Fragrant. Cool. Refreshing. Due to these characteristics, mint has found its place not only in the food and beverage industry but also in daily home use. They are mainly added to salads and drinks for that fresh kick of lingering cooling effect. In our homes, they are seen everywhere – from mouthwashes to breath fresheners and even insect repellants!
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Mint contains 40.7% menthol, which is responsible for the cold sensations on our tongues. It also has the same components as eucalyptus and citrus fruits, providing a fresh and fragrant smell. Although not consumed in large amounts, mint also benefits the human body. It provides vitamin A and several antioxidants and could help alleviate symptoms of colds, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Mint as Biocontrol for Insects
In the garden, mints repel and attract insects. Insects such as houseflies, moths, aphids, and mosquitoes do not like mint due to the menthol scent they exude, so they are repelled effectively, and your plants could stay healthy and insect-free. On the other hand, they attract beneficial bees, wasps, and flies, making them good companion plants in your garden.
However, you might want to exercise caution in planting them in the garden. Don’t freak out and just be cool and chill like a mint because in this blog I will tell you about Growing Mint and Why are They Meant for Containers!
Growing Mint in Your Garden
Growing mint is a fairly easy task. You just need to plant the seeds, then wait for its growth. They need minimal care, making them perfect to grow for starting gardeners. They thrive in light, moist, and well-drained soil. They grow in both sunlight and partial shade, but some varieties might require protection from direct sun.
Now, let us deal with the question, “Why are they meant for containers?”
Mint is an invasive and vigorous grower. They will send their runners and will spread all over your garden; one or two plants could cover an entire garden. Unless you want a garden full of mint, you need to control the growth of their roots. Use containers such as pots to do so.
Plant mints in 10-inch pots with drainage holes. Put in aged compost to improve soil texture and nutrition. After which, you can now bury the pot 18 to 24 inches apart, in soil or a larger container.
Mints develop into bushy, upright clumps, but as they grow more, they grow out horizontal runners and underground rhizomes that invade and conquer other plants. One mint plant grows one to two feet, and could even go as long as four feet in just a year. To control this, pick and prune your plants, and provide physical barriers such as walls and walkways.
4 Mint Varieties You Might Want to Try
Among the most popular mint varieties are peppermint, strawberry mint, orange mint, and pineapple mint. Do not be confused how all of these are named after fruits! Let us now discuss them one by one.
1. Peppermint
This variety has fleshy rhizomes and fibrous roots. Their dark green leaves with reddish veins grow about four to nine cm long and two to four cm wide. They grow purple flowers, produced in whorls around the stem.
Peppermint has a strong sweet scent and a warm pungent flavor with a cool aftertaste.
Peppermint
2. Strawberry Mint
Unlike many other varieties of mint, strawberry mint grows short and more compact. Its toothed and wrinkled leaves are also relatively smaller. They produce beautiful pink flowers from July to August. They have a strawberry-like scent and a flavor that is a mix of strawberry and peppermint.
Strawberry Mint
3. Orange Mint
Orange mints produce striking green, oval leaves on burgundy-colored stems. When they bloom in mid to late summer, they show a white and pink spiked flower. Their strong flavor has hints of citrus and spice with undertones of lavender. This flavor is more prevalent when the plant is cut or bruised.
Orange Mint
4. Pineapple Mint
Pineapple mint is easily distinguishable because they have leaves that are lighter green in color that grows opposite each other. They also have cream-colored edges and fuzzy textures due to the layers of fine hair they grow. Like orange mint, their white to pink flowers grow in clustered spikes but are more cylindrical. Similar to pineapple, this type of mint offers a mild and tropical aroma with a mix of subtle, sweet, fruity, and minty flavors.
Pineapple Mint
Harvesting Mint
Harvest mint plants frequently to keep them in the best conditions. You can harvest one plant two to three times per growing season.
When it has not bloomed yet, pinch the stems an inch from the ground to harvest the plant. If it is already flowering, cut the plant above the second set of leaves, removing the yellowing leaves in the process. The flavor of mint depends on when you will pick them. Younger leaves have more flavor than older ones.
Do you have questions about watering? Read: 5 EXPERT TIPS FOR WATERING MINT PLANTS
Perfect Cup of Mint Tea
To make the perfect cup of mint tea, follow these simple steps:
Ingredients:
- Fresh mint leaves (about 5-6 leaves per cup)
- Water
- Optional: sweetener like honey or sugar, lemon slices. (I'm a beekeeper so naturally I will choose honey… my honey)
Instructions:
- Boil water: Start by bringing water to a boil in a kettle or pot.
- Prepare mint leaves: While the water is boiling, rinse the fresh mint leaves under cold water to remove any dirt or impurities. Gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Crush the leaves: Take the mint leaves and gently crush them in your hand or with a mortar and pestle. Crushing the leaves releases their essential oils and enhances the flavor.
- Steep the mint leaves: Once the water has boiled, place the crushed mint leaves into a teapot or directly into your cup. Pour the boiling water over the mint leaves.
- Steep time: Let the mint leaves steep in the hot water for about 5-7 minutes. This allows the flavor of the mint to infuse into the water.
- Strain (optional): If you prefer your tea without the mint leaves, you can strain the tea as you pour it into your cup using a fine mesh strainer.
- Sweeten (optional): If desired, add a sweetener like honey or sugar to taste. Stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.
- Add lemon (optional): For a refreshing twist, you can add a slice of lemon to your mint tea. Lemon complements the mint flavor beautifully.
- Serve: Pour your freshly brewed mint tea into cups and serve hot.
Enjoy your perfect cup of mint tea! Adjust the strength of the tea by varying the amount of mint leaves and steeping time to suit your taste preferences.
FAQs
What plants are best planted with mint?
Mints repel insects and even larger animals that can destroy your plants. This plant is a great companion plant for growing oregano, marigolds, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, peas, and beans.
What insects are known to infest mint?
Although mint can repel insects, it is not invincible to insects and other pests. This includes whiteflies, blackflies, spider mites, snails, and slugs, which could be a problem, especially when the plants are very young. Spray with the appropriate insecticide to keep these insects at bay.
Conclusion
In caring for a plant and growing a garden, you must be cool as a mint. Plan ahead and know the important things to consider before planting anything. Had you not known mints are vigorous and invasive growers, your garden could have been full of mint plants. Cool, but yikes!
Mint is best grown in pots that are 10 inches deep. After securing the roots, they can now be placed in the garden or a larger container. Also, put up physical barriers to prevent the spread of these plants. Harvest them just before the plant flowers to get the best flavor. The flavor is dependent on the variety.
Mint is a great companion plant for different vegetables, such as cabbages and carrots, because they repel insects that may destroy these plants. However, they are not invincible to them. Use insecticides to protect your plants.
