Characteristics of mint, tips for planting and caring for a garden plot, recommendations for reproduction, pest and disease control, interesting notes, types.
Mint (Menta) is a member of the Lamiactae family or, as it is also called, Labiatae. All varieties of the genus are characterized by a rather strong aroma, since they have a high content of menthol in themselves. The genus includes about 42 species and hybrid variations, according to information provided by The Plant List database. It is believed that the native habitat is in the Mediterranean lands. In nature, plants can be found in swampy areas, next to large and small river arteries, along ravines. The territories of distribution cover almost the entire European part of Russia, and varieties of mint also grow in the Far East, Asia and regions of Africa.
| Family name | Lamiaceae (Lamiactae) or Lipocytes |
| Growth duration | Perennial |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous |
| Breeding method | Seed (also growing seedlings) and vegetative |
| Dates of disembarkation in open ground | Mid to late May or early summer |
| Planting recommendations | About 30 cm is left between the seedlings |
| Priming | Loose, nutritious, moist, loam or sandy loam |
| Soil acidity index, pH | 6-7 (neutral or slightly acidic) |
| Lighting level | The location is open and sunny or with a little shading and diffused light |
| Humidity | Moderate and regular, for seedlings frequent in the evening hours |
| Special care requirements | Does not tolerate stagnant water in the ground |
| Height values | 0.15-1 m |
| Inflorescences or type of flowers | Spike inflorescences from false whorls |
| Flower color | Various shades of purple, lilac-pink, whitish with purple splashes, lilac or red, blue and snow-white |
| Flowering period | Falls from June to October, depending on the species |
| Decorative period | Spring-Autumn |
| Application in landscape design | Decoration of garden paths, next to water bodies, as a medicinal plant |
| USDA zone | 3–8 |
The name of the genus is rooted in the name of Minfa (or as it is also called Minta), the goddess of Mount Mente, located in Elis, who, according to legend, was the beloved of the Greek god Hades (or Hades). The angry wife of Aida, Persephone, turned the nymph into a plant that possessed fragrant leaves. The following synonyms are found among the people, such as perekop, bezhava or dragolyub.
All types of mint are characterized by a multi-year life cycle. Stems can grow straight or flat against the soil surface. The height of the plant varies in the range of 15-100 cm. There are varieties in which the root system grows quite strongly, since it has creeping root processes. The surface of the stems may differ in green color; there are no species that have a reddish and brown tint, whitish as if pubescent.
The leaf plates are arranged oppositely and in pairs on the stems. The shape of the leaf also directly depends on the species, they can take an elongated, oval or ovoid shape, some have a pointed tip. The color is also quite varied: green or light green, with a yellow border on the edge, red or purple. The edge of the sheet plate can be either solid or serrated, carved. It is the foliage that is the most valuable part of the mint. Leaves are measured in length in the range of 3–8 cm, with a width of about 1.5–3 cm. Both sides of the leaf plate are covered by glands that produce oil (essential oil). Leaves are attached to the stems with petioles, measured in length within 6-8 cm.
Flowering usually begins in mid-June and lasts until October, but the timing is also different for each species. On average, the duration of this process is extended from a month to three. The flowers are very small, false whorls are collected from them, forming spike-shaped inflorescences, crowning the tops of the stems. Flowers can be painted in different shades of purple, lilac-pink, whitish with purple tips, lilac or red, blue and snow-white. In the flower, you can see two pairs of violet-colored stamens, which are shorter in length than the corolla.
After the inflorescences are pollinated, sometimes the fruits, composed of four nuts, ripen. The fruit contains the calyx, which is left over from flowering. The length of the nuts reaches 0.75 mm, their color is dark brown. The shape of the nuts is obovate, with glandularity at the top.
The plant is not particularly capricious and, without spending much effort, you can grow an excellent aromatic and healthy herb on your site. To do this, you should adhere to the following recommendations.
