How to grow spearmint?
Learning how to grow spearmint isn’t much different than growing other mint plants. Spearmint is a hardy perennial up to USDA plant hardiness Zone 5 that grows best in partial shade with well-draining, rich, moist soil and a pH of 6. 5 to 7. Mint is easiest to grow from plants, but you can sow seed once the ground has warmed in the spring.
Is spearmint a perennial or annual?
Spearmint is a hardy perennial up to USDA plant hardiness Zone 5 that grows best in partial shade with well-draining, rich, moist soil and a pH of 6.5 to 7. Mint is easiest to grow from plants, but you can sow seed once the ground has warmed in the spring.
What makes spearmint different from other mints?
The chemical that affects flavor and aroma in most mint plants is menthol, but spearmint actually has a minimal amount of this compound compared to other species and varieties. What sets spearmint apart is a chemical called carvone.
What does peppermint plant look like?
Peppermint plants are characterized by their dark green leaves, squarish stems, and pink/lavender flowers. The leaves are fuzzy and have jagged edges like a saw. Plant height can range from 18-36 inches. Like a lot of mint species, peppermint can spread very quickly thanks to an aggressive network of stolons and rhizomes (aka “runners”).
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Growing Conditions For Spearmint
Spearmint is not incredibly picky, but it prefers to grow in well-drained, moist, nutrient-rich soil with a pH balance around 6.5 to 7. Though it w...
How to Care For Spearmint
Mint plants will do well with very little supervision. However, the most essential thing that you can do to keep them healthy and producing well is...
Spearmint Pests and Problems
Twospotted Spider Mites: Twospotted spider mites love to lay their offspring on the underside of mint leaves and attack mint plants for several gen...
Want to Learn More About Growing Spearmint?
Check out these sites for more tips and tricks.Growing Spearmint at Gardening Know HowGrowing Mint at Herbgardening.comGrowing SpearmintMatt Gibson...
How tall does spearmint grow?
Spearmint plant is classified as an herbaceous perennial. It grows about 12-39 in. (30–100 cm) tall. As a defining characteristic of the mint family, the stems are usually square-shaped and have a few hairs.
What type of soil does spearmint like?
Ideally, the spearmint plant grows healthy in well-draining, rich and moist soil with a pH between 6.0 – 7.5. For potting, use an organic, rich soilless mixture. In general, spearmint can thrive in almost any soil type including clay and loamy or sandy soils.
How to preserve spearmint leaves?
You can also freeze them for preservation. Wash the spearmint leaves in running water thoroughly. Then chop them using good quality kitchen knives. After that, place them in ice cube trays and freeze them.
What is spearmint oil used for?
The leaves and oil of the spearmint plant are used in medicine. It is used to treat digestive disorders including gallstones, nausea, indigestion, gallbladder swelling (inflammation), and diarrhea.
How to dry spearmint?
Just hang the spearmint bunches upside down in wall rope arrangements or hooks. You can also spread them on a screen and place the arrangement in cool, dark, dry spaces. These processes dry the herb naturally in a few days.
Why was mint tea popular in the 1800s?
During American Revolution, this herb was considered an important cash crop, particularly in Connecticut. Due to non-taxation, mint teas were popular among the public at those times (Even today). Various documented evidences confirm the above fact.
Where does spearmint come from?
Spearmint plant, also known as Mentha spicata is indigenous to Europe and South Asian temperate lands. It is known in many names including mackerel mint, common mint, lamb mint, and garden mint.
How big does spearmint grow?
Spearmint resembles peppermint, though spearmint plants have bright green leaves that are pointed, and lavender flower spikes that grow up to 4 inches (10 cm.) long. When planted in ideal conditions, spearmint will reach a mature height and width of 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm.).
How to grow spearmint from seed?
Mint is easiest to grow from plants, but you can sow seed once the ground has warmed in the spring. Keep seeds moist until they germinate and thin plants to 1 foot (31 cm.) apart.
Can spearmint take over?
Spearmint, once planted, takes off quickly and can take over quickly as well. Many people question how to plant spearmint due to its invasive nature. Some cautious gardeners grow spearmint in hanging baskets or containers to avoid having to pull out runners constantly.
Can you plant spearmint indoors?
