diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e35757b29f229f..1a35f14a1faa4b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@
 		"package-plugin": "./bin/build-plugin-zip.sh",
 		"pot-to-php": "./bin/pot-to-php.js",
 		"publish:check": "npm run build:packages && lerna updated",
-		"publish:dev": "npm run build:packages && lerna publish --npm-tag next",
+		"publish:dev": "npm run build:packages && lerna publish --dist-tag next",
+		"publish:legacy": "npm run build:packages && lerna publish --dist-tag legacy",
 		"publish:prod": "npm run build:packages && lerna publish",
 		"test": "npm run lint && npm run test-unit",
 		"test-e2e": "wp-scripts test-e2e --config packages/e2e-tests/jest.config.js",
diff --git a/packages/README.md b/packages/README.md
index 3937b7adee5a3f..b0f7d8562cdb32 100644
--- a/packages/README.md
+++ b/packages/README.md
@@ -180,5 +180,15 @@ npm run publish:prod
 
 Choose the correct version based on `CHANGELOG.md` files, confirm your choices and let Lerna do its magic.
 
+### Legacy Patch Release
+
+To release a patch for the older major or minor version of packages, run the following command:
+
+```bash
+npm run publish:legacy
+```
+
+This is usually necessary when adding bug fixes or security patches to the earlier versions of WordPress.
+
 [lerna]: https://lerna.js.org/
 [npm]: https://www.npmjs.com/