BERGAMOT
Other Common Names Include:
Oswego tea, American Melissa, bee balm, horse mint
Latin Name: Monarda didyma
Plant Family: Lamiaceae
Close Relatives: Mint, basil, thyme
Uses and Markets: Culinary (e.g. tea, flavouring), Ornamental, Aromatic, Medicinal (e.g. digestive issues).
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Perennial
Hardiness Zone
4
Special Notes
None
Propagation method
Most commonly by divisions or cuttings; less commonly by transplants from seeds, direct seeding.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
Seed in late winter; take cuttings in the fall; divide plants in spring or fall.
Field Seeding Date:
May
Field Transplanting Dates
May
In-row spacing
40-50 cm
Between row spacing
90 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
In general, perennial crops can tolerate low soil temperatures at planting, but will establish more rapidly at soil temperatures >10°C.
Fertility
No current Ontario fertility recommendations exist. Research and recommendations from outside Ontario do not necessarily apply to Ontario growing conditions. Research from a sub-tropical region in India suggests an optimal N application rate of 160 kg/ha, but requirements in Ontario would likely be lower. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Moist soils; Avoid extremely heavy or light soils.
Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Special requirements for growth habit
None
Optimal Temperature Range
18-25°C
Temperature sensitivity
Frost tolerant.
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation is required under normal Ontario conditions. Plants should not be allowed to dry out.
Days to harvest
Leaves: 30-60 days to first use; For oil extraction, harvest at full bloom beginning in the second growing season.
Specialized equipment
None
Harvest:
Harvest leaves before flowers emerge and after flowering. Harvest whole tops down to 2.5 cm above the ground at peak bloom for essential oil distillation. A second bloom may occur in the fall.
Harvest Scheduling
Multiple harvests from the same planting.
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest (leaves and flowers); Machine harvest (forage harvester for essential oil extraction).
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market.
Additional Harvest Notes
Harvest during cooler parts of the day to reduce moisture loss and cooling costs. Remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest (fresh leaves and flowers).
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
Flowers and leaves can be dried in a warm dark place on a wire rack or in a kiln. Harvested whole tops should be steam distilled as soon as possible after harvest.
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): low for dried products, high for fresh flowers and leaves (>80%).
Temperature (°C): : Colder temperatures above freezing prolong shelf-life of most products (except dried); store essential oils in air-tight glass containers in the dark.
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: One or more years if properly stored (oil and dried products).
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: Caterpillar defoliators
Diseases: Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility):
Insects and Invertebrates: Aphids, mint bud mites, mint flea beetle, snails
Diseases: Rust, viruses, aster yellows, root and crown rot, root lesion nematodes
*Indicates pests commonly mentioned as causing significant damage or economic loss to this crop in other regions.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: powdery mildew. Varieties differ in susceptibility to: powdery mildew. Disease pressures can be reduced through proper site selection and by promoting good air movement through the canopy. This crop is not in a crop group. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist. There are few to no pest control products registered on this crop in Ontario.
Rejuvenate plantings every three years by digging up plants, removing the centres, and re-planting the perimeter parts of the plant, preferably in a new field.
- McKeown, A.W., C.J. Bakker and J. Schooley. 1998-2002. Herb Demonstration Garden, University of Guelph Simcoe Research Station, unpublished.
- Westerveld, S., Elford, E., Filotas, M. and J. Todd. 2010-present. OMAFRA herb demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of herbs and their uses. BCA, Toronto.
- Cuthbertson, Y. 2006. Success with Herbs. Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd., East Sussex, UK.
- Kowalchik, C. and W. H. Hylton. 1998. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press, Emaus PA.
- Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives. 2011. Native plants as potential crops for Manitoba.
- McHoy, P. and P. Westland. 1994. The Herb Bible: The Ultimate Herb Reference Book. New Burlington Books, London UK.
- McVicar, J. 1994. Jekka`s Complete Herb Book. Raincoast Books, Vancouver.
- Phillips, R. and M. Rix. 1999. The Random House Book of Herbs. Random House, Mississauga
- Ram, M., Ram D. and S. Singh. 1995. Irrigation and nitrogen requirements of Bergamot mint on a sandy loam soil under sub-tropical conditions. Agricultural Water Management 27: 45-54.
- Small, E. 2006. Culinary herbs, 2nd Edition. NRC Research Press, Ottawa.