If you live in an area with very cold winters, it is best to bring potted spearmint indoors and place in a sunny window. Knowing how to plant spearmint correctly in the garden will provide you with years of lasting beauty and usefulness. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 06/24/21.
How to keep spearmint plants alive?
After your mint plants are sprouting up and doing well, add a layer of mulch to the soil to keep it at the correct temperature and to protect against harsh weather . Occasional watering (two to four times per week) is enough to keep your spearmint plants thriving if the mulch layer is doing its job correctly. Allow the plants to get plenty of sun (or artificial light) throughout the day, but outdoor mint plants can stand a little bit of shade, especially in extremely hot climate areas.
Why is spearmint good for a garden?
Because it’s easy to grow, it promotes the pollination of your garden, it smells wonderful, and it’s great to have on hand when preparing meals, desserts and tasty beverages. Spearmint is a great addition to any herb garden.
Why do my spearmint plants die?
Verticillium Wilt: Another fungal infection that can distress your spearmint plants is verticillium wilt, which causes the plant to wither and die. This disease is usually due to overwatering or oversaturation. Attempt to water just to the soil levelfor indoor plants, and keep the plants in a well-aerated room.
What is the pest that lays eggs on mint leaves?
Twospotted Spider Mites: Twospotted spider mites love to lay their offspring on the underside of mint leaves and attack mint plants for several generations. Keep your mint plants out of dry, dusty areas, and water frequently during dry months to avoid these pesky pests. ...
Why is spearmint used medicinally?
Spearmint is quite easy to grow. Spearmint is commonly used medicinally to reduce the effects of irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness, hiccups and nausea as well as other ailments.
Why are my spearmint leaves turning yellow?
Rust: If your spearmint plant starts to develop yellow spots on its leaves with brown or black spots on the leaf undersides, your plants have a fungal infection and need to be destroyed and replaced. Prevent this from happening by watering your plants at the soil level.
How to keep mint plants healthy?
However, the most essential thing that you can do to keep them healthy and producing well is to thin out your crop by pruning each plant with shears regularly. Allow the trimmings to air dry, and then store them in airtight containers for future use.
What are the antioxidants in spearmint?
Spearmint contains a large number of antioxidant compounds, including rosmarinic acid, flavones and flavanones like limonene and menthol ( 5 ).
What is the name of the mint that is similar to peppermint?
Spearmint, or Mentha spicata, is a type of mint similar to peppermint.
Does spearmint tea help with hair growth?
May Reduce Facial Hair in Women. Drinking spearmint tea may help reduce hirsutism, or growth of dark, coarse hair on the face, chest and abdomen of women. In fact, it’s a common herbal remedy for unwanted hair growth in Middle Eastern countries ( 12. Trusted Source. ).
Does spearmint tea increase testosterone?
In one five-day study in 21 women with hormone imbalances, two cups of spearmint tea a day decreased testosterone and increased LH, FSH and estradiol levels ( 9 ).
Does spearmint help with free radicals?
According to researchers, spearmint shows excellent antioxidant activity against free radicals. In one study, extract from this herb prevented fat oxidation in meat and was as effective as the synthetic antioxidant BHT ( 8 ).
Does spearmint oil help with ovarian cysts?
Additionally, in a study in rats, spearmint essential oil was found to decrease testosterone and ovarian cysts and increase the number of viable eggs in the rats’ ovaries ( 11. Trusted Source.
Is spearmint oil safe to ingest?
While spearmint and its oil are likely safe to ingest in the amounts commonly found in food or tea, it’s unknown whether pure spearmint oil taken by mouth is safe ( 27 ). Undiluted use of spearmint oil may be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
What does a spearmint leaf look like?
Spearmint leaves are, as the word suggests, have a spear shape that is larger compared to the thinner peppermint counterpart. Moreover, peppermint leaves might have a purple/dark red veins (even stronger on the back) missing to the green-only spearmint ones. Peppermint younger leaves might have also had purple edges.
How big does spearmint grow?
These are, by far, the ones most common in the USA and EU in supermarkets and grocery stores. They both grow up to a meter (3 feet) in quite large bushes in the right conditions. Before diving into the differences, remember that spearmint is also called “mint,” “garden mint,” and it is the most common between the two.
