Where to get mint. How to grow mint on a windowsill in an apartment. What type of mint is best for growing at home on a windowsill?

Mint is a unique perennial plant whose valuable properties are appreciated by many gardeners. It is used in cooking, for brewing delicious aromatic tea and treating some colds. That is why many try to grow it not only in the country, but also at home. This can be done by cuttings and using seeds.

Mint is widespread in different regions of our country.

Mint is an aromatic, delicate and refreshing plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is not demanding on the climate and region of growth, therefore it is grown by many gardeners in the country. But its widespread use in cooking leads to the need for many housewives to grow it at home.

Mint is widespread in different regions of our country, and it has more than 300 different species, but only 20-25 varieties are most widespread. Among them it is worth highlighting:

• longleaf;
• spikelet;
• field;
• apple;
• water;
• green;
• curly.

Unlike other garden crops, this plant has a refreshing menthol aroma, which is slightly weaker in pepper than in other varieties. Depending on the variety, it may have green or reddish-purple leaves and stems. In this case, cultivation can be carried out in different ways.

It can be planted either using cuttings or seeds. At the same time, for growing at home, novice gardeners mainly choose the first option, since it is easy to implement. The second method is more complicated, since using seeds to produce seedlings is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.

Depending on the variety, it may have green or reddish-purple leaves and stems.

But if all requirements and recommendations are met, any housewife, even a very busy one, can grow viable seedlings at home. Mint is a fairly undemanding plant, so it does not require regular watering, fertilizing or replanting.

Hybrid varieties, when propagated and grown from seeds, can produce a plant that is different from the mother

Growing mint using seeds is a long, labor-intensive and complex process, since it requires increased attention, without which the seedlings may die. Also, the seeds do not guarantee complete germination, so even when using a whole bag of them, only a few seedlings can germinate.

Another factor that is important to consider when using this method is the fact that hybrid varieties, when propagated and grown from seed, may produce a plant that is different from the parent. Such hybrid varieties include pepper, Dutch and others.

This method is preferable to use if planting is carried out in winter, and the seeds cannot be collected from the mother plant. In this case, a bag of planting material of a certain variety (curly, pepper, lemon, longleaf and others) can be bought at a regular gardening store.

It is advisable to take several at once, since it is difficult to obtain good germination when using them. Despite the fact that planting mint seeds is quite difficult, if you follow all the recommendations, rules and requirements of gardeners, you can get a good result.

So, . To do this, it is important to follow the steps:

1. Since the size of the seeds is very small, the process of sowing them must be treated extremely carefully. If a seed gets deep into the ground, it will not be able to break through to the surface. That is why it is important to maintain the optimal planting depth, which is no more than 5 mm. The best time for this is considered to be early spring.
2. For sowing at home, it is better to choose small, clean enamel dishes. The best option is a regular plastic tray, since it is quite easy to use, is clearly visible even without the need to open the lid, and after transplanting the seedlings you can simply throw it away.
3. Mint of all varieties prefers fertile soil, which must be prepared in advance. To do this, the soil should be combined with humus, compost and wood ash. It is also possible to use a regular store-bought one, which is suitable for vegetables or herbs. Moreover, if the soil contains a large amount of lime, the aroma of mint will not be so strong. Housewives with severe allergies can use this opportunity.
4. It is better to plant the seeds in a plastic container with a lid, as this will create airtight conditions and maintain an optimal temperature. When using plastic or iron enameled containers, you will need to open the lid every day and check the condition of the seedlings, the moisture or dryness of the soil, and the transparent walls and lid of the container make it possible to do this without harming the seedlings.
5. Favorable conditions for germination are a temperature of 21-24 degrees and optimal humidity conditions. Therefore, in winter, next to the seedlings, you can place a bowl of water, which will evaporate and humidify the surrounding air.
6. If necessary, ventilation can be provided in plastic containers. To do this, you need to make small holes on the walls and lid.

Mint of all varieties prefers fertile soil, which must be prepared in advance.

Mint from seeds, like mint, hatches after some time - on average 1-2 weeks. When sowing a significant amount of seeds, you can place plastic containers on top of each other, which will help to significantly reduce the space they take up on the windowsill.

Growing mint will be more successful if containers with shoots are placed on the windowsill. The plant is quite light-loving, so it must receive ultraviolet rays for at least 4 hours a day. To do this, it is best to place containers on windows that face northeast or west.

Mint from seeds, like parsley in winter, hatches after some time - on average 1-2 weeks

If there is a lack of sunlight when planting at home, the plant may simply die, but allowing direct sunlight to fall on the seedlings during the day is not recommended. This can lead to burns on the leaves and make care more difficult.

But if there is a lack of light during the day or in winter conditions, artificial light from table or special lamps can be used to create additional lighting.

To do this, they need to be placed at a certain height, which will prevent the occurrence of burns, which is 50 cm.

Video about growing fragrant mint in an apartment

After the seedlings have matured and become stronger, they can be planted in separate containers. To do this, you need to select deep plastic containers and bowls and place them on a lighted windowsill. It is important to provide good drainage in the pots, which can be crushed stone or broken brick.

Fertile soil with an acid-base composition of 6-7 is suitable for replanting; fertilizing is carried out with specialized fertilizers and preparations.

