Where is the best place to plant mint? How to grow mint at home: planting and care tips

Mint is familiar to everyone as a fragrant medicinal plant. It looks like a nettle, with a simple stem, bright green leaves. Under other names, it is known as perekop, dragolub. In the Mediterranean, it is a very common spice.

Mint - plant description

Varieties

How to grow mint at home, on the windowsill, from seeds

Basic rules of care

Medicinal properties

Mint - plant description

According to legend, mint got its name from the goddess Minta, she was in love with the god of the underworld. Upon learning of this, his wife Aida turned her rival into a spice with a surprisingly bright aroma.

This article has helped many gardeners stop overworking on their plot and at the same time get a generous harvest.

I would never have thought that in order to get the best harvest on my garden plot in my entire “dacha career”, I just need to stop overworking myself in the beds and trust nature. For as long as I can remember, every summer I spent in the country. First on the parent, and then my husband and I bought our own. From early spring to late autumn, all free time was spent on planting, weeding, tying, pruning, watering, harvesting and, finally, conservation and trying to save the crop until next year. And so in a circle...

The homeland of mint is considered the Mediterranean countries and Central Asia. But today the plant can be found on all continents. The plant is so strong that it can even get along with weeds.

One of the most common is peppermint, which is a perennial plant with a horizontally growing rhizome. The roots themselves are fibrous, thin. A straight stem can be up to a meter high, inside it is empty, the shape is tetrahedral. Usually the stem is slightly pubescent with villi pressed against it, densely dotted with leaves.

The leaves are oblong, ovoid, with sharply serrated edges, and are short-petiolate.

The flowers are located at the ends of the branches, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, the sizes are small, the color is lilac. They can be either pistillate or bisexual. Flowering continues from June to September.

As a result of pollination, a fruit is formed, consisting of four nuts, it is called schizocarp.

Mint varieties

Consider the most common mint varieties.

Pepper

This variety was bred by crossing different species: wild, water, spikelet. It is not surprising that it is called - English mint, as it comes from England.

It grows up to one meter high, not demanding on space and care, it is an excellent honey plant.

Mint has medicinal properties, it is used to make menthol. And also menthol oil is prepared from it, added to food as a spice. It has also found application in folk medicine.

Field

In Tibet, she is treated for symptoms of tuberculosis, ailments of the digestive system, namely:

• gastritis
• liver disease
• various bowel problems

Those who want to lose weight should use this variety of mint. There will be a good result. During aromatherapy, appetite naturally decreases, respectively, the number of calories received by the body decreases.

Lemon

Many people know her under the name Melissa. It is an excellent honey plant, resistant to severe frosts, but under the influence of winds it can freeze in winter, therefore it is better to organize a reliable shelter for the bushes for the winter.

Hatching spice in the form of seedlings. It is more appreciated for its extraordinary taste, similar to citrus fruit with the coolness of mint. Grass is prone to fungal diseases, i.e. in the process of growing, it will be necessary to monitor the condition of the plant and, in case of alarming symptoms, treat it with special antifungal agents.

Flea

Very effective against insects as it contains pulegone and limonene which have strong ethereal aromas. Very reminiscent of thyme, low growth, creeping on the ground. Due to its properties, it is suitable for growing on a balcony. Prefers warmth and sun.

Curly

In another way it is called - German. Most often, it is used as a talisman, as an element of the rite to protect the house and comfort in it.

It has a sharp aroma, reaches a height of thirty to one hundred centimeters. It has small leaves, and the flowers emit a persistent aroma.

How to grow mint at home

You can grow mint in the garden, but if you wish, you can keep it in the house as a houseplant. Let's find out the basic rules for planting and caring for this unpretentious plant.

plant container

It is desirable to plant mint in containers with a wide base, while shallow containers can be used. A ceramic pot is perfect for this, but if you don’t have one, you can use a plastic one.

It is important to remember that mint roots are prone to active growth, because if the pot is too small, then the plant simply will not grow.

Depending on the goals and plans of the gardener, the spice can be planted both in boxes and in small pots. Drawers are especially convenient for installation on a balcony; flower vases will be more convenient for a room.

Mint is very prolific, from one square meter, you can collect up to two hundred grams of dried raw materials.

Soil and top dressing

The plant loves sour soil mixtures. Therefore, it is good to add a little peat to the soil.

If there is a goal to plant mint in a garden plot or in a country house, then you need to choose a place with fertile, rich soil.

Such soil will be the most suitable for the development and active growth of the plant.

Before planting mint, it is advisable to treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, for preventive purposes. When planting a plant, watering is carried out with clean, settled water.