Tips for planting and caring for mint outdoors
- Landing place Perekop plants should have a high level of illumination, but it is better with shading from direct rays of the sun, a location with diffused lighting, light shading or in the shade is suitable (but not with waterlogged soil). A garden bed where representatives of the legume family or root crops were previously grown will be suitable. But the preceding planting of mint, melon or buckwheat, is also suitable, since they tend to saturate the substrate with calcium, which is so necessary for mint bushes. With a sufficient level of lighting, the proximity of water bodies or the occurrence of groundwater is welcomed.
- Mint soil pick up loose and nutritious, enriched with manure from the previous crop cultivation. The substrate is required to be moist, with an acidity index of pH in the range of 6-7 (neutral or slightly acidic). Sandy loam soil or loam may be suitable. If the land on the site is swampy, then digging on them will not take root. To exclude the rapid drying of the soil, it is recommended to mulch it.
- Planting mint. You can do this operation during the spring-autumn period. When planting in spring, seedlings are placed in the prepared holes no earlier than the end of May or the beginning of June, when return frosts will not destroy delicate plants. The size of the hole is made in such a way that the earthen lump of the digging seedling can easily enter there without destroying it, so as not to injure the root system. The distance between the bushes is about 30 cm. The seedling is placed in a hole and sprinkled with a substrate, which is squeezed a little and watered. If mint seedlings will be placed on the garden bed in the autumn (in the northern regions no later than the end of August), then it is important to provide them with protection from freezing in the cold season. When the plant is planted in spring, the dragolyuba manages to take root thoroughly. For wintering, young mint bushes are mulched with a layer of peat or sawdust, while its thickness should be at least 20 cm. When planting, the height of the seedlings should not exceed 6-8 cm, otherwise they will take root for a long time.
- Watering. Abundant soil moisture is necessary only for seedlings until they are thoroughly adapted. The best time is evening hours. As you grow up, watering is carried out regularly in moderation.
- Fertilizers for mint carried out with a frequency of 1-2 times a month. It is necessary to use formulations in which phosphorus and nitrogen are present. Organic feeding can also be useful.
- General advice on care. If mint is grown in the northern regions, then you need a shelter for the winter with spruce branches or a layer of fallen dry leaves. Some gardeners simply cover the cut bushes with soil. It is best not to rely on the resistance of the digging and to provide him with the specified protection for the winter. In one place, mint bushes develop well for 3-4 years, but then they begin to grow and they need rejuvenation. This is because the root system begins to collapse under the influence of weeds and the plant weakens. For better care, it is necessary to periodically weed from weeds, to ensure thorough watering and subsequent loosening of the soil. Since it is noticed that at the beginning of its spring growth, mint undergoes a surge of activation, pruning is recommended to promote bushiness. In places where dragolub grows, it is recommended to dig up the soil twice a year, while removing weeds, which can cause damage to the root system of the plant.
- Collecting mint carried out immediately after 14–20 days from the moment of formation of the first shoots. During this period, the height of the shoots reaches 20-30 cm. You can both pluck the foliage and the stems completely. Pruning will stimulate the subsequent growth of the digging and branching of its shoots. The best way to harvest mint is to dry it. After collecting, the material is laid out on a clean cloth in one layer, and wait until it dries completely. The foliage is then separated from the shoots. It is left intact or ground to a powder state. Store dried mint in closed containers in the dark, dry and cool.
- The use of mint in landscape design. Since the perekop bushes are lush, they look spectacular in large groups, they decorate garden paths and coastal areas. You can form a spice bed or decorate a rustic garden. Basil and marigolds, delicate phlox, monarda and hyssop look good nearby.
Recommendations for breeding mint
To get new bushes of dragolub, you can use the seed method or the vegetative method, which includes rooting cuttings or dividing a large bush.
Reproduction of mint by growing seedlings
Here you should immediately make a warning, sowing mint seeds is not an easy task, and they germinate rather poorly. Therefore, experts recommend stocking up on a few bags of seeds. Usually, you should deal with the cultivation of seedlings.
Important
Hybrid species of mint cannot reproduce by seeds.
