Monarda (bergamot), also called melissa, American or lemon mint, is a part of the labial-colored family of plants. The height of an adult flower can reach one meter. Thin, long, dark green leaves have a pointed shape. And the flowers grow inflorescences, which reach 8 cm in diameter.
In nature, there are many species of both annual and perennial, as well as a variety of hybrids of this plant. Depending on the variety of fragrant flowers, leaves and stems monads can have a different flavor, for example, mint or lemon.
How to use the monarch?
Cultivation of the citrus monad (bergamot) is most often performed for its use for medicinal purposes or as a fragrant herb. In order to prepare a bergamot for drying, it is necessary to cut off the upper part of the plant, at least 25 cm from the ground, during the period of mass flowering. Prepared stems are bound and dried. After this, the monarch can be crushed and stored in a dry place, like other spicy herbs.
In the leaves of the monarch citrus (bergamot) contains essential oils, which have remarkable antimicrobial properties. Therefore, they can be added not only to tea for flavoring the drink, but also to home preparations of cucumbers, tomatoes or mushrooms.
Cultivation of the monarch
The plant itself is rather unpretentious, without any problems, it tolerates frosts, and also is practically not exposed to diseases and pests. Monard perfectly develops even in shaded areas. The only thing that should be remembered when growing a monad (bergamot) is that it does not react very well to acid soil.
Cultivate the monarch can be as seedlings, and planting seeds in the open ground. In the first case, it is necessary to sow seeds in the beginning of spring, and to plant it in a permanent place in mid-May. When multiplying by seeds in the open ground, you can make a landing in the beginning or mid-summer. Monarda with lemon, it is also bergamot, has the property to grow very quickly, therefore every few years it is necessary to thin the flower bed with the plant.