After the appearance of several new leaves, the bush can be fertilized, a solution of wood ash can serve as an ideal fertilizer option.

How to grow mint at home on a windowsill from seeds

There are two ways to grow mint: from seeds or cuttings. In all flower shops, or kiosks, you can buy mint seeds of different varieties. Of course, the seeds can be collected independently, but in this case there is no guarantee that the plants will turn out to be the desired variety, during the pollination process, some characteristics of the plant may change.

The sowing process is very simple, soil is poured into the container, we mentioned the features of its composition above, holes are made in it, about 0.5 cm deep, seeds are sparsely laid out.

The earth is slightly moistened and covered with a piece of glass. Seedlings can be expected in two to three weeks. The glass is removed, the sprouts are watered as the soil dries in the container.

As they grow, seedlings can be planted in separate containers or planted in open ground. A suitable time for planting mint is spring or the end of August.

How to grow mint from a branch by cuttings

As planting material, you can use branches on which there are at least two leaf rosettes. Of course, for cuttings, you will need to choose branches that are absolutely healthy, without any signs of disease.

The cuttings should be placed in a glass of water, water will need to be added periodically.

Roots can be expected in about a week. In a couple of days they will become strong and grow up, i.e. will be ready to land.

A layer of drainage material will need to be laid in the pot; mint will not tolerate excess moisture. Next, the fertile land is filled up.

Seedlings with roots go deep into the ground by 2-4 cm. To create ideal conditions for developing plants, it is advisable to install a pot on the eastern windows. It is undesirable for bright sunlight to fall on the leaves during the day.

Small plants need systematic watering, the soil should not be allowed to dry out.

In the presence of adult mint bushes, you can use the separation of horse cuttings. On the separated part of the plant, there must be a renewal bud, the optimal number of leaves on it is more than 5.

With these types of mint propagation, it is possible to obtain plants that have completely preserved the properties of the species and variety.

Basic rules of care

Although the plant can be classified as unpretentious, but in order to obtain a full-fledged and well-groomed bush, it is still recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• do not allow the earthen clod to dry out in the hill
• in summer, watering should be carried out more often, in winter, when the plant is in relative rest, watering is done less often
• mint growing in containers on the balcony will need to be fertilized about once a month; in winter, top dressing is performed once every two to three months
• in heated rooms with dry air, the plant will require periodic spraying with a spray bottle
• the place that is intended for the installation of mint pots should be protected from drafts
• the optimum temperature for growing mint at home is + 16-20 C in winter, up to + 25 C in summer
• high-quality lighting will be required, but it should not be allowed to enter the direct rays of the sun, a lack of light will lead to a strong stretching of the branches
• in summer, you can shade the plant a little, this will prevent the possibility of burns on the leaves

A few more helpful reminders:

• it will not be necessary to change the soil for mint grown indoors or in the country every year, i.e. you can repot the plant once every three to four years
• weeding and loosening the soil under the bushes should be carried out systematically
• insufficient light will reduce the amount of essential oils accumulating from the leaves

Medicinal properties

Mint is used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Essential oil contains menthol, which gives it a special flavor and fragrant.

Menthol is included in the treatment of:

• sciatica
• varicose veins

The spice also contains other very useful substances, such as flavonoids, tannins.

Mint infusion is taken to normalize menstruation, reduce pain and to strengthen women's health during menopause.

There is a wide range of applications in cosmetics and perfumery. It is found in toothpaste, chewing gum, and mouthwash. Peppermint oil perfectly cares for problem skin, as well as for oily hair types.

Read more about growing mint at home - in the video:

Peppermint is planted by many gardeners. There are several methods for growing this spice crop, but the most popular is growing peppermint from seeds. In this way, you can quickly and easily grow a large number of varietal plants on your site. The main thing is to plant the seeds correctly and provide them with proper care in time.

Peppermint is the most popular for growing.

It is better to grow this crop in early spring. After 1-1.5 months, already grown seedlings will be ready for transplanting into open ground.

Peppermint seeds are very small and may not sprout if planted too deep. Therefore, in order to grow them, it is important to observe the optimal planting depth, which is 5 mm.

Sowing is carried out in a seedling box, a wide flowerpot or a plastic pallet with the possibility of installing a dense shelter. This will create the necessary greenhouse conditions for the full germination of seedlings.

Peppermint is planted in fertile land for vegetables or herbs. It can be purchased at a gardening store, or you can make your own by mixing humus, compost, and wood ash in a ratio of 1:1:0.5.

