info

Richters ProGrowers Info

  Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Market Products:   (herb);   (herb);   (herb);     Market size: 1000 hectares (world), 75 ha (North America)   Prospects: prices up, volume stable
Culture Seed density: 2000 seeds/gram   Exposure: sun   Soil: fertile, well-drained clay or sandy loam, pH 6 to 7.5   Crop duration: 2-4 years
      Sowing rate: 7-9kg/ha (direct), 250-400g/ha (indirect, in plugs).   Planting: sowing in plugs in greenhouse in early spring till mid-summer is most common method; sow 6-8 weeks before transplanting to field. Direct sowing is not as common because weed control is more difficult; sow in early spring or late fall (to come up next spring).   Field spacing: 50-75cm between rows x 18-30cm within rows.   Yield: dry herb 5000kg/ha, fresh herb 10-25t/ha (years 1-3).   Pests: whitefly, spider mite   Diseases: erisyphe powdery mildew, septoria blight, puccinia rust.   Buyers want: dry carefully to conserve oil in dried herb.  
  Sowing rate: 3-5g/1000plants.   Planting: sow in flats or plugs 11-14 weeks before sale.   Seeds to finished plugs: 6 weeks.   Plugs to saleable plants: 5 weeks.   Pests: whitefly, spidermite, thrip   Diseases: mildew.  
– Dried Production     – Fresh Production     – Oil Production     – Potted Plant Production    

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