Move Over - It’s Mighty Mint!
MINT - Mentha spp.
Mint is a Mediterranean plant that is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It’s a perennial ground cover that does best in soil that is somewhat alkaline and loves full sun (but will tolerate light shade). Spearmint and Peppermint are the most commonly found, but Chocolate Mint is super dreamy - think tea, ice cream, gum and candy. And don’t forget Mojitos (but not with Chocolate Mint - LOL).
Mint can be direct sown in the spring, or started through root cuttings. You can tell a Mint plant because of its bright blue star-shaped summer flowers. Be sure to plant where you can control it because it will spread rapidly and can get to be 1 to 2 feet tall!
Mint is grown best in raised beds and containers. Due to its spreading nature, 1 or 2 plants should be sufficient for most home gardeners. Be sure to control weeds and keep the soil moist, but not wet - about 1 inch of water per week should do it. You can use a layer of straw mulch to protect your Mint plants over the winter. Remove the mulch in the spring before the plants start to grow.
TIME TO EAT
Harvest Mint when flower buds first start to appear. Cut sprigs of Mint 6 to 8 inches long and use them fresh to flavor your favorite drink. You can also dry the leaves in a food dehydrator or hang the sprigs in a warm, dry place to air dry. Remember, dried herbs will keep in your freezer for a really long time!
Even if you decide to dry your Mint leaves, be sure to use a few fresh sprigs in your favorite drink recipes - fresh Mint in your lemonade is super refreshing! And for those of you who like Mojitos - well, fresh Mint is the bomb! Try this recipe for homemade Mint simple syrup: 1 cup water, 1 cup (8 oz) sugar and 1 1/2 cups fresh Mint leaves. Combine the water, sugar and Mint in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let stand 30-40 minutes. Strain and chill in a glass jar until ready to use.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
There are more than 35 different species of Mint that can be found commercially, the most common of which is Peppermint (M. piperita)and Spearmint (Mentha spicata). But there are many other varieties that you can find with a little perseverance like Pineapple Mint (M. suaveolens) which has green and white variegated leaves, and Apple Mint (M.suaveolens) which has a fruity aroma and taste. To keep your Mint from invading your garden, try planting it in a tera cotta pot and burying the pot in your container or raised bed. Keep the top of the pot slightly above soil level. This will help control your Mint plants while keeping them a beautiful part of your garden.
I hope this gets you thinking about planting an herb garden. Here on the blog each week we’ll take a look at a different herb, and before you know it you’ll be ready to take on your own garden! If you’d like some help with design and planning, click the button below to reach out.