Most citizenry partake in a mystifying appreciation for the burnished , tart taste and scent of lemons . fortuitously , many other plants have the same chemical compounds that give lemons their distinctive citrusy taste and olfactory property . The combinations and ratios of those compounds ensue in a range of unequalled flowered notes and intensiveness of lemon flavor . Lemony - tasting herbs , such as the I listed below , are considered crucial ingredients in a mixture of cuisines as well as an excellent seed of vitamin and minerals in the dieting . as luck would have it , they are well-situated to arise in the home garden from semen , transplantation , or cutting .
Lemon Balm(Melissa officinalis ) – This hardy perennial herbaceous plant is a extremity of the mint family , but it is better behaved and does n’t circularize as rampantly as true mint . The rounded leaves , which have a slightly crinkly surface and scalloped edges , have a delicate lemon tree flavor with a hint of mint candy . The smell is pernicious and not as strong as that of lemon vervain or lemon grass . The leafage may be used either saucy or dried . The leaves are commonly used to make tea leaf or iced drinks and should be bruised or crushed to free their delicate flavor before absorb them in hot water . saucily chopped leave-taking of this various herbaceous plant may be impart to yield salads , vegetable dishes , and chicken , lamb , or pork dishes . They may also be incorporated into a compound butter and spread over Pisces .
Lemon balm is very easy to grow in average , well - drained soil in full sun to part shade . plant life seeds or transplants in late spring after the last frost ( late April to other May normally ) . Space about 2 ’ asunder . Cut the works back after it eat up blooming to further new outgrowth . The upright savour is in the tender new leave . old leaves may have a musty taste .
Lemon Basil(Ocimum basilicum ) – This supply ship one-year herbaceous plant combines the effect of Citrus limon with that of sweet basil . It can be used interchangeably in many recipes that call for regular sweet St. Basil . If in doubt about step in one for the other , demand yourself if the lemony flavor profile will add or detract from the dish you ’re making . When using fresh lemon St. Basil the Great foliage , crush or rub them to release the Citrus limon olfactory property . They provide a delicate flavor when added to salads , spit over cooked vegetables and pasta dishes , rubbed onto fish or poulet , or added to marinades , sauce , and salad dressings . Like any other Basil of Caesarea , lemon basil does not stand up well to being fudge for a long time . It channel sapidity best if summate at or near the end of the cooking time .
constitute this warm - season herbaceous plant in part to full sun in spring after all danger of frost has make pass . It require rich , well - drained soil that has warmed to at least 50 ° F. Several varieties of lemon St. Basil the Great are uncommitted , but the one reputed to have the best smell is ‘ Mrs. Burns ’ .
Lemon Bee Balm(Monarda citriodora ) – This annual or short - lived perennial , which is more likely to be found in the cosmetic garden than in the herb garden , has unusual tuft - like whorled efflorescence heads with purple bracts and pull heap of bee and butterfly stroke . This plant is also called horsemint , purple Monarda punctata , and maize horsemint , among other things , which can be perplexing . Some references also refer to this plant life as Citrus limon plenty , but do not throw it withMentha piperita , which is also called lemon mint and is a fellow member of the peppermint family . When the leaves of lemon bee balm are rubbed or crushed , they emit a distinctive citrusy or lemony fragrance and puzzle out well when minced and added to salads and yield jelly . The leaves also make a flavorful citrusy Camellia sinensis and may be used either clean or dried .
To develop lemon bee balm , skim the seminal fluid into sluttish soil either in early spring or fall in part to full sun . Provide supplemental water in spring if the rainfall are sparse . Once constitute , this plant life will reseed itself and can create a large dependency if conditions are favorable .
Lemongrass(Cymbopogon citratus ) – This herb is a tropical grass that organize large clumps of fibrous , sharp - adjoin leaves . It has a fresh , sharp , light lemon flavor with peppery notes and is used in soup , curries , put forward fries , tea , braising liquids , French dressing , and marinades . It pairs well with ginger and coconut milk and is commonly used in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine . Much of the industrial plant ’s feeling is pore in the bottom 3 or 4 column inch of the stubble . To process lemongrass for a recipe , remove the bad extinct layers of the straw and contusion , crush , or chop up the stay stalk to relinquish the flavorful citrusy oils . The smell of lemongrass intensifies the longer it is make . If you prefer a lighter , fresher flavor , lend lemongrass near the end of the cooking clip .
plant life lemongrass from seed or from shuck clipping after the last frost in spring . It prefers full sun , high humidity , and moist but well - drained soil that is in high spirits in organic content turn down to about 4 ” to 6 ” deep . The industrial plant can develop into a magnanimous cosmetic grass measuring 5 ’ tall and 4 ’ wide in USDA zones 8 to 12 . Since it is not hardy in our Zone 7 , it must be imbed from seeded player or cuttings in spring after all peril of frost has passed . It may also be pot and put in indoors over wintertime .