For sowing mint seeds, you need to choose the time with the arrival of spring. Then, in the soil poured into the seedling box, form a groove no more than 0.5 cm deep. Since the seed of the digging is rather shallow, it will be a little difficult to distribute them, so use a stick moistened with water or a special planting "syringe". The seeds are pressed into the soil, and sprinkled on top with nutritious soil mixture from garden soil, compost or humus. After that, the crops are covered with transparent plastic wrap or a piece of glass is placed on top of the container. For germination, the room temperature is maintained within 20-25 degrees. With proper care, which consists in regularly spraying the soil and ventilating from condensation, sprouts will appear after 14–20 days.
Only when a pair of true leaf plates opens on the seedlings of the dragolyub, it will be possible to pick through individual pots or containers.
Interesting
Despite the fact that mint grown by seedlings develops much slower than plants obtained by the vegetative method, but for a long period it will be able to maintain its delicate structure.
Seedlings can be transplanted into open ground when the threat of return frosts has passed, since young plants will not be able to survive if the thermometer drops below +8. Usually this time can come in late May or early June.
Reproduction of mint by seeds
You can immediately sow seeds in open ground, then the operation time will directly depend on the variety that is supposed to be grown and the region. If the species is cold-resistant, then crops are sown with the arrival of April. But usually seed germination occurs at an average heat of 20 degrees.
It is recommended to prepare a place in the garden in advance, that is, it is tedious to dig up and loosen the soil. Weed and drainage. If the substrate is prepared in the fall, then it is fertilized, so for 1 m2 there should be up to 3-4 kg of manure. After that, the seeds are distributed in moistened grooves according to the above rules. When the seedlings grow up, it is recommended to thin them out, leaving at least 30 cm between them.
Reproduction of mint by cuttings
For this, you can use both stem and root blanks. When cutting the cuttings from the stem, the upper part is cut off from the shoot of an adult specimen so that its length is not less than 7–10 cm. Then the blanks are placed in water and placed in a warm and well-lit place. After the formation of roots occurs on the handle, it is transplanted to a prepared place in the flower bed. Cuttings, some gardeners do not put in water, but immediately planted in containers filled with wet sand. After rooting, such seedlings are also carefully transplanted into the garden.
Important
When mint is propagated by cuttings, 100% will ensure the preservation of all the properties of the mother plant.
Reproduction of mint by dividing the bush
To do this, you should choose an adult bush in spring or summer, dig it out of the ground. Then the root system is cleaned of soil residues and division into several equal parts is carried out. It is necessary that each segment of the dragolyub has both renewal buds and stems with roots. After dividing, it is necessary to immediately plant parts of the mint, but before that, the entire aboveground part is cut off in such a way that only a couple of centimeters stick out above the surface of the soil. After a couple of weeks, the delenka will take root.
Important
To rejuvenate the bushes, it is recommended to repeat this procedure at least once every five years.
- Mint flea, which deals with damage to foliage and root system, is removed by spraying in the autumn, after collecting the foliage of the beds with Karbaphos.
- Aphids and ticks sucking nutritious juices from the leaves, it is recommended to clean it by spraying with insecticides - Aktara or Aktellik.
- Mint leaf beetle, emerging from damp terrain. Since this pest is not so easily removed, it is necessary to reduce watering and increase ventilation (it is possible to remove some of the bushes so that they do not grow too densely).
- Powdery mildew, manifested by a spider-like whitish bloom on the foliage. Disease can be provoked by dense planting of bushes and the presence of weeds. If, nevertheless, signs of the disease appear, then spraying with Fundazol, colloidal sulfur is performed (it is recommended to mix green or potassium soap in such a 1.5% solution).
- Rust - the disease originates from the root system and with it, round marks of brown color are formed on the back of the leaves. Spraying with Bordeaux liquid or Fitosporin-M will help.
- Anthracnose, white spot (septoria) or verticillary wilting are viral diseases for which there is no cure, therefore it is recommended to dig up the affected bushes, and then burn them so that the infection does not spread to other plants.
- individual intolerance to drugs based on it;
- hypersensitivity to menthol;
- low blood pressure (arterial hypotension);
- due to a decrease in the tone of the venous vessels, it cannot be used for varicose veins;
- people suffering from heartburn;
- children's age up to three years;
- due to a decrease in libido, men should not abuse mint;
- with drowsiness;
- infertility.