What Should You Grow: Spearmint or Peppermint?
However, what should you choose? If you want an easy win and something that gives results fast, then go for spearmint. Why? It is very likely that both in the UK and USA, you can find them at the grocery store for less than a dollar (British pound). Moreover, spearmint is way more adaptable than peppermint in the kitchen if you want to use it in some recipes.
How do spearmint and peppermint grow?
Both spearmint and peppermint grow leaves in pairs. Each leaf in the pair is opposite to each other. The next pair of leaves in the stem is in the opposite direction to the previous, creating a cross shape if you look at the steam of spearmint or peppermint from the top.
What type of mint is most commonly found in the world?
Indeed, despite the countless types of mint, the mint type that most commonly can be found are spearmint (known as Mentha Spicata species) and peppermint (known as Mentha Piperita species).
What is the color of peppermint steam?
Peppermint steams are purple in color. Spearmint has green stems with occasionally a light purple hue, but way less prominent than in peppermint.
Which is better, spearmint or peppermint gum?
Spearmint vs Peppermint gum? Spearmint has a milder taste than peppermint and it is the favorite by the majority of people as not many might find pleasant such strong (slightly more sugary) and bold flavour.
What is the name of the mint plant that grows in the backyard?
If the mint growing in your backyard has soft, rounded leaves, it might be apple mint ( Mentha suaveolens ). This plant is also called woolly mint because its stems and leaves are covered with fine, soft hairs. Flower spears are white or pale pink. Less minty than peppermint or spearmint, apple mint tastes fruity.
How tall does lavender mint grow?
Lavender mint ( Mentha x piperita 'Lavender') can grow to 3 feet tall and wide, with large, eye-catching flowers. The lilac blossoms are showy enough to make the plant a garden ornamental, and butterflies love them too. The gray-green leaves surprise you with purple undersides. They smell intensely of lavender, and are often used in potpourris and cooking. If you are using the leaves to flavor food, pick them before the mint plant flowers for best results. Plant lavender mint in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.
What is the best mint to grow in my backyard?
Spearmint ( Mentha spicata )and peppermint ( Mentha × piperita) are the mint varieties most likely to appear in your backyard. Both have fuzzy leaves with jaggedly toothed edges that smell strongly minty when crushed. Both these mints also bear pale lilac flowers. To distinguish between them, you'll have to take a nibble. A strong menthol aftertaste means peppermint, while a sweet, light flavor means spearmint. Use young spearmint leaves in cooking, peppermint leaves for tea and other drinks.#N#The climate in which the mint is growing can also help you identify it. If you live in a cool climate, your mint is likely peppermint. These plants are hardy down to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3. Spearmint does better with heat and can even thrive in USDA hardiness zone 11.
How tall does a chocolate mint plant grow?
This fast-growing mint shoots up to 2 feet tall and spreads rapidly enough to be a useful ground cover.
What does it mean when a plant has green leaves?
If a plant's green leaves have a sharp, minty smell, the odds are that it's a member of the large mint family. One trait that's common to all mint species: They aren't shy or retiring.
Can you use Corsican mint for cooking?
Ornamental Corsican Mint. Some mints are not intended to be used for cooking. Instead, you can use ornamental mints to fill in empty sections of a garden with texture and bright foliage. One of these is Corsican mint ( Mentha requienii ), a lovely, short ground cover that doesn't mind being walked on.
Can mint take over a garden?
Some are purely ornamental. One trait that's common to all mint species: They aren't shy or retiring. Left to its own devices, mint will take over a garden bed--and sometimes the entire backyard. Save yourself from the invasion by transplanting mint into containers. But first you have to identify the mint plants.
What Other Plants Smell Like Mint?
Now that we’ve spotted some mint lookalikes, let’s briefly talk about common mint “smell-alikes”. There is not just one aspect to mint varieties. Each have a distinctly mint look but also smell. So, what plants smell like mint?
What Type Of Mint Is Sold In Supermarkets?
If there are over 600 different species of mint, what are the common ones most people use in cooking, baking, and confectionary foods? What are the types of mint sold in supermarkets?
Are Sage And Mint In The Same Family?
With many types of plants used in cooking coming from the mint family, one of the more popular ones prompts many to ask, “Are sage and mint in the same family?”