Care after landing

Mint, like lemon balm, is an undemanding plant, which is why its cultivation is so common at home. But to ensure good survival of seedlings and abundant growth, they require special care, which should include the following basic measures:

1. Removing weeds during periodic weeding and loosening the soil in a pot or container for planting seedlings.
2. Moderate watering, the frequency of which depends on the temperature and humidity. For example, when grown in winter, the plant requires moderate watering, and in hot summer – abundant watering.
3. Application of mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, which help maintain viability.
4. Plant transplantation, which must be carried out once every two or three years. This procedure allows you to rejuvenate the plant and ensure its good growth and development.

Propagating mint from cuttings

Planting mint requires careful compliance with all these care requirements at first, until the mint gets stronger and becomes stronger. Subsequently, she ceases to require such attentive care.

Growing mint at home with seeds, like growing mint, is not a difficult task. But to obtain viable seedlings, it is important to comply with all the basic requirements for planting and care.

Mint and its closest related species, known as essential oil, spicy-flavoring and medicinal crops, have long found their place in garden beds and gardens. But if during the summer the plants are regularly supplied with fresh herbs, then with the arrival of autumn frosts the gardener has to be content with pre-frozen or dried mint. And although these methods allow the plant to preserve most of the nutrients, such raw materials cannot compare with green, succulent leaves.

In order not to depend on the season and not to give up mint containing menthol, vitamins, valuable acids and microelements, when it is frosty outside and a snowstorm is raging, you can plant mint on the windowsill.

How to grow mint at home?

A perennial with a branched superficial rhizome and many shoots extending from it, it is easy to grow at home. The main thing is to provide the plants with comfortable conditions, including adequate nutrition, lighting and watering.

Mint feels best in loose soils with an average organic content and low acidity, within the range of 5–7 pH.

Before planting mint plants, prepare a soil mixture of two parts garden soil, one part humus, the same volume and washed sand. To prevent the mint roots from getting wet and there is no danger of rotting, drainage must be provided in the container for growing mint at home.

Since mint is quite unpretentious, the plant can be propagated:

• sowing seeds;
• root layering;
• cuttings;
• dividing an adult bush.

How to grow mint on a windowsill from seeds?

Propagation by seeds is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming method, but it cannot be avoided if you want to get a plant of a certain variety or type.

To ensure that the seedlings are strong and friendly, it is better to give preference to purchased seeds. Not all hybrid species inherit parental characteristics when seed material is collected from them. For example, only a third of curly mint seedlings have curly foliage, and the remaining seedlings are a simple garden variety. So, how to plant mint seeds?

It is better to sow mint in March or April, in moist soil to a depth of 0.5 cm. Sprinkle the seeds on top with a small amount of humus or nutrient soil and cover with glass or film. At room temperature, seedlings appear 14–18 days after sowing. Until this moment, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture and prevent it from drying out or becoming waterlogged. If necessary, carefully spray the soil surface, trying not to disturb the small seeds, and open the glass for a while for ventilation.

When the mint seedlings on the windowsill produce two true leaves, they are picked, planted in separate small containers or according to a 5x5 pattern in a single wide container.

How to plant mint by root layering and dividing the bush?

Gardeners and gardeners know how mint that has taken root in a plot quickly takes up more and more new spaces. Long rhizomes with dormant buds located on them are to blame for the plant’s predatory activity. The expanding root system of one plant gives life to new shoots and bushes. How to plant mint using root cuttings?

If you take advantage of this feature of mint, and in August or September stock up on root cuttings, about 10–12 cm long and two or three buds, then there will be no difficulties in the question of how to grow mint at home. Root cuttings are planted in moistened soil to a depth of 5–7 cm. If such cuttings already have developed shoots, the roots are carefully preserved, and the above-ground part, after being sprinkled with soil, is cut off at a height of 4–5 cm. The same is done with planting material obtained after dividing the whole bush.

After two weeks, with proper care, indoor mint, as in the photo, forms dense green sprouts and the first fragrant leaves above the soil.

The same propagation methods are suitable for planting on the windowsill such herbs as oregano and thyme, which, together with mint, belong to the same family and have common habits and characteristics.

All these crops are grown perennial plants at home and require easy but constant care.

Growing mint at home using cuttings

Cuttings cut from the apical parts of the shoots of an adult bush are also suitable as planting material for growing mint on a windowsill. How to grow mint on the windowsill in this case? Branches 6–8 cm long are dipped in root solution and, after removing the two lower leaves, placed in water. Roots sufficient for planting in the ground are formed after 7–15 days.

Two weeks after planting the rooted cuttings and the appearance of sprouts on the planted root shoots, the plants are fed at the rate of 1 gram per liter of water.

Caring for mint grown on a windowsill

When wondering how to grow mint at home and get strong bushes with juicy bright foliage on the windowsill, it is important to remember that this is only possible with the correct temperature, watering and sufficient lighting.

The temperature comfortable for growth is 20–25 °C. With this regime, long daylight hours and moist soil, plants form foliage well.

Mint reacts sensitively to changes in light, in room conditions, without additional 6-hour illumination in autumn and winter, its shoots begin to stretch, the leaves become smaller, lose their rich color and aroma. If it is impossible to organize the necessary artificial lighting for mint pots on the windowsill, you can lower the temperature to 15–17 °C and limit watering. This measure will somewhat slow down the growth processes and will not allow the quality of the greenery to decrease.

Despite all the love of mint for light, the plant cannot tolerate being in the sun under direct rays of the sun. Mint placed on a balcony, terrace, loggia or windowsill must be shaded, protecting the plantings from burns and drying out.

In rooms with a dry atmosphere, especially when heating devices are running, you can place a container of water next to the mint so that the air humidity does not fall below 80%, which can adversely affect the condition of the bush. For the same purpose, mint is irrigated with water at room temperature on summer days and in winter, in a warm room.

