ARTICLES

MINT

Mentha

There are many different

kinds of mint, but their

leaves all have strong,

characteristic aromas.

They are delightful plants

to grow and use.

Mint--a favorite scent

According to reek mythology, the jealous Persephone transformed the lovely nymph, Mentha, into a modest little plant, Mentha, commonly known as Mint. Since antiquity, mint has been popular in medicines and flavorings.

Calming and strengthening

The Chinese used Mint as a calming and cramp-relieving medicine. The Greeks used it as an aphrodisiac. They also thought that Mint could relieve pain.

Peppermint oil is still used today for a variety of afflictions. Its primary constituent is menthol, which has antispasmodic, disinfectant and anaesthetic properties. It relieves cramps, nausea, and toothache pain. Menthol is also used for flavoring, for example, in cigarettes and toothpaste.

Many Mints

Today Mint is used primarily for its culinary properties. There are many species. They hybridize readily, resulting in a number of difficult-to-classify varieties.

Mentha spicata is the Spearmint so loved by the English for roast lamb with mint sauce. It is one of the most commonly grown Mints.

Mentha x piperita, Peppermint, is also frequently used. It is a cross between M. aquatica and M. spicata.

Mentha suaveolens, Apple Mint, has a sweet taste. A native of Southern and Western Europe, it grows to 3 feet.

Mentha requienii, Creme-de-Menthe, has perhaps the most delightful scent of all the Mints. It has tiny leaves and a creeping growth habit.

Cultivating Mint inside and out

Mints have a shallow, spreading root system, so they prefer to grow in a rather broad, shallow container. Mints can be grown in a flowerbox or pot just as easily as in the garden. However, one good reason to grow Mints in pots is that they can spread through the garden like wildfire, completely dominating less vigorous plants and shrubs.

If garden-planting is desired, choose a spot where they

cannot spread too far. Try them at the edge of a flowerbed

edged with stones. Mints like fertile, moist soil and grow

best in half-shade, although they can tolerate full sun in

cool regions.

Mints in indoor pots

Peppermint and Spearmint are two fine culinary varieties

which can be grown indoors in pots for shorter periods.

The leaves are more likely to be used in cooking if a pot of

Mint stands on the kitchen sill. While Mint doesn't live long indoors, especially in the fall and winter, it is easy to renew.

Use peppermint to make a refreshing tea or add a leaf or two to other drinks--delightful. Mint is also a traditional accompaniment to lamb dishes, either alone or in concert with other herbs.

Plant Doctor

⁬ Aphids occasionally appear, but there is rarely any real damage. Wash them away with the garden hose.

 Whiteflies can be troublesome in cool weather. Try to trap them with yellow sticky paper. If spraying becomes necessary, the leaves should not be used for cooking.

Buying Tips

Mint seeds or small pots of herbs are

are readily available for the kitchen

window.

Lifespan: A perennial which will

spread all over the garden, if not

confined.

Season: Dormant in the winter.

Difficulty quotient: It is not

difficult to grow Mint outdoors.

Indoors it is not very happy in dryer,

darker conditions and should be

regarded as a one-season plant.

In Brief

Size and growth rate

Mints are perennial herbs. Many varieties can grow to 2-3 feet or more in height. Others are closer to the ground,. The stems are squarish and the leaves grow in opposite pairs. Fast, aggressive growth.

Flowering and fragrance

The flowers vary in color from pale pink to violet and grow in small, compact whorls in the leaf axils toward the top of the plant. They have a faint scent of nectar. Intense mint aroma emanates from all parts of the plant.

Light and temperature

Mints thrive outside in sun or partial shade. They can be pot-grown indoors for short periods of time, but soon die in the winter months.

Watering and feeding

Mints like even moisture. Water garden plants in dry periods. Mints in flowerboxes and pots need regular watering and feeding throughout the growth season.

Soil and transplanting

Warm, fertile garden soil is best. Indoor Mint lasts for only one season and need not be repotted. Mint grown in outdoor containers should be repotted every other year, depending on the size of the pot.

Grooming

None. If harvesting Mint to dry for winter use, cut off the needed amount before the plant comes into flower.

Propagating

Easy either with seeds or root cuttings.

Environment

A plant for all herb gardens or flowerbeds.