Planting mint for a multitude of uses in the kitchen and beyond
WE are all definitely familiar with mint as a flavour.
Have you ever realised how useful a mint bush in the garden would be for the kitchen?
You can use the fragrant leaves for tea, pesto for pastas, in Vietnamese dishes, refreshing salads including coleslaw, as a garnish, as an ingredient for jelly and other desserts, or even just eating the fresh leaves for their refreshing taste.
There are many different types of mint including spearmint (Mentha spicata), peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and chocolate mint (Mentha x piperata f citrata ‘Chocolate’).
These are fast growing plants that will also spread quickly when grown in the ground. Mint will send out runners that spread above and below the ground, quickly forming large and lush green patches. If you don’t wish for the plant to spread, you might want to consider confining it to a container.
A mint plant will continuously give out its refreshing fragrance. Growing a pot near the kitchen will be a good choice for a constant supply of fresh sprigs.
Propagation
Take cuttings that are around eight centimetres in length from the top of a mint plant.
Remove the lower leaves and cut the stem just below the leaf node. Trim the top growth from the stems.
Put the cut stems in a glass of water and place the glass in a bright and airy spot until the stems have taken root, which should happen in a couple of weeks.
Once a good root system has developed, plant the rooted stems in a container with a good quality potting mix.
Water well and place the pot in a bright spot but not under direct sun.
Once the plants are well established, they can be moved into the ground or placed in larger pots. Note that mint prefers soil with a pH 6.0 to 7.0, meaning soil that is a little acidic will be good. Ensure the soil does not have a high level of salt as this will cause the leaf tips to brown. Always keep the planting medium moist.
Growing tips
Remember that mint will tend to grow vigorously on its own with little nutrients. However, feeding once in a while will of course help the plant to do better.
It is important to keep the plant in check by harvesting the tips regularly and pulling out wayward runners.
A good tip to prevent the plant running wild in the garden is you can half bury a pot in the ground to contain its runners.
Mulching at root level will also help to prevent water loss and the runners from spreading wild.
However, remember that runners are also good for propagation. You can just take a length of the runners and lay them into a trench in the ground, cover with soil and wait for them to grow.
Different types of mint should be planted as far apart as possible because they are able to cross pollinate and you may find yourself stuck with an unfavourable variety.
Remember that mint likes sunlight and lots of water. When grown in the shade, the plant will tend to be floppy and its flavour will not be as strong.
When choosing a planting spot in our weather, find a sunny position where there is partial shade in the afternoon.
When the plant is not provided with enough water, it will simply dry out and die.
Note that picking the tops and just leaving the stalks, or even cutting established plants down to ground level will also encourage new growth. Uses
There are a multitude of ways to make the most of mint. Here is a quick list: Use as a garnish for steamed vegetables. Add a few leaves of mint to a favourite smoothie. Use an infusion of mint leaves as a soothing skin cleanser for acne. Insect bites can be relieved by pressing mint leaves over the wound for a cooling sensation that can ease pain, itchiness, and reduce a burning sensation. Use as a natural breath refresher.
Did you know that mint is also a natural insect repellent? It is said to be good for keeping away mosquitoes, ants, and flies. Crush mint leaves and sprinkle to ward off ants.
You can also place them in sachet to keep away mosquitoes. Do crush the leaves first to allow the oils and scent to be released.
Hopefully you have been inspired to try growing mint in your garden.
Do send me an email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.
Happy gardening.