This variety of mint should be grown in soil with a neutral level of acidity and low lime content, otherwise the yield of leaves will not be as juicy and fragrant.

Landing Rules

Growing peppermint seeds at home consists of several steps.

1. The seedling container is filled with a nutrient composition, abundantly moistened and left for a couple of days.
2. After this time, grooves are made 5 mm deep at a distance of 5 cm.
3. Peppermint seeds do not need to be stratified, but for insurance, you can soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Place the seed in a cloth bag, dip into the solution. After soaking, dry the seeds thoroughly and mix with sand in a ratio of 1: 1. Now it's time to plant the seeds in the prepared grooves, then sprinkle with soil and water with a spray bottle.

Growing Features

At home, crops require competent and timely care, which consists in providing certain conditions.

1. Stable temperature conditions within 20-25 °C. To do this, a box with seedlings is placed on the southwestern or southern windowsill with the possibility of shading at lunchtime.
2. In the process of germination, seedlings are periodically ventilated, irrigated as the soil dries out.
3. Further care consists in frequent airing of the sprouts in order to prevent their decay.
4. They also carry out the procedure of loosening the soil so that an earthen crust does not form on the surface of the soil.
5. Growing mint from seeds involves a thinning procedure. All weak, yellowed and elongated seedlings are removed.
6. During growth, young plantings should be provided with good lighting, since peppermint is a photophilous variety. This crop needs at least 4 hours of natural daily light. Therefore, landings are placed on the western or northeastern windows. It is worth remembering that with a lack of light, the sprouts turn pale, begin to stretch and die.

Transfer to the site

If the planting is carried out correctly and the seedlings are given proper care, after two weeks, mass germination of seeds can be expected. As soon as the seedlings get stronger, the shelter is completely removed.

After the appearance of 1-2 pairs of leaves, the sprouts are planted in separate containers. To do this, use the same soil as when sowing seeds.

You can grow a culture in peat pots, plastic cups or flowerpots. If the weather is favorable and the soil has warmed up to 10°C, mint can be planted outdoors. Plants are planted in fertile, loose and moist soil at a distance of 20 cm from each other, the distance between rows is 30 cm.

Peppermint seedlings ready for planting

Care rules

For peppermint, planting and gardening is not difficult, as this crop requires a minimum of attention and care.

The above rules should be strictly observed in the first years, until the plants get stronger and grow a massive root system.

Wormwood is planted next to mint to repel insects.

Conclusion

For those looking to plant peppermint, growing them from seed is the best option. Although this is a laborious process, with proper planting and minimal care, you will get a large number of new plants that will quickly and well take root in your garden.

Peppermint (lat. Mentha piperita), or cold mint, or english mint, or peppermint, or chill- herbaceous perennial, species of the genus Mint of the Lamiaceae family, or Lamiaceae, bred by hybridization of garden mint (spearmint) and water mint. Peppermint was considered a valuable plant in ancient Rome: mint leaves were used to rub furniture, and rooms were sprayed with mint-infused water. In ancient Egypt, mint was placed in the tombs of the pharaohs, and it got its name in honor of the nymph Menta, who was turned into a plant with a wonderful, delicate, but cold aroma.

The mint plant is very popular in English cuisine as a spice in lamb sauce. Americans use mint as an ingredient in fruit and vegetable salads, and as an addition to tomato juice and mixed drinks. Peppermint is grown for the manufacture of medicinal preparations of various effects.

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Planting and caring for mint

• Landing: sowing mint in the ground - in April and early August. Sowing seeds for seedlings - in mid-April, planting seedlings in the ground - in mid or late May.
• Lighting: bright sunlight, bright diffused light, light partial shade.
• The soil: loose, moist, fertile, manured for the previous crop.
• Watering: evening, at first - frequent, and when the seedlings are accepted, watering becomes periodic and moderate.
• Top dressing: after planting seedlings or emergence of seedlings, the site is mulched with peat or compost mixed with ash.
• Reproduction: seed.
• Pests: aphids, mint fleas, weevil beetles, meadow moths, mint mites, slobbering pennits, wireworms, bears, caterpillars of the cabbage scoop, round-winged moth, burdock and meadow moth.
• Diseases: rust, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, anthracnose, septoria (white spot), growth.

Read more about growing mint below.