Like excessive dry air, mint on the windowsill also does not tolerate drying out of the soil. The soil is watered at the first signs of dryness in the top layer, but do not allow stagnation of moisture, which is detrimental to the roots. As the air temperature decreases, the need for watering decreases slightly.

To make it easier to care for indoor mint, as in the photo, you can add a little hydrogel to the soil for planting it. A few granules in the soil layer above the drainage will allow the soil to better retain moisture and fertilizers.

It is necessary to feed mint grown for greens using nitrogen, potassium and

Timing for harvesting mint at home

The first harvest of aromatic greens obtained from home-grown mint is harvested 15–20 days after the first leaves appear above the ground. By this time, the mint bushes reach a height of 20–30 cm, while pruning the tops of the shoots leads to the awakening of the buds in the axils and the growth of the plant.

If mint is grown to obtain raw materials with the maximum content of beneficial essential oils, then the time of mint harvesting occurs at the moment of formation of peduncles or the beginning of flowering. In this case, during the warm season, when growth is most active, you can get up to three full harvests.

In the cold winter, drink tea with mint leaves... Who doesn't love it? And with fresh ones too! And where can I get them in January? It’s expensive to buy in the store, and this kind of weed doesn’t smell much. So, we will breed ourselves.

How to grow mint on a windowsill? It's not difficult at all. We follow the recommendations and wait for the result.

Mint can be grown on a windowsill in three ways:

• mature plant
• cuttings
• sowing seeds

Let's look at each method. The first two produce rough leaves with a strong taste, and the third produces young, aromatic greens.

Growing mint as an adult bush

To do this, in the fall we choose a nice, neat bush in the garden. Together with a small lump of earth, we transfer it to the pot. The container should be large enough, because the mint root system is of a decent size.

Add a little humus so that the bush does not wobble in the pot. At the same time, this will provide food for the plant for the first time. Now you need to periodically water the mint and be sure to arrange additional lighting. For normal development, you need at least 12 hours of daylight. Otherwise, the leaves will be pale, stunted and practically odorless.

By the way, mint should be watered only after the top layer of soil has dried. She does not like to swim with her roots in the swamp, so after watering, be sure to drain the excess liquid from the pan.

The temperature of keeping mint on the windowsill should not exceed +25°C. Otherwise, the plant will simply begin to dry out and turn yellow. And all your attempts to pour water on it will end in rotting roots.

Advice. Pick off young leaves often. This stimulates the growth of new shoots.

Growing mint from cuttings

If you don’t have a plant in your garden that can be transplanted into a pot as a whole, then go to the market or store. Choose the freshest and straightest mint sprigs there. The next steps are:

1. We bring the mint home and tear off the bottom leaves. They can be used for their intended purpose.
2. Take a plastic or glass cup and pour in clean, settled water.
3. Throw in a grain of any root formation stimulator or drip a little of any biological adaptogen. For example, epin, zircon, aloe juice.
4. Place the prepared mint sprigs without the lower leaves in a container and wait for the roots to appear.
5. We maintain lighting and temperature as described in the first method.

Twigs can be planted in a pot with soil after at least 5 roots have formed. Care in the future does not differ from usual. The same regular watering, periodic loosening and tearing off fresh leaves.

By the way, you don’t have to buy soil for planting mint on the windowsill at the store. It's very easy to mix it yourself. To do this, you need to take equal parts of good fatty humus, sand and soil from under the birch tree. For looseness, you can add a little peat. About a handful per 3 liters of soil.

A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot under the mint. Just not moss or eggshells. It will be compressed and there will be no effect. It is better to take fine gravel and marble chips. Expanded clay of a small fraction or medium-sized pebbles are also suitable.

Instead of water, you can root the branches in wet sand. In this case, a cut of the cutting should be dipped in a root formation stimulator, stuck into the sand and covered with a mini-greenhouse for a while. After about 10 days, the shelter is removed, and after another 7 days the new plant can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Advice. Don't let the mint bloom. Otherwise, it will lose all its taste and aromatic properties.

The first two methods provide the required amount of fragrant leaves. But they turn out to be rough. If you want the most delicate, fiber-free greens, try growing mint from seeds on your windowsill. Moreover, this matter is not at all troublesome.

First, let's prepare the container. This can be a wide plastic tray or a small wooden box. A small clay pot is also suitable.

Fill with soil. It should consist of humus, garden soil, peat and clean sand in equal parts. Now you need to make shallow grooves on the surface. 0.5 cm, no more. Carefully arrange the seeds. Carefully sprinkle a thin layer of earth on top. 0.8 cm will be enough.

Now we need to moisten this whole thing. You can’t water it; there’s a high chance of washing away the plantings. That's why we use a spray bottle. Our water is at room temperature. Spray the soil until lightly moistened. It's hard to overdo it in a clear container.

Next, we close the entire structure with a lid. You can just use a piece of transparent plastic or glass. Even thick polyethylene will do. Then we place the plantings in a dark, warm place. Periodically ventilate and remove condensation. To do this, just turn the shelter over to the other side.

After about 9-12 days, the first shoots will appear. Now the cover can be removed completely and the container taken to a bright place. Just not in direct sunlight. They can burn the foliage of even an adult mint plant. What can we say about young plantings?

The first days we do nothing with the seedlings. We only moisten when the soil dries out. When the second true leaf appears, the mint can be picked into separate cups. To avoid damaging the thin, tender roots with your fingers, use a teaspoon. It is very convenient for her to transfer the sprout to another container along with a lump of earth.

