When to plant Bergamot in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise bergamot from seedlings sown across two windows, September to December in spring and January to April in late summer and autumn, transplanting once established. Barely cover the fine seed at 3 mm, as it needs light to germinate, and allow 7–21 days. This hardy perennial herb, also called bee balm, flowers in around 90–120 days and returns year after year once settled. Space plants 30 cm apart with 30–45 cm between rows in moist, rich soil with morning sun. Its shaggy scarlet and pink flowers draw bees to temperate gardens around Melbourne, Adelaide and the Perth hills.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to April.

Growing notes

Bergamot is a hardy perennial in the mint family, grown for its aromatic leaves, its bee-friendly flowers and its long life in the border. Once established it spreads into a generous clump and comes back each spring, so it is worth siting thoughtfully from the start.

The seed is fine and needs light, so press it onto the surface and cover with no more than 3 mm; buried seed is the usual reason a tray fails to come up. Keep the mix moist and warm through the 7–21 day germination.

The standout failure with bergamot is powdery mildew, which whitens and disfigures the foliage in dry spells and crowded, still conditions. It is almost a signature of the plant. To keep it in check, plant in moisture-retentive soil, water consistently at the base so plants never stress, give the full spacing for airflow, and cut the clump back hard after flowering to force fresh clean growth. Choosing a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade in hotter temperate areas like Adelaide also reduces stress. Because it is a spreading perennial, lift and divide the clump every couple of years to keep it vigorous and stop it swamping neighbours. Watch for the same mint pests, and enjoy the bees, hoverflies and butterflies it pulls in.

Bergamot at a glance

Common questions

why does my bergamot get powdery mildew

Bergamot is notoriously prone to powdery mildew, especially when stressed by dryness or grown in crowded, still air. Keep the soil consistently moist, space plants for airflow, and cut the clump back hard after flowering to trigger clean new growth.

does bergamot come back every year

Yes, bergamot is a hardy perennial that returns each spring and spreads into a clump over time. Lift and divide it every couple of years to keep it vigorous and prevent it from crowding out neighbouring plants.

when to sow bergamot seeds

Sow bergamot in spring from September to December, or in late summer and autumn from January to April. Surface-sow the fine seed under only 3 mm of cover, as it needs light, and expect germination in 7–21 days.

is bergamot good for bees

Yes, bergamot is one of the best bee and pollinator plants you can grow, hence its common name bee balm. Its shaggy flowers draw in bees, butterflies and hoverflies throughout its 90–120 day flowering period.

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