Mint plant - description

The rhizome of peppermint is horizontal, branched, with thin fibrous roots, the stem is 30 to 100 cm high, erect, hollow, straight, tetrahedral, covered with short hairs. Peppermint leaves on short petioles, oblong, ovate, crosswise opposite, pointed towards the apex and heart-shaped at the base, with a sharply serrated edge. The upper side of the leaf plate is dark green, the lower side is lighter. The length of the leaves is from 3 to 5 cm, the width is 1.5-2 cm. Small lilac flowers form spike-shaped inflorescences. Mint blooms from late June to September. Mint fruit - consisting of four coenobium nuts, however, mint fruits are formed very rarely. Mint is a valuable honey plant, it produces honey of amber color with a distinct mint aroma.

• How to grow mint at home?
• How is the cultivation of mint from seeds and planting mint in open ground?
• What types and varieties of mint are suitable for growing on a windowsill?
• What are the benefits of mint?

You will find answers to these and other questions in our article.

Growing mint on a windowsill

Sowing mint seeds

To questions about how to grow mint on a windowsill and how to grow mint from seeds, we answer: very simple. You can really place a container with crops on the windowsill, or you can use an insulated loggia or veranda to grow mint.

Growing peppermint should begin with the preparation of the substrate: mix equal parts of humus, peat, sand and garden soil and calcine this mixture in the oven. Mint seeds for sowing can be purchased at any garden store or harvested yourself. Mint is sown in a moist substrate in grooves 5 cm deep, after which the grooves are carefully closed, and the crops are covered with a film and placed in a warm, bright place.

Mint care at home

How to grow mint at home? Planting mint and caring for it during the seedling period is no different from planting and caring for any other seedlings. As soon as seedlings appear, and under normal conditions this will take two to three weeks, move the crops as close to the light as possible so that the seedlings do not stretch. If there is not enough light for seedlings, organize artificial lighting.

The optimum temperature for the development of seedlings is 20-25 ºC, but if mint grows on the windowsill in low light conditions, the temperature of its content should be in the range of 15-17 ºC. When the seedlings grow up, you can plant them in the garden, or you can continue growing at home.

Mint at home needs to be adjusted for care at different stages of the growing season. For example, in summer, during the period of maximum plant activity, drying out of the soil is unacceptable, since it can lead to the death of mint. In addition, the lack of moisture increases the risk of harmful insects. In winter, watering the plant requires caution, since at this time of the year waterlogging is much more dangerous for mint than dry soil.

It is much more important in winter, when the heating devices are working at full capacity, drying the air in the room, as often as possible, spray the mint with water at room temperature.

Protect the plant from drafts, protect it from pests and monitor its health. As you can see, planting and caring for mint at home is a simple matter and even pleasant for many.

Planting mint in open ground

When to plant mint

In this section, we will answer readers' questions. How to plant mint? How to plant mint in the country? How to grow mint?

Mint is sown in spring, in April, and in summer, in early August. If you decide to use the seedling method of seed propagation or plant cuttings, then mint is planted in the second half of May. A well-lit or slightly shaded place is suitable for growing crops. It is desirable that there are no flowers, berries and vegetables within a radius of 60-80 cm from the mint, otherwise you will not be able to grow a quality plant. Try to set aside a site for mint as far as possible from plants such as cucumbers, cabbage or beets, as dark spots can appear on mint leaves from such a neighborhood.

Ground for mint

Where to plant mint? What soil does it grow in best? Mint grows well on soils in which manure was applied under previous crops. The soil is preferably loose, moist and fertile - for example, black soil. Mint growing in calcareous soil is not as fragrant, and on waterlogged acidic soil, the plant will be weak.

Clear the area of ​​weeds and, for digging to a depth of 20 cm, add 3 kg of humus, 15 g of superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, and 2 tablespoons of ash for each m². If groundwater occurs in an area close to the surface, arrange higher beds for mint. Dig in slate or plastic limiters around the perimeter of the site, since mint, like a weed, can spread throughout the garden.

How to plant mint

Mint is planted in the ground in grooves about 5 cm deep, located at a distance of 40 cm, the distance between the seedlings is 30-50 cm. The grooves are covered with soil, slightly trampled down and watered.

mint care

How to grow mint

Growing mint does not require much effort from you. Mint care includes the usual procedures for every gardener: watering, loosening and weeding the site, feeding mint and protecting it from pests and diseases.

Watering mint

Mint is watered in the evenings, and at first, until the seedlings are accepted, watering is needed very often. After watering, it is convenient to loosen the soil on the site and remove weeds.

Mint top dressing

Mint is fed once a season, in spring: the site is mulched with peat or compost mixed with ash.

Mint is harvested during the period of mass flowering - at this time it contains the largest amount of essential oil. Once harvested, the mint grows back and produces a second crop.