After the 5th true leaf appears, you need to pinch the top of the mint. This promotes the appearance of side shoots. If you don't pinch, you'll end up with a single branch sticking out in the pot. But mint grows up to 90 cm in height. Why do you need willow on the windowsill?

And each new shoot after the 5th leaf is pinched again. Then the bush will be dense, lush and neat.

1. Mint on the windowsill needs to be fed. She responds well to organic fertilizers, but will not refuse mineral ones either. Just don't overdo it with nitrogen. It is also better not to use urea. No doubt, the green mass grows quickly after such a treat. But you are unlikely to like the taste of such leaves.
2. Of the pests mint is most loved by, aphids. Plants grown from seeds on a windowsill are completely protected from it. But those brought from the garden by adults may well come with a surprise. Washing the leaves and shoots with laundry soap will not help much. It is better to use a short-acting insecticide. This is necessary so that the mint can then be used for food purposes.
3. Do not grow mint on southern windowsills. Direct sunlight can burn foliage in one day. If there are no other options, then be sure to use shading in the form of white paper or thick tulle.
4. In winter, it is recommended to spray the air around the plantings more often. This will increase the humidity of the microclimate and it will be much easier for mint to live. Instead of spraying, you can place additional containers of water nearby. Even a saucer with wet expanded clay or peat saturates the air with the necessary amount of moisture.

How to grow mint on a windowsill? As you can see, it's very simple. Mint does not require special care. She just needs a little attention and a little care. But she will thank you in full. And you can enjoy fresh leaves with a charming aroma all winter long.

Video: how to grow mint at home in a few days

Mint has long been recognized as a miraculous plant throughout the world. The unusually pleasant, refreshing aroma and piquant taste have made mint popular in many regions of Europe, America and Asia. Its peculiarity is its versatility of use in cooking, cosmetology, medicine, alcoholic beverages, tobacco industry and other areas. The beneficial properties of essential oils, bioactive compounds and other nutrients contained in mint are unique and surprising.

This perennial herb has spread to most temperate countries of the world. A fairly unpretentious plant, mint is easily propagated and grown at home. This does not require any special skills; any amateur gardener can master the process. But the result obtained in a garden bed or in a flower pot will bring a lot of pleasure. Tea with mint, tonic drinks, meat and fish dishes, cosmetic lotions and rinses, medicinal lotions and decoctions, homemade mint soap - this is a small list of uses for fragrant green mint leaves at home.

How to grow and harvest mint? What care should be provided for her optimal growth and development? Where can mint be used? All these and many other questions will be answered in the article below.

Mint, plant description

Mint is a representative of the genus of perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family. The distribution area is quite wide throughout the world. Known since ancient times, the herb is named after the goddess of Mount Mente, whom Persephone, out of jealousy for her husband, turned into a fragrant plant - mint.

This is a perennial plant, quite winter-hardy, moisture- and light-loving with a powerful root system. The height of the bushes varies from 30 cm to 1 meter, depending on the type of mint and growing conditions.

The plant has a tetrahedral, hollow, branched and densely leafed stem.

The leaves are oblong, ovoid, sharply serrate along the edges, and are capable of accumulating essential oil in special glands.

The rhizome of the plant is highly branched, with nodes from which additional shoots and roots are formed. The rhizome buds have a short dormant period and begin to germinate already at zero temperatures. This feature is one of the reasons for the death of roots in winters with prolonged thaws followed by persistent frosts.

The flowers are small, light lilac in color, collected in inflorescence spikes. Mint blooms from late June to September. The fruit consists of four nuts, but is formed extremely rarely.

Mint contains essential oil containing menthol, phellandrene, pinene, pulegone and other valuable organic compounds. Mint leaves are rich in ascorbic acid (up to 25 mg/100g), carotene (12 mg/100g) and rutin (13.8 mg/100g), contain trace elements, tannins, flavonoids and other biologically active substances.

The mint genus has about 25 species and more than 10 natural hybrids. All types have a strong pleasant aroma, and most contain an organic substance - menthol with a characteristic refreshing and cooling effect. Different types of mint differ in aroma and taste, which is due to the difference in their chemical composition.

Types of mint

The most popular and widespread types of mint:

• Peppermint

It is considered the most famous and recognized type of mint. This cultivated plant was obtained by hybridizing two wild mint species: water mint and garden mint. The perennial, from the Latin name Mentha piperita, contains large amounts of essential oils and menthol. Thanks to its specific, slightly hot and cooling taste, mint received the name “pepper mint”. It is also called “English” because it was developed in England in the 16th century.

Peppermint leaves are bright green in color, the roots lie in the soil at a depth of about 15 cm. The plant blooms almost all summer with small purple flowers. Propagated vegetatively: by sections of rhizome or cuttings with several internodes.

The plant is widely used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, perfume and food industries. It is considered a valuable honey plant and phytoncide.

Peppermint comes in interesting varieties: lemon mint - with a lemon aroma, Thuringian mint - with a strong menthol smell.

• Field mint

Mentha arvensis - field mint - is a wild species widely distributed in forests and wooded areas throughout Europe. The variety has been known since the times of Kievan Rus, where it was used as a spice and medicine. In common parlance it was often called: “dog mint”, “deaf mint”, “horse mint”. A moisture-loving plant, prefers growing places near reservoirs, rivers or lakes. The perennial reaches an average height of 50 cm, although there are specimens that have grown in favorable conditions up to 1 meter. The stem is straight, branched, pubescent. Fresh leaves contain ascorbic acid, carotene, flavonoids, tannins, and organic acids. The variety is quite frost-resistant and can be cultivated in the garden.