- Lemon (var.citrata), which should not be confused with lemon balm, often referred to as "lemon mint". There are also forms that smell like bergamot, orange or other members of the citrus family.
- Thuringian (var.multimentha) characterized by a rather strong menthol aroma.
- Variegated (Variegata) foliage color can contain both green and yellow and whitish shades.
- Pineapple a beautiful plant with leaf blades with a white edge.
Diseases that occur when growing mint are as follows:
Read more about protecting lavender from pests and diseases.
Interesting notes about the mint plant
For the first time, there is a mention of the plant in the Gospel of Matthew, dating back to 1119. If we talk about the Russian lands, then there has long been a belief that the mint bunches left in sheds and houses can serve as protection from evil spirits, evil spirits. It was believed that if a couple was in a quarrel, but when they consumed mint, peace was restored between them. All due to the fact that the dragolub symbolizes love, peace and harmony between people and in the house.
In ancient Greece and Rome, mint plants were also highly prized, as the scent of the leaves helped to cheer up and liven up conversations during feasts. It was customary to spray halls for feasts with water infused with mint, and also rubbed the surfaces of tables with leaves and mint wreaths were placed on the heads of all guests. It was believed that the scent of mint helped the thought processes. Rumor has it that this is precisely why the ancient Roman erudite writer Pliny the Elder (22-24 AD until 79 AD) did not part with a wreath of fresh stems with mint leaves and even advised his students to do so.
Many species of the Spearmint genus are used in cooking, and the Japanese mint and peppermint species have found applications in the cosmetics industry. If we talk about pharmacology, aroma and phytotherapy, then the types of water mint, peppermint and marsh are irreplaceable here.
Since the leaves of dragoluba contain a large amount of menthol, they can serve as mild local anesthesia, help relieve spasms and have an antiseptic effect. Also, with the use of mint, the expansion of the coronary vessels occurs. You can use inside drugs based on perekopa to relieve attacks of angina pectoris and stomach and intestinal pain. In addition, such means can relieve neuralgia and toothache. They help with bronchitis and other respiratory problems. The plant is irreplaceable for headaches, migraines, runny nose, diarrhea and nausea.
However, for all the usefulness of mint, there are a number of contraindications, namely:
See also interesting notes for gardeners about stachis.
Types and varieties of mint
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
is not a natural representative of the flora, since it was bred in England in the 16th century. This plant turned out due to the crossing of species such as water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spicate (Mentha spicata). The rhizome is located in a horizontal plane at a depth of about 15 cm and is characterized by branching, the roots in it are thin and fibrous. The height of the stem can vary in the range of 0.3–1 m. The shoot grows erect, inside it is hollow, and the outer part is tetrahedral, its surface is covered with short hairs.
The foliage that unfolds on the stems is attached to them with short petioles. The outlines of the leaf plates are oblong or ovoid, with a sharpening to the apex, and the base is heart-shaped. Their arrangement is cross, opposite. The edge is serrated. The upper side of the leaf is dark green, the back is lighter. Leaves vary in length 3–5 cm with a width of 1, 5–2 cm.
During flowering, small flowers of a lilac, pale purple, lilac or pale pinkish hue are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. The process starts from the last week of June until September. Then the fruit ripens, composed of two pairs of nuts formed from the upper ovary (zinobium).
Interesting
Mint fruits appear quite rarely.
When obtaining mint honey, it was noticed that the product has a rich amber hue with a well-audible mint aroma.
The following varietal forms are often grown in gardens:
Field mint (Mentha arvensis)
also found under the name Meadow mint … Prefers forests in Russia and Europe, a frequent representative of the flora of the western and central regions of Asia, grows in the Caucasus, India and Nepal. It prefers to grow on soil, the moisture of which is provided by the proximity of rivers, streams or lakes, but it is found in meadow and field spaces. The height of the stems of this perennial can reach the limits of 15–100 cm. The stems grow often open, occasionally erect, with branching. It happens that the color is not only green, but with a reddish tone, the pubescence on the surface is made up of fluffy hairs that are directed downward.