What to plant after mint

After leaf culture, it is best to grow root vegetables such as turnips, turnips, beets, carrots on the site. Potatoes can be grown after mint.

Pests and diseases of mint

mint diseases

The most harmful disease for mint is rust. This is a fungal disease, the development of which provokes low temperatures with high humidity, excess nitrogen in the soil and non-compliance with crop rotation. Symptoms of rust are the appearance of dark red pads on the underside of the leaves.

Harmful to plants and powdery mildew, which can be recognized by the cobweb whitish bloom on leaves and stems that appears in the second half of summer. Mint can be protected from powdery mildew by digging the area to a depth of 20 cm in autumn and treating mint with a one percent solution of colloidal sulfur.

verticillium wilt- another fungal disease, from which several upper pairs of mint leaves turn black, which leads to the death of the plant. As agrotechnical measures to combat wilting, crop rotation, the destruction of plant residues after harvesting, and the cultivation of disease-resistant mint varieties, for example, Prilukskaya 6, can be considered.

anthracnose disease can be identified by brown spots on the leaves of the plant. The fungus is destroyed by three to four times the mint treatment with one percent Bordeaux liquid, and as a preventive measure, an autumn digging of the site is carried out.

spotting, or septoria, appears on the leaves of the plant as black dots and angular brown spots up to 8 mm in size, bordered by a black rim. The methods of dealing with this type of fungus are the same as with anthracnose: repeated treatment of mint with one percent Bordeaux liquid.

The most dangerous disease of mint is considered to be growth, caused by mycoplasmas: the plant stops developing, its leaves acquire an uncharacteristic color for the species, the development of the root system stops. The problem is that there is no cure for this scourge, and the only thing you can do is remove diseased specimens from the garden as soon as possible, and urgently transplant healthy plants to another site. As a preventive measure, we can consider the fight against harmful insects, through whose fault the disease usually occurs.

mint pests

Mint attracts a huge number of insects, mostly harmful. Among them mint flea- a small yellow bug only 1.5 mm long, making round holes in the leaves of the plant. This pest is most annoying in a dry, warm spring. The green shield-bearer behaves in approximately the same way, which not only gnaws holes in the leaves, but also eats them around the edges. Makes holes in mint leaves and leaf beetle.

The most dangerous pest of all plants is considered aphid- the smallest insect that can cause serious harm. It settles in whole colonies on the underside of the leaves and sucks the juice out of them, from which the plant slows down growth and development, ceases to form full-fledged leaves. Worst of all, the aphid is a carrier of incurable viral diseases. The sucking pest also includes leafhopper, which usually affects young plants.

weevils strike in two directions at once: adults gnaw mint leaves around the edges, and larvae feed on the roots of the plant.

Such a mint pest as meadow moth, capable of destroying a whole bush on its own.

In the southern regions, the plant can be annoyed mint mite, which winters in the ground at a depth of about 10 cm, and from May to the end of summer it feeds on the juice of the tops of the shoots.

Adults and larvae slobbering pennitsa deform mint shoots, leaving foamy lumps in the axils of the leaves and on the stems.

If the area with mint is thriving with wheatgrass or potatoes were grown in the area last year, you will have to deal with wireworms - larvae of the nut beetle that gnaw on the roots of mint.

In addition to the described pests, mint can be damaged by a bear, caterpillars of a cabbage scoop, a round-winged moth, a burdock and a meadow moth.

But if the folk remedy did not help, spend several sessions spraying the area with Decis, trying to finish the treatment cycle a month before harvesting.

Types and varieties of mint

In nature, there are about 25 types of mint and 10 subspecies of peppermint, the most famous of which we will introduce you.

mint garden

A powerful plant up to 90 cm high. This type of mint does not have such a cooling effect as peppermint, since the main ingredient in garden mint essential oil is carvone. This species is used to flavor toothpaste, tea additives and soft drinks.

Curly mint

Bush reaching 80-90 cm in height. This plant differs from other species in frost resistance and curly leaves, which do not have a sharp menthol flavor of peppermint. This species is more often used in cooking, and in folk medicine, boiled mint leaves are used as a sedative, for therapeutic baths and to relieve pain from injuries.

apple mint

Bush up to 60 cm high with velvety rounded leaves of dark green color. The aroma of this species is not as intense as the smell of peppermint. It is added to soups, meat dishes, salads and various drinks, as well as desserts and pastries.

