Let´s create together.  
Edit Content
find a plant

Search by name or category

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leos.

Mint

Mint

Aka Mentha spp.

Mint species (Mentha spp.) are very hardy perennials that are simple to identify not just because of their fresh and spicy scent but because all members of the mint genus have opposite leaves and square stems. Long stems grow upward, flop over, and roots will form where the stems touch the soil enabling the mint plant to spread quite aggressively. Its small white or purple summer-blooming flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Mint plants grow quickly and should be planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Mint is toxic to animals if it is ingested. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 11.
The most common types grown include peppermint (make sure to get ‘true’ peppermint), chocolate mint, spearmint, corsican mint (miniature ground cover), watermint, applemint, pineapple mint, wild mint, Cuban or mojito mint, margarita mint. There are hundreds more varieties and some are quite flavour specific (orange, lavender, ginger, etc).


Notes:
a) Pennyroyal is a type of mint, but it is toxic and should not be consumed.
b) Wintergreen has mint scented leaves but is a completely different plant. It is an evergreen ground cover and is not normally consumed due to strong bitterness.

Introduction
Mr. John Doe

Head Director

Description

Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Plant mint outdoors in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Mint will benefit from springtime rainfall. Choose a place where it can spread without causing any problems or plant it in a container to prevent it from spreading wildly.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Mint fares best in a damp, moist area with well-draining soil, but also in a spot that’s in either full sun or part shade. The plant favors fertile soil enriched with compost.
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Plant cuttings or small purchased plants 18-24 inches apart outdoors. Two plants should be enough to cover a few feet of ground because it grows aggressively. Mint has a shallow root system so you won’t have to dig down too far, just enough to gently lay the plant and spread its roots. Your primary maintenance task with mint might be to trim back your plant to prevent its runners from spreading to unwanted places. To further discourage spreading, edge the area where you plant mint with edging that is placed 18 to 24 inches deep into the soil or grow it in a container. Mint plants prefer part shade, though they will grow in full sun if you water them frequently. Still, it’s best to protect them from strong afternoon sun. Mint also can survive in fairly shady conditions, though it might be leggy and not produce as many or as flavorful of leaves.
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
Mint is a good plant to have growing near carrots, oregano, marigolds, cabbage and other brassicas, tomatoes, eggplants, radish, peas and beans. But because mint is a very effective horizontal spreader, plant mint in methods to prevent it from over-taking the space needed for the other plants.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
Water your mint during dry spells to keep the soil lightly moist. Maintaining lightly moist but not soggy soil is the ideal environment for mint..
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
No special requirements.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
If you already have rich garden soil, you likely won’t have to give your mint any supplemental fertilizer. Adding compost annually is the preferred strategy of feeding mint.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
There are a variety of insects that are known to feed on the mint plant. The most common solutions are to make sure the mint is not drying out and is stressed. The opposite part of the equation is when mint is over-watered as this helps insects thrive. The second option is to regularly spray the mint with a weak soap and water solution as this will deter most of the insects. If the mint is in a location with poor ventilation, insects can also be a problem so the solution is to move the plant (if in a container) or move anything that might be blocking the natural movement of air.
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
In general, after about 2 months of growing it is ok to begin harvesting mint leaves.
How to Harvest:
You can start harvesting mint leaves once the plant has multiple stems that are six to eight inches long. This amount of growth should take about two months if you are growing plants from seed or less time if you buy nursery plants. Mature mint can be harvested in summer and fall before the shoots die back. Do not harvest more than a third of a plant at one time because removing more than that amount can weaken the plant. Snip sprigs and leaves as needed. If you don’t harvest your mint regularly, it will benefit from a shearing midseason. At some point, you will probably notice the stems getting longer and the leaves getting shorter. That is the time to cut the plant back by one-third to one-half. This will encourage it to send out fresh new foliage again with good-size leaves.
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
It is best to dry mint to store it. It can be stored in the fridge for a short time (1 to 2 weeks) and perhaps longer if using the ‘cut flower’ storage method of keeping the stems in a little water (but keeping the leaves dry).
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Drying the mint leaves by using a) the sun or b) a warm oven or c) a food dehydrator or d) a dry cool cupboard. You can also freeze mint with water in an ice cube tray. You can add mint to an unflavored alcohol to extract the flavours. Additionally, you can make a mint syrup out of the leaves, sugar and water.
Seed Saving:
Mint propagation from cuttings is the easiest method of getting more mint. In the early summer, cut off 3 or 4 inch long branches of mint. Remove all but the top 2 to 4 leaves. Place these stems in about an inch of water in a small container and after 1 to 2 weeks, rootlets will form. This can be planted anywhere you wish using a lighter potting soil (one that drains well). For seed saving, after the plants have finished blooming, leave a few flowers on the plant until they turn brown. Snip the flowers off with a pair of scissors and place them in a paper bag to allow them to dry out. Leave the paper bag in a cool, dry place for about two weeks. Remove the dried mint flowers from the paper bag and crush the flowers with your hands to release the seeds.

Harvest and Storage

Notes

From the same Category

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Contact to Listing Owner

Captcha Code
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x