Field mint has found its use in the food industry as a seasoning for preparing a variety of dishes. Fresh and dried mint leaves are brewed as tea or other tonic drinks.

Due to its medicinal properties, mint is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Essential oil is used in perfumery to prepare an extract for the production of toothpastes, powders, essences, elixirs, and eau de toilette.

One of the varieties of field mint, Japanese mint, is widely cultivated in Japan, India, China, and Latin American countries. It is valued due to the high content (up to 90%) of menthol in essential oil.

• Watermint

A moisture-loving plant, which in nature is mainly found near bodies of water and therefore received the appropriate name. Mentha aquatica, water mint, has stems creeping at the base, then turning into erect and branched shoots. The variety is considered a valuable cultivated plant.

Possessing a rich, pleasant aroma, it is widely used in the perfume industry.

Like any type of mint, it is used as a flavoring in the preparation of a variety of dishes and drinks.

One of the varieties is bergamot mint, which has a pleasant lemon or orange scent. In addition, valuable bergamot oil is obtained from it.

This type of mint is widely used by breeders to develop new varieties.

• Longleaf mint

Name of mint, Mentha longifolia , characterized by the presence of long (up to 20 cm) oblong-ovate leaves in the plant. A tall perennial with an erect and branched stem, completely covered with soft grayish hairs.

The species is winter-hardy, unpretentious and drought-resistant. Prefers open sunny areas and can reproduce by seeds.

Mint is collected in the period preceding mass flowering, cutting off the stem at a height of 10 cm from the soil level. After harvesting, this type of mint grows back beautifully and produces a second harvest.

Longleaf mint is widespread in the wild throughout Europe and Asia.

Possessing a pleasant, delicate aroma, mint has found its use in the food, alcoholic beverage and perfume industries. It is also used in the making of soap and toothpastes.

In folk medicine, mint is used as a sedative, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, diaphoretic and expectorant, as well as to improve the digestion process. For diathesis and rickets, children are prescribed baths with mint decoction.

Being a good honey plant, it provides honey collection up to 300 kg/ha.

• Curly mint

A perennial herb with oval leaves ending in a wavy, curly edge, Mentha crispa, also called curly mint, garden mint, or German mint. This is a collective cultivated species of hybrid origin. It differs from other species by its pungent odor. The content of a large amount of essential oil provides spearmint with a leading position in the food, alcoholic beverage, perfume and tobacco (tobacco flavoring) industries.

• Flea mint

It got its unusual name (Mentha pulegium) from its use as a flea repellent. The species is widespread throughout Europe, Asia and America, and has been known since ancient times. A low-growing, creeping plant with branched and recumbent stems does not tolerate frost and needs additional shelter for the winter. Mint is propagated by seeds sown annually.

Flea mint essential oil contains 75 to 90% pulegone, an organic compound that is a common component of essential oil, as well as menthol, limonene, and dipentene. This type of mint with a rich aroma and taste is popular in cooking and in the preparation of many dishes, especially meat.

• Apple mint

It has a delicate, pleasant and unobtrusive mint taste with an apple or pineapple tint. Mentha rotundifolia is a perennial hybrid, reaching a height of about 50 cm. The species is quite resistant to cold, although it is inferior in this regard to peppermint. Thanks to its taste and delicate aroma, mint is very popular among chefs all over the world. It is not bitter and does not give a cooling effect, which makes it completely different from other types of mint.

• Spearmint

A hybrid species, Mentha spicata, is very similar to spearmint. It reaches an average height of 60-100 cm, covered with curly, wavy leaves with a purple tint. Pink flowers are collected in false whorls, forming spikelets at the tops of the shoots. Unlike peppermint, it reproduces well by seeds.

One of the oldest spicy plants, the species is popular in Europe to this day. In Rus', this mint has long been added to kvass, and in America its leaves are indispensable in the preparation of chewing gum. Due to their beautiful aesthetic appearance, mint sprigs are often used to decorate dishes.

• Sweet mint

Perennial plant (Mentha suaveolens,) capable of active and rapid growth. A distinctive feature of the species is the presence of small and wrinkled leaves with a white edging along the edge of the leaf blade. The aroma of fragrant mint resembles the unusual and exotic smell of pineapple, which is why it is often called “Pineapple mint”. Moreover, the younger the plant, the stronger the pineapple aroma, and the older it is, the typical mint smell becomes more pronounced. The plant is short (up to 30 cm), can reproduce by seeds, and is winter-hardy.

There are also quite a large number of types of mint with different shades of pleasant, subtle aromas and unusual tastes: chocolate, ginger, banana, apple, orange, pineapple, currant and mixed compounds. For their successful cultivation, it is important to know the features of reproduction and care.

Mint propagation

Mint propagates in two ways: seeds and vegetatively.

Seed method of propagating mint

How to grow mint from seeds? The seed method of growing mint is quite popular and simple among experienced gardeners, however, it is not applicable to all types of mint.