The foliage on the shoots is rounded, oblong, elliptical or ovoid with a carved surface. The top is pointed, and the edge is serrated. When flowering, which stretches from June to October, lilac or lilac-pinkish flowers open. Their size is small. From a large number of buds, spherical inflorescences are collected, represented by false whorls. Pedicels rarely have a bare surface, but most often they are covered with hairs. The corolla of the flowers is in the form of a wide tube.
Fruits begin to ripen from August to October, while they are formed on the tops of the stems (coenobia), which are represented by nuts that have a rounded shape with a blunt top.
Sweet mint (Mentha suaveolens)
synonymous Round-leaved mint … A perennial herb that is common in the Mediterranean, European lands and Asia Minor. Prefers well-lit areas with moderately moist soil. The stems of the species can grow up to a meter in height, but most often, with the help of shoots, a bush is formed with a height of 30–40 cm. The rhizome does not go deep into the ground, being located horizontally in it. The foliage is small in size, characterized by ovoid outlines. The color of her rich green color scheme. The surface of the leaf plate is wrinkled, there is a light border on the edge. There is also a pubescence of soft hairs.
When blooming, racemose inflorescences are made up of small whitish flowers that spread a pleasant aroma nearby. The species is used not only for medicinal purposes, but also for cooking.
Apple mint (Mentha rotundifolia)
can also occur under the term Round-leaved mint … It is a hybrid form obtained by crossing species, long-leaved mint (Mentha longifolia) and fragrant (Mentha suaveolens). It is most often used in culinary dishes because of its extraordinary aroma and taste. The latter is characterized, albeit with mint shades, but with the presence of apple or currant leaves. Perennial shrub can reach a height of about 55-60 cm shoots. The foliage, densely covering the stems, is rounded, with a wrinkled edge. The leaves do not have petioles. Typically, the sinus contains one large leaf blade (20-30 cm in length) and two miniature (3-8 cm in length).
From small flowers, spikelet inflorescences are formed at the tops of the shoots. The flowering process takes from mid-July to late summer. In this case, the buds do not open at the same time. The territory of origin falls on the lands of Egypt and Asia Minor. The variety is widespread in southern and central European regions and can be found in the Transcaucasus.
The most successful varieties are:
Japanese mint (Mentha japonica)
occurs under the name Asian mint. Quite a rare species even in its natural areas of distribution, which include Japan and China. It is characterized by narrow-lanceolate leaf plates, not exceeding 2 cm in length. During flowering, a small number of buds are combined into whorled inflorescences. It is preferable to select a shady location for growing and provide watering.
Long-leaved mint (Mentha longifolia)
Parts of this perennial are characterized by soft pubescence. Stems vary in height in the range of 30–75 cm. Leaf plates are devoid of petioles (sessile), have a grayish tint due to tomentose pubescence. During flowering, spike-shaped inflorescences of cylindrical outlines are formed. Flowering occurs in the period July-August.
Garden mint (Mentha spicata)
or as it is also called Spearmint … It can be a meter in height. The stems are characterized by pronounced edges, which is why the variety can be called Crumpled ribbed … The surface of the leaf plates is wrinkled, the shape is ovoid-elongated, there is a serration at the edge. Also, the foliage is the owner of slight pubescence. Whorled inflorescences are formed from the flowers, which are arranged in tiers on the flowering stem, whereby they form a spikelet.
Water mint (Mentha aquatica)
This variety does not differ in its decorative appearance, the stems of a plant with four faces, foliage is ovoid. In the root zone, the leaf blade reaches 6 cm in length and 4 cm in width. There is a gradual decrease in the size of the leaves towards the top of the stem. Flowering is characterized by the formation of whorls from the buds, which do not form a spikelet.
This plant should be grown on site if there is a natural or artificial reservoir nearby and the soil is rather moist. There may also be proximity to groundwater.
Related article: Rules for growing lemon balm or bee mint in a garden
Video about growing mint in the garden:
