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When to plant Lemon Balm in Fulton County County,

Plant Lemon Balm in Fulton County County during the brief April 6–April 20 window. With 215 frost-free days, fall plantings can't mature before October 31.

When to Plant Lemon Balm in Fulton County, KY

Fulton County, Kentucky Zone 7b June

Your June planting checklist for Fulton County, Kentucky

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this June, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 30
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 70°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Basket week: lemon balm

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

A few tasks this June that'll pay off in July
  • First harvests: lemon balm

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Lemon balm is a vigorous perennial herb with bright green, lemon-scented leaves. It makes a refreshing tea and is easy to grow but can spread aggressively.

Fulton County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 3,261 feet, Fulton County receives approximately 42.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Lemon Balm during the growing season.

Fulton County, KY (Zone 7b) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
215 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Fulton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Lemon Balm Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jul 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 13

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Fulton County

How your county's soil matches Lemon Balm's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.8) is within Lemon Balm's preferred range (5.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Fulton County is excellent for Lemon Balm — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Lemon Balm.

How to Plant Lemon Balm

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lemon Balm

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 22 to harvest before frost.

Lemon Balm Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lemon Balm Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Oct in Fulton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lemon Balm Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lemon Balm needs ~1,235 GDD — county provides 4,085 GDD Excellent fit

Lemon Balm Planting Timeline — Fulton County, KY

Lemon Balm Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Harvest June 8 Jun 8 – Jul 27

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Fulton County

Growing Tips for Lemon Balm in Fulton County

Direct sow Lemon Balm outdoors after March 30 in Fulton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start from seed, cuttings, or divisions. Contain in pots or use barriers to prevent spreading. Harvest frequently to keep plants bushy and prevent flowering.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lemon Balm in Fulton County, KY?

Fulton County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Lemon Balm planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fulton County, KY?

Fulton County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is October 31.

When should I plant Lemon Balm in Fulton County, ?

In Fulton County, , plant Lemon Balm after the last frost (around March 30) and before the first frost (around October 31). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Fulton County, for Lemon Balm?

Fulton County sits in USDA Zone 7b. Lemon Balm grows reliably in zones 3a through 9b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Lemon Balm grow in Fulton County's climate?

Yes — Lemon Balm grows well in Fulton County's temperate climate. Fulton County averages a 215-day frost-free season, with last frost around March 30 and first frost around October 31.

🌱

Your Fulton County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Fulton County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Fulton County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.