• They buy seeds in a specialized store, often choosing varieties such as Peppermint or Lemonmint. These species have a pronounced taste and aroma, and do not require any special care.
• You can sow seeds both in open ground and in pots. Mint seeds are quite small, which causes some inconvenience when sowing them. It is recommended to press them lightly into the soil, sprinkling them lightly with compost or soil.
• Seeds are sown to a depth of about 0.5 cm in the soil. It is important to provide good lighting and the optimal temperature for germination of mint seeds - 20-25 °C. To do this, additionally, you can cover the container with the seeds with cling film and periodically expose it to the sun. Also, several times a day, you need to open the film slightly for ventilation to prevent the seeds from rotting.
• It is better to water the planted seeds with a sprayer so as not to disturb the location of the seeds and prevent stagnation of moisture.
• If all conditions are met, the first shoots begin to appear after 2-3 weeks.
• When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into large pots (with a diameter of at least 8 cm) and placed in cooler conditions to gradually acclimatize the plant to external conditions. After 7 - 10 days, you can start planting mint outdoors.

A plant grown from seeds grows and develops more slowly than with vegetative propagation. On the other hand, the stems and leaves of mint grown by seed remain tender, thin and not roughened for a long time (while the mint grows).

When propagating from seeds, there are also risks of cross-pollination, when the adult plant will differ from the originally selected mint variety, especially if it is a hybrid.

Vegetative method of propagating mint

• They practice the propagation of mint using root cuttings, on which there is at least 1 bud and at least 3-5 emerging leaves. This method ensures complete transmission of the hereditary properties of the variety. The separated root cuttings are simply dropped into the hole (rows) in a new place, providing moderate watering, sufficient light and an air temperature of about +5-10°C and above.
• To propagate mint, use stem cuttings plants. In the spring, cut a branch of about 7-10 cm with an internode and place it in water or in a damp cotton-gauze pad in a warm, bright place. It is also practiced to drop cuttings into moistened sand. When white roots appear, continue to keep the cuttings in water for several more days until the roots increase in size to 8-10 mm. Then they are planted in the prepared place.
• Propagation of mint is possible with the help of a simple dividing the bush, when a dug up plant is divided into several full-fledged individual parts, after which they are planted in the soil. It is important to track the presence of full buds or several shoots with roots in each part. When planting a daughter bush, it is better to cut off its above-ground part about five centimeters from the ground so that it takes root better.
  Within two weeks, tender green young leaves will appear on the planted plants. This means that the plant has taken root and can be additionally fed (1 - 2 grams of urea per 1 liter of water).

The vegetative propagation method promotes rapid and active growth of the plant, although the stems will no longer be as tender as young shoots from seeds.

Planting mint: agricultural technology and necessary conditions

Preparing the landing site

• Before planting mint, you need to decide on the planting location: be it a flower pot or open ground.
• Mint is a plant that is demanding good lighting, moderate humidity and good soil composition. It is also better to avoid drafts and choose a place protected from winds.
• The plant prefers fertile and loose priming. The most optimal are fertile black soil in the floodplain of a reservoir. But heavy clay soil, with constant stagnation of moisture, will not be suitable for growing mint. Calcareous soils also negatively affect the intensity of the mint aroma.
• You can plant mint in open areas in spring, summer and autumn. In areas with cold winters, mint is planted in the spring (April-May) so that its buds, which germinate already at 2-3 °C, are not damaged by frost. In the southern zone, on the contrary, autumn planting is recommended.
• When choosing a place for planting, it is important to take into account the degree of growth of mint, which may well displace other cultivated plants.
• So, having chosen an open sunny area for planting mint, you need to clear it of weeds, loosen it and, if necessary, add organic (3 kg of humus per 1 m²) and mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, 15 g per 1 m² ). To prevent or destroy pests, the ground is first watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• The best predecessors of mint will be vegetables, legumes, and perennial herbs, fertilized in due time with organic matter (manure, compost).

Technology for planting mint in pots

• A ready-germinated seedling is planted in a pot or grown directly from seeds. It is easier to plant mint seedlings prepared in advance. Planting is carried out in spring or autumn.
• A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the flower pot to prevent the roots from excess moisture. As with any other flowering plant, there are holes at the bottom of the pot through which excess moisture will drain into the tray.
• It should be noted that clay pots help the soil dry out faster. And in winter, in a heated room, dry air will further dry out the soil in the pot. Therefore, most often, plastic pots or containers are used for planting mint. The diameter of the pot must be at least 30 cm, taking into account the subsequent growth of the plant.
• When growing mint at home, you need to monitor the temperature in the room. A bright, warm place will have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of perennials. If it is too cold near the window, you need to find a more suitable and comfortable place for mint.
• In dry air conditions, mint will “rejoice” at a damp “shower” from a spray bottle. But with a lack of light, the content of essential oils in mint leaves decreases, the aroma weakens and the stems, stretching out, may even die.
• The soil for the pot must be fertile; it is possible to combine soil with fertile compost. Peat-based mixtures are also perfect. Having filled a third of the pot with the prepared mixture, place the seedling in the pot and add the remaining soil mixture. To support the planted shoot, you can use special flower supports.
• With the seed method, after dense sprouts appear, some of them can be moved to another container. However, when removing plants you should be extremely careful, since the root system of young mint is still very delicate.

When growing mint using the pot method, they often use seeds. Thus, young and fresh shoots of fragrant mint will appear on the windowsill and will delight you all year round.

Mint takes root very well and can be grown at home throughout the year. In summer, it is better to place the pots on the balcony, avoiding direct burning sunlight. In winter, pots look spectacular on a well-lit windowsill.

For culinary purposes, spearmint is often chosen due to the lack of a cold menthol taste, as in peppermint.

Apple mint, having a delicate taste and aroma, does not give a bitter taste when heated, so it is added to compotes, jam and jelly.

Field mint is an excellent aroma addition to tonic drinks.