Lemon Mint(Mentha x piperita‘Citrata ’ ) – A member of the peppermint family , lemon mint has a delicate lemon flavor . employ the aromatic leaves to make afternoon tea or a marinade for chicken or fish . They may also be used to flavor baked nutrient and jams . The leaves have scallop bound standardized to those of lemon balm , so do n’t fuddle the two plants .
Plant maize mint seeds in spring after the threat of frost has go past . Sow the seeds in moist but well - drained grunge in part to full sun . This plant grows about 16 ” marvelous and is audacious to our area of Virginia ( USDA Zone 7 ) . glean the leave up until the plant blooms . At that power point , dilute the plant back to stir fresh increase . Like any other mint , this one can spread rapidly by clandestine runners . So , keep an oculus on it to forestall it from lease over your garden . Better yet , consider produce it in a container .
Lemon Thyme(Thymus x citriodorus ) – An evergreen recurrent herb , stinker thyme is a low - growing ( 6 to 10 ” tall ) , drought - resistant suffrutex . The small , point foliage of some lemon thyme cultivar are variegated and edged in atomic number 79 or silver . Like regular thyme , lemon thyme leaves bring a resinous flavor to stunner but sum a marked lemon flavor as well when bruised . interchange lemon thyme in most recipes that call for regular thyme , lemon yellow juice , or maize zest . It is particularly tasty as a flavorer for grilled Pisces .
industrial plant lemon tree thyme in full Lord’s Day in average , well - debilitate soil . In spring , rationalize it back after the first flush of new growth . When the plant bloom in summer , reduce the stems back to encourage fresh new growth . Lemon thyme can be grown in containers very effectively .
Lemon Verbena(Aloysia triphylla ) – Of all the lemony - scented herbs , lemon verbena is one of the most fragrant . The narrow , rough - textured leaves release an intense , wise lemon olfactory property when lightly rubbed but lack the tartness associated with stinker . The leaves are generally used in desserts , but they may also be used to flavor potable and herbal Camellia sinensis or chop very fine and used in marinade for Pisces the Fishes and poultry . Steeped in warmed cream , stinker verbena makes a heavenly custard base for ice cream .
establish this woody perennial in full Dominicus and moist soil after the last hoarfrost in bounce . It grow about 2 ’ to 4 ’ magniloquent . abstract or cut back the tips of the young shoot to stimulate a bushier substance abuse and more foliage . feed during the arise time of year with Pisces the Fishes photographic emulsion . Because it is not hardy in Zone 7 , disrobe the leave of absence from the works before frost and ironical or freeze them for economic consumption afterward . Dried leave of absence will hold their aroma for up to a twelvemonth .
Sorrel(Rumexspecies ) – Depending on which source you habituate , this cyprian , slightly glowering - savor perennial industrial plant is variously described as an herbaceous plant , a salad gullible , or a perennial vegetable . Many varieties of sorrel exist , but the variety typically grown iscommon sorrel(Rumex acetosa ) , which has long , arrow - shaped leaves . It is also send for lemon common sorrel or garden sorrel . Another ordinarily grown variety , French sorrel(Rumex scutatus ) , has small arrow - shaped parting and a gloomy oxalic Zen content than common red sorrel and therefore a milder acidic flavor . Sorrel is at its most flavorful from former spring to mid - summertime when it is least acrimonious . When used raw , it has a clearly sharp , tart lemon smack and a fiddling goes a longsighted way . When cook , the heat reduce the bitterness , so a mess of it can be used in formula . Sorrel soup and wood sorrel sauce , which works well with full-bodied - tasting Pisces such as salmon , are two classic US for this plant .
In early spring , plant sorrel seeds in full sun and in soil with skilful drainage . Space the plant a fundament or more aside . Once the works are establish , harvest the immature folio and either practice them whole or chopped . Unlike the other flora described above , sorrel leaves do not require to be bruised or crush to issue their flavor . To keep the plant producing , remove all seed stalks as they issue .
In conclusion , herbs that have a lemony mouthful add a vibrant , tangy state of grace note to many of our food . Use the herb at their peak of nip , which is in general just before the plant bloom . glean the leaves in the mornings once the dew dry on the works . That ’s when their oils are unattackable and most flavorful . look on the herb and how you plan to use it , bruise or mash the leaves as necessary to unfreeze the redolent oils .
Featured pic : Trio of lemony - tasting herb . Photo : Pat Chadwick
SOURCES
Homegrown Herbs(Hartung , Tammi , 2011 )
herbaceous plant and Spices(Norman , Jill , 2002 )
The Cook ’s Herb Garden(Cox , Jeff and Moine , Marie - Pierre , 2010 )
grow Sorrel in Home Gardens , University of Minnesota Extension , Vincent Fritz ( Extension Horticulturist ) and Cindy Tong ( Post - Harvest Horticulturist )
Lemon Balm : An Herb Society of America Guide
Lemongrass , CymbopogonSpp . , University of Wisconsin - Madison Extension , Susan Mahr
Lemon - Scented Plants , University of Wisconsin - Madison Extension , Susan Mahr
Lemon Verbena Fact Sheet , Purdue University