Longleaf mint

A powerful plant up to 150 cm high with a creeping rhizome, a tetrahedral dissected stem and dark green leaves with serrate-toothed edges. Plants of this species have a pleasant, delicate aroma, which allows their leaves to be used as an additive to salads, vegetable broths and soups, as well as some meat dishes - kebabs and roast beef, for example. Leaves of long-leaved mint are put in the marinade when canning eggplant, used as a spice for salting cabbage. This type of mint is in demand in the perfume industry, in particular for soap making.

Field mint (or wild, or horse, or deaf)

A ubiquitous species growing in nature, the bushes of which reach a height of 80 cm, and the leaves are devoid of the cooling menthol taste and the sharp smell of peppermint. Fresh or dried mint leaves are added to tea and other drinks, put in baked goods, seasoned with salads, fish dishes, vegetable soups and pickled cabbage. Decoctions of field mint treat headaches and inflammatory processes.

lemon mint

A plant with an erect, branched, slightly pubescent stem up to 1 m high, covered with opposite ovate rounded leaves, serrated along the edges. The upper part of the leaf plate is dark green, the lower one is lighter. This species has not only a pleasant mint-lemon aroma, but also healing properties. Another name for the plant is lemon balm.

fragrant mint

Perennial with a steady straight stem from 40 to 100 cm high and wrinkled green leaves with a creamy stripe along the edge, with a pleasant aroma. The beneficial properties of fragrant mint have long been known, it is also in demand in cooking.

In addition to the described species, domestic, Moroccan, Korean, orange (bergamot), dog, steppe, water mint and other varieties of this plant are widely grown in culture.

Peppermint

As for the type of peppermint grown on an industrial scale, the varieties of mint and hybrids of peppermint amaze with their diversity. The most famous among them are:

• Priluki 6- a time-tested variety with a large number of leaves on the stems and a growing season of about 100 days. The content of menthol in the leaves of this variety is about 50%, and the amount of essential oil reaches 3%;
• Medicinal 4- a large plant up to 1 m high with a growing season of up to 115 days and with anthocyanin staining of leaves containing up to 4% essential oil and up to 60% menthol;
• Mystery- a variety of Ukrainian selection with green leaves without anthocyanin staining with a vegetation period of about 110 days. Essential oil in the leaves of this variety is up to 3.5%, and menthol is about 65%;
• the charm- a variety of Belarusian selection up to 70 cm high, having a reddish-purple color only in the lower part of the bush. The variety is interesting mainly in that it forms seeds, and casts doubt on its belonging to the peppermint species;
• Ukrainian pepper- high-yielding and drought-resistant variety, rarely affected by diseases, containing up to 61% essential oil and up to 53% menthol;
• Udaichanka- a highly productive, winter-hardy non-lodging variety with a menthol content in essential oil of about 47-52%.

Peppermint varieties such as Simferopolskaya 200, Zagrava, Dawn, Vysokomentolnaya, Silvery, Amber, Medichka, Moskvichka, Krasnodarskaya 2, Kubanskaya 6 and others are also popular.

Mint properties - harm and benefit

Medicinal properties of mint

Leaves, flowers and shoots of mint contain bitter, tannic and biologically active substances, fats, sugars, phytoncides, vitamins C and P, mineral salts, carotene, essential oil, which includes menthol. In traditional and folk medicine, mint is used to treat cardiovascular diseases, nervous disorders, insomnia, headaches, neuralgia, toothache, inflammation of the digestive system, asthma, colds, bronchitis, throat diseases, atherosclerosis and other diseases.

Menthol has antiseptic, analgesic and antispasmodic effects. To expand the coronary vessels with angina pectoris, with pain in the intestines or stomach, mint is taken orally. Mint can be used externally for neuralgia, bronchitis, toothache. Menthol is part of Zelenin drops, ointments from the common cold, valocordin, mixtures for rinsing the mouth. Infusions and tinctures of mint leaves are used to increase appetite, improve digestion, to get rid of nausea and vomiting.

Use preparations containing mint for pain relief in hepatic colic, as a choleretic agent for jaundice or gallstones, as well as to stimulate cardiac activity.

In Germany, mint leaves are included in the medicinal tea recommended for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and flatulence. Mint baths are popular in this country. In Australia, decoctions and tinctures are made from peppermint. In Poland, mint leaves are used to treat inflammation of the periosteum, middle ear, insomnia, migraine and neuralgia. It is part of fees to improve taste and smell.

In our folk medicine, mint leaves are used as a diaphoretic, choleretic and refreshing agent. The leaves of wild mint are used to make juice, which is used to treat kidney stones, and in combination with white wine is used as a diuretic. Mint is included in the composition of tea, gastric collection and collection for baths.

