Mint is truly a plant valued for its freshness, and it also brings a decorative effect in a vegetable garden or ornamental garden.
Whether you like mint tea or not, you’ll love how easy it is to grow and despair at how invasive it can sometimes become. A few branches are all you need to bring that delicious scent to your garden, patio, or porch. Mint likes part shade and will thrive in most soils. There are different varieties of mint, and each type has specific growing periods and preferred locations for its growth. As for fertilization, planting, and maintenance, mint follows clear rules, like harvesting, propagation, or cultivation in pots.
What Are the Varieties of Mint?
Varieties of Mint.
There are about 70 varieties of mint that are listed; the most popular is Spearmint from North Africa and is widely used for the famous mint tea. You can also discover the field mint, or mentha arvensis, or the water mint ( mentha aquatica). This last variety is quite present in humid environments, especially at the water’s edge, offering a pleasant menthol smell. You can also appreciate the peppermint, which is a mix between the water mint and the spearmint.
When to Grow Mint?
Mint can be planted in clumps of several plants, in window boxes, or borders, and is also a beautiful flowering plant. This aromatic plant can be grown in spring, between April and June. To harvest, its leaves are to be separated carefully in spring until the end of the summer. After the flowering, you will notice that the leaves will reduce.
As for its location, you will want to grow it in half-shade. It is necessary to know that the full sun tends to slow down its blooming and growth; mint requires more humidity. Make sure that your soil is loosened, humid and fresh; the plant will develop fully there. It should also be noted that the mint can also adapt to various situations as long as its soil remains fresh.
How to Harvest and Propagate Mint?
Growing Mint.
Harvesting:
Harvesting mint is pretty easy, you can simply pinch off the stem, or you can pick them leaf by leaf. It is important to know that the leaves can be kept in ice cubes or whole.
Propagate:
If you wish to multiply your mint, you should know that this plant is very easy to reproduce. The simplest and fastest method is to have a plant divide. Indeed, the division of the mint allows creating feet of mint.
You will need to dig the roots; then, you cut the foot in sections measuring between 5 and 10 centimeters using secateurs and a spade. You can bury a section under a few centimeters with soil and then proceed to water. You will then see new stems appear about a week later.
There is also the possibility of taking cuttings from the stems if you wish. You must first take stems measuring between 10 and 15 centimeters. You can then remove the leaves on 2/3 of each stem. Then, you will plunge these same stems into a glass of water. You will then have to wait a few weeks, and roots will form in their turn; you can then plant them.
Another method to know concerning multiplication is sowing. This method of sowing mint is not widely used, as some species such as peppermint are sterile and cannot be sown.
Even though they are mostly independent you need to check them from time to time. As soon as you see a sign of sickness, separate it from the rest of the plant to prevent disease proliferation. Let us know in the comments below what your views on mint are …
