The effect of recipients and substrate compositions was evaluated on seedling production, the height of cutting and harvest interval on the production of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) cultivated in greenhouse. For the transplants trial a randomized experimental design in factorial scheme 5 x 4 with three replications was used. Five compositions of vermicompost (V) and bovine manure (B) (1V:0B; 2V:1B; 1V:1B; 1V:2B; 0V:1B) and four concentrations of the compositions mixed with coconut dust (0; 20; 40; 60%). For the harvest interval essay a completely randomized block experimental design was used, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications using the split plot model. In the plots four harvest intervals (every 8; 9; 10 and 11 weeks) and in the split-plots two cutting heights (5 and 10 cm) were evaluated. In the seedling essay the presence of vermicompost on the substrate composition resulted in vigorous transplants. Better root system was observed in treatments using 60% of vermicompost and 40% of coconut dust followed by the substrate composed of 26.7% of vermicompost, 13.3% of bovine manure and 60% of coconut dust, which also proportioned highest plant height. In the regrowth essay the cutting at 5 cm of height resulted in a reduction of plant survival, and this fact did not affect the dry matter of leaves per plant. Harvesting of regrowth plants can be carried out eleven weeks after the first cutting.
Melissa officinalis; substrate; harvest interval; cutting height