Technology for planting mint in open ground

• The technology for planting mint in a personal plot is in many ways no different from growing it on a windowsill. Having prepared the soil appropriately, as indicated above, you can proceed directly to planting.
• Mint is planted in furrows up to 10 cm deep, maintaining a distance between rows of at least 40 cm, and between plants in a row of about 30-40 cm. After sprinkling the shoots with soil, the beds need to be watered.
• To make the plant bush better, at a height of about 20-25 cm, pinch the upper parts of the shoots. By continually removing mint flowers, you can ensure maximum leaf growth for later harvesting.

Mint is grown in one place for 3 to 5 years, then, in order to improve the health and rejuvenation of the plant, it is better to change the bed.

When planning to grow mint in your garden, you need to remember its ability to actively grow. Creeping rhizomes quite quickly and aggressively occupy new spaces around. To avoid such growth, you can initially protect its root system by burying restrictive strips of iron, plastic or slate to the depth of the rhizomes.

Mint is a relatively unpretentious plant that grows and reproduces on its own. in the garden bed.

• When planting and caring for mint, you need to take into account that this perennial is a moisture-loving and light-loving plant. Watering is needed in moderation, avoiding waterlogging and drought.
• When caring for a plant, it is enough to weed the bed to remove weeds, loosen the soil and water as needed. The soil should be light and crumbly.
• To obtain more green mass, in the spring, as the shoots grow, it is recommended to carry out severe pruning - the mint will bush better.
• Spring feeding with complex fertilizers (humus, nitrogen-phosphorus mineral supplements, potassium salt) will only improve the growth and development of the plant.
• Mint can grow optimally on sandy and loamy soil with sufficient humus and moisture. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
• In conditions of frosty and little snowy winters, you can cover the mint with dry leaves, sawdust or spruce branches with a layer of 15-20 cm. Such measures will prevent the plant from freezing.

Caring for indoor mint, differs depending on the time of year.

• In summer, pots of mint are placed on the balcony, providing plenty of sunlight (avoiding direct sunlight) and systematic moisture. It is better to water with water at room temperature and periodically spray the leaves with a spray bottle. During this period, you can feed the mint with urea once (1 g/1 l of water).
• In winter, it is important to avoid overwatering the plant, excessive cooling and drafts. During this period, plant growth slows down and the smell weakens. Therefore, it is better to move the pots to southern windows.
• After 2-3 years, you need to replant the mint bush, as the roots grow strongly and they become crowded in the flower pot.

Disease and pest control- an integral part of mint care in case of infection.

• Spider mites, root weevils, aphids, whiteflies and slugs are a small list of pests that can spoil or destroy a mint plant.
• To prevent diseases, ensure air circulation and soil drainage.
• If harmful insects are found on the plant, if possible, they should be removed and treated with plant protection products. When processing mint, pay attention to the timing (indicated on the medicine) at which it will be possible to harvest an environmentally friendly mint harvest after spraying it with an insecticide.
• If mint is affected by powdery mildew (white coating on the foliage), the plantation is thinned out and sprayed with a 1.5% solution of colloidal sulfur with the addition of 40 g of liquid (potassium) or green soap to 10 liters of solution.
• Plants infected with rust (red spots on the underside of the leaf) must be removed.

Collection and storage of mint

Leaves for drying are collected in the first year of plant growth. They need to be collected before the mint flowering period, when they accumulate the maximum amount of nutrients and essential oil. Dry the leaves in the shade to better preserve the aroma and taste. They should be stored in a dry, dark and cool place (for example, in a closed jar or paper bag). The leaves are kept whole or ground into powder; you can also dry mint with whole sprigs.

Fresh, green shoots can be stored for some time in the refrigerator on damp gauze or cloth.

Application of mint:

Food supplement

Mint is added as an aromatic seasoning to meat, fish, sweet dishes, salads and drinks (tea, lemonade). They make pleasant-tasting mint chewing gum, candies and other confectionery products. Mint is also used as a flavoring in liqueurs, homemade tinctures, and vodka.

Medicine

A tonic, sedative that can stimulate brain function and relieve nervous tension. Eliminates bad breath and restores healthy sleep. Longleaf mint is used for stomach diseases, jaundice, dropsy, colds, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and heart diseases. Externally, an infusion of this type of mint is used for ulcers in the mouth and stomatitis, ear pain, abscesses, and for gargling with sore throats. The analgesic and antiseptic properties of the plant are known; mint essential oil relieves vascular spasms, headaches and successfully fights colds. Eye compresses with mint decoction will be useful for people who spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Peppermint oil is an anthelmintic. Widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Perfumery

Peppermint essential oil is added in the manufacture of perfumes, in the process of soap making and in the preparation of toothpastes, shampoos, creams and powders. Moreover, in the production of, for example, toothpastes, not only the refreshing properties of mint are used, but also its disinfecting qualities. Mint (menthol) is also used to flavor tobacco.

Cosmetology

Menthol oil, widely used in cosmetology, is obtained from mint. Aromatic baths, creams and cosmetic ointments are widely popular.

Honey plant

Mint is valued as an excellent honey plant that attracts bees. Mint honey is healing and has a special aroma, color and taste.

Almost all types of mint are used by humans. The variety of all shades of smell and taste of different varieties of mint allows you to experiment and use it in various areas of human life.

The world of mint is amazing and attractive. This perennial is a must have on your garden or windowsill. How to easily grow mint at home was described in detail in the article. Caring for mint is not complicated and not burdensome, but you will always have at hand not only fresh and tasty greens, rich in vitamins, improving sleep, memory, increasing the body's defenses, but also just a beautiful-looking bushy plant. And the taste of the dishes will be enriched with spicy and unique notes. In addition, fresh leaves contain much more useful substances than dried ones. And, in general, green mint bushes in the house have a positive effect on a person’s mood and well-being.