Mint is in demand in cooking and the perfume industry.

Mint - contraindications

The harm of mint can manifest itself with individual intolerance to preparations from it. There have been cases of allergic reactions to mint. Peppermint oil is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, as well as for children under 6 years of age. Men should not get carried away with peppermint preparations, as it reduces sexual desire. An overdose of mint preparations can cause bronchospasm, heart pain and sleep disturbance.

We offer you recipes for mint preparations that will surely not harm anyone:

• pour a tablespoon of mint leaves with two cups of boiling water, let it brew for 2 hours, strain and use to rinse with halitosis;
• pour a tablespoon of mint leaves with a glass of boiling water, wrap, let it brew for 30-40 minutes, strain and take a tablespoon every three hours for nausea or abdominal pain. When vomiting, take half a glass;
• one part of crushed mint leaves for a week insist in 20 parts of seventy percent alcohol. Take 10-15 drops for nausea or headaches.

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Mint is an amazing plant, widely known to flower growers and summer residents due to its unique aroma and high menthol content. It can be used in cooking, aromatherapy, folk medicine, in everyday life. Those who wish can grow it even on the windowsill, even in the country, especially since there are enough tips on the Internet on how to plant mint, how to care for it, when and how to collect it.

The botanical genus Mint belongs to the Lamiaceae family and includes about twenty-five species and several hybrids. The most common and, accordingly, well-known and in demand are peppermint, Japanese mint, water mint, marsh mint, meadow mint, fragrant mint. But the well-known lemon mint, also known as lemon balm, belongs to a different genus, although of the same family. Catnip, also known as catnip, again belongs to another genus of the same family. And the same can be said about wild mint, oregano.

Accordingly, speaking about the cultivation of this plant in the country, first of all, they mean peppermint and its variety - menthol mint. These two species differ in appearance and shades of aroma - the ratio of bitterness and specific mint "chill". But both can be planted both in open ground and in boxes.

How to plant

You can plant mint with rhizomatous cuttings, seeds and seedlings. Propagation by seeds is considered to be difficult for beginners. In fact, planting is similar to planting any other greenery and the most important thing in this process is the quality of the seeds. When purchasing seeds from a store, it is important to make sure they are fresh. Mint seeds are very small and are planted in bulk.

You can plant this grass in the spring, in late April-early May. Additional plantings can be made at the end of summer. Mint is undemanding to the soil, but does not grow very well in dense, overly moist beds. When planting directly in the ground, you need to make grooves with a depth of no more than 1 cm (optimally - half a centimeter), water them, cover the seeds and sprinkle them with earth.

You can choose a compromise option - sow seeds not in the ground, but in pots, grow seedlings and plant them in the country. You can sow seeds for seedlings in February. To do this, shallow boxes are filled with nutritious light soil mixed with peat, watered and scattered seeds over the surface, slightly pressing them to the soil. After that, the box must be covered with a film (but loosely so that ventilation is maintained) and placed in a lighted place, but not on the windowsill.

Very small sprouts appear after twelve to fourteen days, after which the boxes can be put on the windowsill for hardening, but removed at night. After about two months, full-fledged bushes grow, which can be transferred to the garden. The advantage of growing mint from seed is that these plants will produce tender, young greens. When propagated by cuttings and shoots, the stems will be stronger, but at the same time more coarse, suitable for drying rather than for direct use.

Care and growing conditions

Mint is a perennial plant, which means that the place for planting must be chosen carefully, taking into account the fact that in the next three to five years you will not plant any other plants in this place. At the same time, it is better to change the planting site for the fourth, maximum for the fifth year, otherwise the aroma of the plant will become poorer from season to season.

In general, mint is unpretentious to planting conditions, tolerates almost any soil well, and can grow under trees or shrubs. Any vegetables can be its predecessor, and after it, potatoes or onions can be planted in this area. Mint does not require specific fertilizers, and it can be planted in soil fertilized during autumn digging. Of course, the ideal habitat for her would be fertile and loose soil with regular watering. On calcareous soils mint loses its aroma. It practically does not grow on waterlogged soils.

If your dacha has excess moisture, then the mint beds should be raised above the ground for better drainage. In dry places, the beds, on the contrary, are deepened into the ground. Mint is very fond of sunlight, but not direct, but rather, partial shade. When planting, it should be borne in mind that the root system of this plant is a creeping rhizome that grows strongly and can shoot anywhere. To limit these shoots, strips of iron or slate are buried in the beds with mint.

