Mint - Herb known for Aroma
Mint, also known as Mentha, is a herb known for its fragrance and its unique formation. The toothed and slightly rough leaves when kept in a bunch look fabulous! It’s pungent taste adds a different flavour to the food.
Growing mint as a part of your kitchen garden along with coriander has become a trend today. Let’s have an overview of how to grow mint as the kitchen herb.
There are varieties of mints such as spearmint, sweet ming, peppermint, flavoured mint and Pudina which is a highly popular mint variety in India and an essential herb in Ayurveda.
Mint has been used in mint oil, toothpastes, mouth washes and medicines being used to treat bronchial disorders.
Health benefits of Mint
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Mint is rich with nutrients like vitamin A, iron, manganese, fiber and a good antioxidants
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It is being said that , mint is used to treat IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
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Mint is a very good remedy to regulate digestion process
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Mint provides relief from anxiety, frustration and fatigue
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Mints have been used in breath mints which reduce bad breath. Mint tea is used to kill bad breath and mouth bacteria as well
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Pot/Container/Planter for mint
4 to 10 inches deep and 8 inches diameter, Terra cotta pot with a drainage hole at the bottom. It can also be planted in hanging pots.
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Temperature: 20°C to 40°C
Sunlight: Mint can tolerate full sun still it thrives well with the partial sunlight. During winter 4 to 6 hours partial sun.
Soil: Moist and well-drained soil with a great capacity of holding water for a long time. Rich humus (organic matter) soil can also be used for
potted mint plants. You can manage soil nutrition level by adding organic compost. (pH 6 to 7.5)
Germination Time: 2 weeks approx.
Planting/Sowing the mint
Mint plants can be planted using seeds, plant stems or you can directly buy it from a nursery.
Mint’s germination rate is quite low so I would suggest going with stem cutting or nursery plants.
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Growing plant with a cutting:
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Get some 3 to 6 inches healthy running stem and cut down some leaves from the lower part. Cut it below the node (Junction where leaf and stem connected)
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Dip it into the growth hormone that is honey which a natural growth hormone
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Place and push it inside the soil, at least 1 inch deep
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Add enough water to keep the soil moist and keep it in the sunlight but the pace has to be humid
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When there is growth prune out the yellow leaves if any
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Watering needs:
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Harvesting Mint:
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Pests and cure:
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Repotting:
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Mint plant care:
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Mulching regularly helps the plant to retain the moisture in the soil and keep the leaves fresh and alive.
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Make sure you water the plant to keep the soil moist but no overwatering
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Harvesting and pruning yellow leaves is a good practice to maintain plant healthy
Hope this is helpful, Please share your experiences, feedback, suggestions with us!
DO NOT water your plant frequently. Observe if the soil is dried. During summer this task is more crucial. As the plant grows the water needs become high during summer, but make sure to not to overwater it.
Harvesting mint helps it thrive more. The best time to harvest mint is before the bloom, that is before you see flowers on it (June to September). Grab almost all the leaves near to the soil leaving 4-5 leaves and don’t worry the plant will grow again happily. :)
You can extend the harvesting season by picking up the buds as soon as you see them.
Usually Mint plants don't need repotting if there is no new growth at the center then you can repot it in a pot/planter 1 size bigger.
Check the plant for leaf spots, rust, powdery mildew (leaves covered with powdery substance) and rodents. Neem oil can be helpful to keep these intruders away. It is said that Peppermint can prevent rodents from disturbing the plant.