Video: How to grow mint on a windowsill

Its aroma is one of the most recognizable and beloved, the leaves are present in the kitchen supplies of almost every housewife, and their natural properties help relieve nervous tension and restore healthy, sound sleep.

Mint is a herbaceous plant that has earned the respect of culinary experts and traditional medicine experts. How to grow mint at home yourself?

Characterized by serrated leaves and tiny pink, purple, white flowers, the perennial is widely found in wild and cultivated gardening. Mint at home is not a capricious and easily adaptable plant.

Vegetative growing method

How to grow mint at home? The most common method of propagation is vegetative, in which cuttings or rhizome segments with shoots can be used.

To obtain a cutting in the summer from an adult plant, cut off a branch with leaf nodes and place it in a glass of water or sand. Within a week you can observe the appearance of small white roots. Once they reach a decent length, the plant can be planted in a permanent place of growth. You can also obtain planting material by digging up a mint bush in early autumn and dividing it into several parts. Each of them should have shoots with roots and several buds.

Propagation of mint by seeds

The seed method is less popular and takes quite a long time. As a rule, mint seeds are purchased in stores. They need to be planted in containers with barely moist soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm, and greenhouse conditions should be created for them, covered with plastic film or glass. After 7-16 days, the mint seeds will germinate; emerging and strengthened seedlings should be transplanted into pots and placed in cooler conditions for the purpose of gradual acclimatization. After 7-10 days, the young plant will be ready to be assigned to a permanent place of growth.

Mint can be grown both in open ground and as a potted crop. For indoor maintenance, in which the plant can be grown all year round, a layer of drainage should be placed in the planting container, and a soil composition of 1 part humus and 2 parts leaf soil should be used as nutrient soil. Plant a new plant here too.

Mint on a windowsill will feel good on the western or eastern side of the room, without direct sunlight on the green leaves. In summer, the plant will be comfortable on the balcony, in winter - on a lighted windowsill. In indoor conditions, you should ensure that the soil is constantly moist and there is always water in the tray of the pot. Mint on the windowsill needs regular watering with soft water at room temperature, and it is also recommended to spray the leaves periodically. A weekly shower in the warm season will only benefit the fragrant indoor culture. If you regularly pick off the leaves, it is recommended to feed the plant once a month.

Mint: growing conditions in open ground

When grown outdoors, mint should be placed in a sunny location in fertile, well-drained soil. The best precursors for mint are turnips, carrots and potatoes. The seedling depth is 10-12 cm, the recommended distance between plants is 15-30 cm. The bush will take root better if, when planting at a distance of 5 cm from the soil surface, its above-ground part is cut off.

How to grow mint at home so that its reserves are not depleted? Mint tends to grow wildly. You can limit its active growth to the sides by planting the bush in a wide container, which is immersed in the ground. The planted plant will be pleased with its young leaves in just a couple of weeks. The top of the aromatic grass should be kept trimmed: this inhibits growth in height and causes it to grow laterally, thereby increasing the yield.

After planting, you can feed the mint with a urea solution at the rate of 2 grams of the drug per 1 liter of water. It is not recommended to fertilize the plant with nitrogen-containing agents: they will cause an active increase in the vegetative mass, which will negatively affect the accumulation of essential oils in the mint.

and storage

Harvesting can begin in the second year after planting: about 3 cuttings are made per season. It is best to collect mint leaves during flowering (June-September) - it is at this moment that it contains the highest content of essential oils.

Dried leaves and petioles, which are an aromatic component of herbal tea and a seasoning for dishes, should be stored in a dark place in a glass container. It is recommended to grow a garden crop in one place for no more than 4 years.

Diseases and pests

Mint can be affected by pests such as spider mites, slugs, whiteflies and weevils. To keep the plant healthy, you need to ensure good air circulation in the soil and drainage. Insects, which often choose to live on the undersides of leaves, can be washed off with a hose.

Varieties of mint for home cultivation

You can plant several types of mint on your own plot or choose just one of them.

So, apple mint, characterized by a pleasant aroma and delicate refreshing taste, does not produce bitterness and is tasty in compotes, jelly, and preserves. The entire above-ground part of the plant is used for culinary purposes. Green and variegated varieties, combining spicy-taste qualities with decorativeness, are characterized by wide ovate leaves with clearly visible thick hair. The height of herbaceous bushes is about 70 cm.

Curly mint It is optimally suited for use for culinary purposes because it does not have the cold menthol taste inherent in peppermint. The plant is characterized by powerful stems and bright green leaves with jagged edges. Mint looks very beautiful in a pot, giving a year-round harvest when grown indoors.

Field mint fully reveals its qualities in tonic drinks. The long-leaved species contains a large amount of vitamin C and, due to its high content of essential oils, is successfully used in cosmetology and home soap making. Therefore, you should definitely acquire such a useful crop on your own plot, which is at the same time a medicine, a spice and a seasoning.

Widespread in cultural horticulture peppermint- a plant with creeping long roots, numerous branches with green egg-shaped leaves and miniature purple-pink inflorescences. Due to the high menthol content, the above-ground part of the herb produces a strong aroma and is characterized by a specific “cooling” taste.

Mint young greens are used to flavor drinks, sauces, desserts, fruit and vegetable dishes. It has sedative and antiseptic properties, is a component of many medications, is effective in treating colds and helps improve digestion.