Mint must be watered, loosened and, if necessary, mulch the soil, weed weeds. It is recommended to pinch the top of the stems so that the plant gives a lot of side shoots. Harvest from mint this year of planting can be harvested after two months, and in the second and subsequent years - after the appearance of the fourth or fifth leaf on the branches.

Landings need to be covered for the winter. It can be spruce branches, straw, rotted manure. Thanks to its specific, sharp aroma, mint does not suffer too much from garden pests, but nevertheless, it also has enemies: mint flea, mint leaf beetle, powdery mildew, mint rust, and so on. The most general recommendation for protection is regular weeding, removal of diseased plants along with rhizomes, moderate (not excessive) watering. Also - measures against specific types of pests, for example, from a mint flea, you can water the garden bed with a solution of karbofos. This is done in August, after the pupation of pests and after harvesting from the garden.

How to collect mint

Greens are cut as needed. To keep it fresh, it is kept wrapped in damp linen or refrigerated in airtight packaging. The collection of mint for drying is carried out on the eve of flowering or at the very beginning - it is then that the maximum of fragrant substances accumulates in the aerial part of the plant. Collection is carried out in dry, but cloudy weather. In any case, before harvesting, you must make sure that there is no dew on the leaves. You can collect mint two or even three times per season, but after each collection, the bed needs to be watered abundantly.

The stems are cut and dried in the shade, hanging bunches with inflorescences down. Leaves and inflorescences are valued as raw materials, which are cut off from dried stems and stored in a tightly closed container, in a cool, dry, dark place. The maximum storage period is no more than two years. Mint is an almost universal culinary spice. In dry or fresh form, it is added to cocktails, tea, soups, marinades, salads, meat, fish and legume dishes. In addition, the aroma of mint soothes and relaxes.

Growing mint is an incredibly rewarding activity for a grower. Widely used in cooking for preparing side dishes or flavoring dishes, this plant also has unique healing properties. And what can we say about tea with mint! Fragrant, delicate, refreshing, thirst-quenching and rejuvenating, this drink is a traditional favorite meal of thousands of tea gourmets. How to plant mint and what is plant care? Consider the main issues of planting and growing this crop.

Mint: planting and care

When choosing a place for a future garden bed, many plant growing beginners ask themselves: where is it better to plant mint - in the sun or in the shade? The ideal place for planting mint is an open area, well lit by the sun during the day, with fairly fertile, moist and deeply cultivated soil.

Since mint, thanks to its creeping rhizomes, grows rather quickly, when arranging a bed, it is recommended to limit its edges with slate, iron or plastic, digging strips of protective material to the depth of the plant's roots. Garden Growing mint at home

How to plant mint

When planning planting activities, decide first of all how you will plant mint - by seeds, cuttings, or by dividing the rhizome. With the seed method, planting should begin as early as mid-April.

1. Gently plant the seeds in a pot or container, using a pointed stick or a special seed planting syringe for easy planting.
2. Carefully, to avoid washing out the seed, water the soil in the pots, then cover the containers with foil and place in a warm, bright place.
3. When the plants reach 4-6 cm in height and release 3-4 pairs of leaves, you can relocate the seedlings to open ground, after adding mineral (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus) and organic (wood ash and rotted manure) fertilizers to it.

It is recommended to plant mint in rows, keeping a distance of 30-40 cm between them. It is best to make the gaps between seedlings half a meter: very soon the mint will grow and the rows will become thick. If you want the bushes to grow thick and low, about two weeks after planting, pinch the tops of young plants.

Another way to plant mint is to propagate by cuttings. Cut off the upper parts of adult plants 5-7 cm long, put in water and then transplant into open ground as roots appear.

If you plan to plant mint by dividing the rhizome, cut the root so that at least ten knots remain on each of the parts. Plant planting material to a depth of 10 cm, introducing a small handful of humus under each tuber.

Features of mint care

For such an unpretentious plant as mint, care consists in systematic (preferably daily) watering the beds and regular mulching of the soil, adding wood ash and compost to the mulch. Soil fertilization is carried out twice a year: the first time - in the spring, and the second time - in the fall, on the eve of frosts, during deep digging.

Harvesting

The optimal time to collect mint is the period of its flowering, when the plants accumulate the greatest amount of essential oils. To prepare mint leaves for the winter, they need to be dried well, spread out in a thin layer on thick paper. When the mint is ready to store, place the dry leaves in a dry, airtight container and place the container in a dark place. There, fragrant and healing mint will be stored for a long time, periodically delighting the household with the piquancy of dishes and the sophistication of tea family meals or healing them from the blues, malaise and annoying fatigue!