Mint has long been recognized as a miraculousplant practically all over the world. Its peculiarity is not only that it grows everywhere, but also that it is simultaneously a spice, seasoning and medicine. Such universal application is connected precisely with the peculiarities of mint as a plant. Those who grow mint know that it is quite aromatic. The use of numerous essential oils that it contains can surprise you with its effect. Growing mint at home helps to purify the air, interrupts unpleasant odors - in a word, the house will only benefit from it. And those who have a constant runny nose are recommended to put a pot of mint at the head of the bed. But before telling you how to plant mint correctly and how to grow mint at home from seeds and cuttings, I would like to tell you about its beneficial properties.
Useful properties of mint
Mint has many beneficial properties.It has found application in cooking, medicine, perfumery. As a rule, not only the leaves of the plant are used, but also its stems, flowers and seeds. If we list everything that mint can help cure or “mask”, then the first thing that comes to mind is mint chewing gum. In fact, its range of action is much wider. Thus, mint can relieve nervous tension, excitement, it should be used for insomnia and if you want to normalize or restore healthy sleep. Mint will help to cope with unpleasant odor from the mouth. If you have problems with sweating, then a mint decoction can serve as a good means of combating excess sweat and the volume of its secretion. For those who have to sit for a long time at the computer, at the monitors of surveillance cameras, at the screens of complex devices, it will be logical to use eye lotions from a decoction of mint leaves. Mint leaves are frequent guests at the table of many housewives. Spicy leaves are added to salads, desserts. Surely everyone remembers mint gingerbread from childhood? Mint is also used as a flavoring in liqueurs, homemade tinctures, vodka. You should pay attention to the fact that mint has a rather sharp and specific smell. Do not forget that some people react to the smell of mint in a special way. They may have an allergic reaction, which is quite difficult to cure.
Features of mint growing
There are times when you don't want to usestore-bought mint and decide to grow it yourself. In this case, you will be interested to learn how to plant mint and grow a truly gorgeous mint bush. We are ready to help you learn how to grow mint at home and make it a treasure trove of useful properties. Growing the plant, caring for it in the garden or at home does not require much effort. The plant is unpretentious and undemanding. The plant loves loose, moist, humus-rich soil. It should be planted in spring or autumn. If you decide to grow mint from seeds at home - on a balcony or windowsill, then remember that "home" mint loves complete mineral fertilizer. Mint can be propagated by cuttings, dividing rhizomes and layering. If you still doubt whether the plant can take root at home, then we can assure you - all your doubts are in vain! Mint takes root very well at home, it can be grown throughout the year. In summer, mint feels good on the balcony, in winter on a well-lit windowsill. In the cold season, you will need additional fertilizers and nutrients.
Care for mint
If you don't know how to care for mint, thenIt is quite easy for you to remember everything that you once heard from your grandmothers about caring for plants. Mint does not require special care. Remember that the care of indoor mint will be different at different times of the year. In summer, mint grows well on a windowsill or on a balcony. In this case, it gets a lot of sunlight, little dust settles, etc. There should always be water in the tray of the pot, the soil should be kept moist, otherwise the mint will become easy prey for spider mites and aphids. The plant should be watered only with room temperature water, spraying the leaves from time to time. At the same time, it should be watered especially carefully in winter. Various processes quickly occur in the leaves and stems of this plant, which fill the plant with juice and useful essential oils. In winter, mint grows slowly and smells weaker than in summer. Do not forget that mint should not be exposed to drafts in winter. Next, we will tell you how to grow mint on a windowsill from seeds and cuttings, and you choose the most optimal and easiest way for yourself.
How to grow mint?
Now we get to the heart of the matter. There are two main ways to grow mint: by seeds and by cuttings.
- How to grow mint houses cuttings?
First, the cutting is rooted in sand, you canPlace the cutting in a jar of water and wait for the roots to grow. Dig up a small bush with a lump of earth. If the bush is large, it can be carefully divided into several parts so that each has several buds or shoots with roots. Pour drainage into the bottom of the pot, then soil - humus and garden soil (1/2). When planting mint, the soil is pre-moistened well, and the roots with shoots are covered with it. In about 2-3 weeks, you will have young leaves. Now the shoots can be fed. For feeding, use a urea solution (1-2 g per 1 liter of water). In winter, there is no need to "feed" the plant. Choose a well-lit place for your plant. It should have enough light to grow, especially in winter. Those housewives who already know firsthand how to grow mint on a windowsill or balcony can confirm that mint can die under direct sunlight, especially in summer. Its soil will start to dry out, and plants don't like that. So make sure there is always water in the tray. Water the mint with room temperature water, don't forget about spraying.
- How to grow mint house from seed?
The second simple solution is how to grow mint onwindowsill at home - this is growing from seeds. Of course, housewives like mint grown from cuttings more, because mint in seeds may not grow as actively. A plant planted from cuttings gives a fairly quick and good result, but at the same time contributes to the rapid accumulation of moisture in the plant due to the thick stem. Indoors, mint from seeds grows well on a windowsill. You can enjoy young fresh shoots and leaves of the plant all year round. Mint: growing from seeds at home is quite simple. It is enough to find the seeds from which you want to get a plant. There are cases when the plant dies. It is for this reason that it is recommended to use seeds of different types, which can cross-pollinate during the growth process. How to plant mint from seeds? Seeds are planted at a depth of 0.5 cm. Shoots begin to appear in 2-3 weeks. If you have poor lighting, then the mint must be illuminated, otherwise the mint will stretch out and eventually die completely. The optimum temperature for mint is 20-25 degrees. The soil should be loose and fertile.
- How to grow a plant in a garden?
And in conclusion I would like to tell you howgrow mint in the garden. In the garden, like all plants, mint is threatened by numerous pests. Among other things, if mint grows near beets, cabbage or cucumbers, then you can see dark spots on it. This indicates that there are pests and a disease on the plant. It is almost impossible to cure it, and treatment with pesticides will only make it unsuitable for harvesting, drying and subsequent consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to decide exactly where to plant mint in your garden. Its separate growth in a bright sunny place, the absence of flowers, vegetables and spices within a radius of sixty to eighty centimeters will help you get a quality plant. In summer, mint in the garden requires watering almost every day. If it is very hot, then twice a day, but not when the bright sun is shining, as it can "burn". Mint does not tolerate waterlogged soil. It grows well in low-lying areas that are flooded in the spring, on peat bogs. Mint rhizomes are placed at a depth of about 5 cm. If you want to have a healthy plant, you need to change the planting location of the mint every two years. The bed for mint must be prepared on a level, well-dug area. Remove all weeds and, if necessary, add organic fertilizers to the soil. Mint is planted in open ground, on a bed 1 meter wide in three rows. The distance between the rows is about 40 cm, and between plants in a row about 30-40 cm. Over the summer, the bed needs to be loosened 2-3 times. Remove weeds regularly.
How to collect and store mint?
For drying, mint is collected at the beginning of flowering,when its leaves are still very young and have the highest content of essential oils. Choose a more convenient way to collect mint: you can cut off whole stems, or you can pick off individual leaves. Spread them in a thin layer on a sheet of paper or fabric. The leaves should dry well. Then the leaves are torn off the stem, coarsely ground, some people like to leave the leaves intact. Mint should be stored in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry and dark place. In this form, the mint will retain its aroma throughout the winter. And to consume mint fresh, the leaves and shoots are picked as needed. We recommend reading:
