Mint among gardeners enjoys its popularity due to its use. It is often used in medicine as well as cooking.. In addition, it is an unpretentious plant, and requires little care. Let's take a closer look at the species of this plant, how it looks and where it grows.

Chocolate


Among the variety of mints, chocolate mint is popular because of its chocolate flavor. It has green leaves with a purple hue. Plant height up to 25 cm. It grows at a fast pace, as it has powerful creeping roots. It is best planted in a container. Can easily tolerate the first frost. This plant is suitable for beginners and inexperienced gardeners. Basic rules for boarding:

  1. fertile, moist, semi-acidic soil.
  2. illuminated place or penumbra.
  3. landing in early spring when the frosts are over.
  4. Distance between bushes 50 cm
  5. Fertilizer applied one year after planting.

menthol


Menthol mint is a type of peppermint that can reach a height of up to 60 cm. It has a pungent odor and a high content of menthol. Unlike other species, it has dark stems. Virtually free from pests and diseases. Leaves can be plucked within 2-3 months after planting while retaining all its useful properties.

field


This species grows in all countries of the world. The stems reach a height of 60-70 cm. The leaves are green, elongated. The flowers are pink-purple, located at the top between the leaves. Unlike peppermint, field mint does not have a strong odor or cooling taste.. It is widely used in cooking, in the manufacture of drinks and baking cakes.

feline


Perennial plant, which includes essential oil. The aroma of this plant attracts cats. It can reach a height of half a meter to a meter. Flowers in the form of brushes are located on the crown. The flowers are white with purple dots. Flowering begins in late June, early July. Widely used in cosmetology, cooking.

Water


Perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of up to 70 cm. There are oval leaves, red in color. The flowers are small, collected in inflorescence, lilac. If you rub the leaf, a minty smell comes out. Grows mainly on moist soils, near rivers, streams. Used in cooking.

Fragrant


Fragrant mint is a perennial plant, about 50 cm. It has light green leaves, carved along the edge.. Blooms from July until the first frost. Able to withstand frosts up to 30 degrees. Requires constant pruning of the roots, as it grows strongly due to creeping roots. Some varieties have white spots on the leaves.

Lesnaya


Forest mint can reach a height of 40 to 90 cm. It has tall strong stems on which oblong leaves are located. It has strong branched roots that spread very quickly and require pruning. Flowering occurs from June to August. In the first year, after sowing, flowering occurs, but there will be no seeds.. Flowers can be red, pink, collected in inflorescences. The plant winters well, is not afraid of severe frosts.

Japanese


Japanese mint acts as a perennial plant, growing from 15 to 50 cm. It mainly grows in swampy areas, it is considered a rare species.. The flowers can be white or light purple, with 4 stamens. Flowering lasts almost 3 months, begins in August and until the end of October. It is used mainly in cosmetology and cooking.

Pepper


The most popular and familiar to everyone is peppermint. It is a perennial plant, up to 1 meter high. The leaves are green, with serrated edges. The flowers are small purple hue, collected in inflorescences in the form of an ear, located at the top of the shoot. Flowering begins in June and ends at the end of September. Easily tolerates winter and severe frosts. It has creeping strong roots, due to which it grows rapidly. It is a type of water mint. It is often used in folk medicine, perfumery, and cooking.

Curly


Curly mint practically does not differ from peppermint. The country of origin is America. A distinctive sign is the absence of a cooling effect. Spearmint contains less menthol. This type of essential oil contains:

  • carvone;
  • limonel;
  • linaloon;
  • citral.

It has been widely used in cooking, used in various seasonings and spices.

mexican


This type of mint is native to Mexico. An upright sprawling bush, up to 50 cm high. It mainly grows as an annual plant. It has a lot of greenery, oval green leaves. Begins to bloom in the first year of life. Flowers can be of different shades: pink, purple, white, blue. They reach up to 1 cm in size. The plant prefers fertile soil, a lighted place. Does not tolerate severe frosts. For the winter, it is necessary to transplant into a pot for room conditions. Propagated by dividing the bush and by seed. Widely used in cosmetology and cooking.

Lemon


Lemon mint is commonly referred to as lemon balm. It can often be found in garden plots. This is a hardy perennial plant. Can reach up to 1 meter in height. Under favorable conditions, after flowering, its seeds are carried by the wind, and almost all get good germination. A powerful, sprawling bush has light green leaves, carved along the edges. The flowers are small, located at the top of the plant, has a white, pink or yellow tint. A distinctive feature is the presence of a lemon aroma, especially during flowering. The choice of soil is unpretentious, it grows easily on any type of soil. Its composition includes:

  • vitamin C;
  • carotene;
  • rosmarinic acid;
  • caffeic acid;
  • tannins;
  • flavonoids.

It is used in folk medicine, but dosages should be observed so as not to get the opposite effect in treatment.

wild


Wild mint is commonly called field mint. It has a delicate and mild fragrance. Its essential oil contains:

  • menthol;
  • carvone;
  • citral;
  • geraniol.

It also contains many useful substances. It grows throughout Russia. It can be found near rivers, streams, wetlands, in forests. Perennial plant, up to 1 meter high. It has green leaves with serrated edges. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, can be a light purple hue, and dark. Inflorescences are located in the form of an ear at the crown. Unpretentious to conditions. It is used in cooking and folk medicine.

Where does mint grow?

Mint grows mainly in wetlands, on the banks of rivers, along streams, ravines. And also in the steppes, forest-steppes, in almost the entire European part of Russia. You can grow mint in your garden. Each species grows in different countries. For example: meadow grass is more common in Russia, in the Far East. Garden mint is more common in the southwest. Curly mint grows in Asia and Africa. Fragrant mint is common in the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia Minor.

What are the medicinal properties

Mint has been widely used in folk medicine, cooking, and cosmetology. She can have effects.:

  • painkillers;
  • vasodilators;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • antiseptic.

Mint is a medicinal plant and should be harvested when the plant is in color. For the manufacture of the drug use shoots, leaves, flowers. Mint is used to treat the following diseases:

  • asthma;
  • respiratory diseases;
  • heart diseases;
  • gynecological diseases;
  • cardiovascular;
  • liver;
  • gallbladder.

On the basis of the plant, drops, fees, ointments, tablets are made.. Essential oils are also added to toothpaste.

Before using a drug made from mint, you should consult a doctor to avoid side effects.

In the vast world, there are many types of mint that have many useful properties. Also they widely used in the field of medicine. If this medicinal plant grows on the site, it can serve as a first-aid kit.

Mint is a very valuable and useful plant that has been used by man since ancient times. In the modern world, it is in demand in medicine, cooking, perfumery. The article provides information about what varieties of mint are, and gives brief information about some of them.

Did you know? According to The Plant List database, the Mint genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family and consists of 42 species and hybrids.


Other names for this mint are honey mint, honey slipper, honeydew, lemon balm. Although it does not belong to the genus Mint, it belongs to the same family. It has a pleasant refreshing lemon flavor. Comes from Southern Europe, the Mediterranean.

It is considered one of the most valuable plant species. It is valued for its high taste and medicinal properties, contains a large amount of vitamin C, carotene, essential oils. It has been cultivated as a honey plant for many centuries. This is a perennial, blooms in summer, the fruits ripen by autumn.

Speaking of lemon mint, one cannot ignore the description of the plant. Its height is from 30 cm to 1 m 20 cm. The stems are erect, branched, tetrahedral, pubescent with short hairs. Petiolate, pubescent leaves of an ovoid shape, bright green in color, arranged oppositely, have denticles along the edge. Pedicels are short, bluish-white or light purple flowers (6 to 12) located in the axils of the upper foliage. Black shiny fruit of large size remains suitable for sowing for 2-3 years.

homemade mint


Home mint - otherwise indoor mint, mole tree, plectranthus or spur flower. Also a representative of the Yasnotkovs, but does not belong to the Mint genus. It is an annual or perennial evergreen semi-succulent plant. In nature, it grows in tropical and subtropical climates. With proper care, it can live on your window for up to 5 years.

It happens as a shrub, semi-shrub or grass. Homemade mint leaves contain an essential oil of complex composition, which gives it a pleasant aroma. Used for ornamental, medicinal, culinary purposes (as a seasoning for leafy and root vegetables), the aroma of the plant is believed to repel insects such as moths, mosquitoes, etc.

It grows from 30 to 150 cm. Tetrahedral stems may be pubescent or bare. The leaves are elliptical, ovate and rounded, arranged oppositely, in a cross. Small flowers with bracts are collected in inflorescences-umbrellas. The fruit consists of 4 nuts.


Mint herb is a type of peppermint, but, unlike it, contains a large amount of menthol. It has a rather sharp, intense, persistent smell and high resistance to pests and diseases. This variety has good winter hardiness.

It has a wide area of ​​demand - from cosmetology to cooking, is used as an anti-inflammatory, choleretic agent for the treatment of bronchitis, improves digestion. Menthol mint is also used as a spice, and even for making mojitos.

Reaches from 30 to 65 cm in height (depending on the lighting of the site). The stems are dark, straight, powerful. The leaves are dark green in color, grow up to 5-7 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, oblong in shape, slightly twisted. Flowering occurs in mid-July - early August. Small, purple flowers are collected in inflorescences.

Did you know?The name of the genus Mint comes from the name of the nymph Menta (Minta, Minfa). According to Greek myth, she was the beloved of Hades, the god of the underworld, and was turned into fragrant grass by his wife Persephone.


A plant such as peppermint is the most famous and common type of mint. This is the result of hybridization of garden mint and water mint. Also used in cooking, pharmacology and medicine. It is a valuable honey plant. Does not grow in nature. It has a burning taste of leaves, for which it received its name. It is used both in traditional medicine and in modern pharmacology. Contraindicated in people suffering from low blood pressure and varicose veins.

Peppermint belongs to perennial herbaceous plants, its description is quite simple. Hollow, erect, branched stems grow from 30 cm to 1 m in height. They are naked and pubescent (hairs are sparse and short, pressed).

The oblong leaves are ovoid in shape, grow oppositely, cruciformly. Petioles are short. The base is heart-shaped, the edge is sharp-serrated. Light purple or pinkish flowers of small size are collected in semi-whorls at the top of the stem. Flowering begins at the end of June and lasts until September. Fruits consisting of 4 nuts are rarely formed.


If we talk about what kind of mint is, except for peppermint with similar characteristics, then curly mint is very close to it in terms of distribution and use. She is also called curly, spike-shaped, German, garden, spring, mint.

It contains linalool and carvone, which gives it a strong smell and a special taste, but it contains almost no menthol, and therefore this species does not have a cooling aftertaste. Spearmint essential oil is valued higher than peppermint oil. In addition to medicine and cooking, it is used in soap making, tobacco and confectionery industries.

Refers to perennial herbaceous plants. Height - 80-90 cm. Numerous stems are erect, bare. The leaves grow opposite, have an oblong shape, are wrinkled and curly, serrated along the edge. Above naked, on the underside there are sparse hairs located along the veins. Regular, pinkish-purple flowers, with very short pedicels, collected in inflorescences and located at the end of the stem. Blooms from June to September. Seeds ripen in October.

Important!Spearmint is best stored in paper or linen bags or bags in a cool, dark, dry place.

Korean mint, also called wrinkled polygon or Tibetan lofant, also belongs to the Lamiaceae family, but not to the Mint genus. Homeland - North Asia. It is grown as an ornamental, spicy and medicinal plant.

It has general strengthening and rejuvenating properties, normalizes blood pressure. It is part of drugs that improve the composition of the blood, used in diseases of the respiratory system, to combat liver diseases. It is considered one of the best mint varieties for a mild and long lasting effect on the human immune system. For this reason, ginseng is known in the East as a worthy rival. Korean peppermint essential oil has bactericidal properties.

This is a perennial shrub. It grows up to 1 m. The stems are erect, tetrahedral. Petiolate leaves 10 cm long have an oval shape and notches along the edge. Tubular flowers of bluish-lilac or white color are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. Blooms in July-September. It smells like mint, and like anise, and like oregano at the same time. Fruit ripening occurs in September. The species is quite winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -15 ° С.


Budra ivy, or dog mint, magpie- This is a perennial, very fragrant, herbaceous plant, not belonging to the Mint genus, but also from the Lamiaceae family. It grows in Eurasia, in temperate zones. Taste - bitter, burning. Refers to honey plants, medicinal (widely used as an anti-inflammatory, choleretic, healing agent), used in the manufacture of tonic drinks.

It grows no higher than 40 cm. The stems are creeping, glabrous or pubescent with short hairs, from 20 to 50 cm long. Shoots are numerous, rooting. Leaves with long petioles (the lower the leaf is located, the longer its petiole) have a reniform or rounded reniform shape, arranged oppositely. Collected in 3-4 small flowers have a purple or lilac-bluish color. Bloom until mid-summer. The fruits are brown, up to 2 mm in length.

Did you know?The mint plant has been used in Chinese medicine for several thousand years as an anti-inflammatory, carminative, choleretic, diaphoretic, deodorant, and local anesthetic, and mint oil is recommended for washing the eyes.

Catnip) belongs to the genus Kotovnik, not Mint, but to the same family. It has a strong, peculiar lemon scent that attracts felines (thanks to the essential oil nepetalactone). Selects forest clearings, wastelands, weedy places, slopes, roadsides.

It is often cultivated in beneficiary areas, as it is a valuable honey plant. It is also used in perfumery, soap making, confectionery and, of course, in medicine. It is popularly used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, headaches, skin diseases, hysteria, exhaustion.
This is another perennial representative of the flora. It grows from 40 cm to 1 m in height. Roots woody, branched. Stems erect, strong. Pubescent leaves, triangular-ovate, with large teeth along the edge and a sharp tip, have a heart-shaped base. Dirty-white flowers (purple or purple specks are located on the lower lip) are collected in complex semi-umbels at the ends of the shoots, bloom in June-July. Smooth oval brown fruit ripens in mid-late summer.


or meadow, also called wild- a representative of the genus Mint. The territory of growth is Europe, Central and Western Asia, the Caucasus, partly India and Nepal. Prefers the banks of rivers, other reservoirs, damp meadows, fields, swampy areas. She doesn't need any care.

Basically, essential oil with a pungent odor and bitter taste is composed of menthol and various terpenes. It has been experimentally proven that inhaling the aroma of field mint during the day reduces calorie intake by 1800 kcal / day. Used in cooking, medicine (in the treatment of bloating, gastritis, if the acidity is increased, liver diseases). The powder is used as an antiemetic.

Perennial grass. Maybe 15 or 100 cm in height. Creeping rhizome. Branching stems are erect, but usually they are prostrate. The leaves may be ovate, oblong-elliptical, or oblong-ovate. Pointed at the top. The lilac or lilac-pink flowers on pedicels are united in false, spherical whorls. Blooms from June to October. The fruit consists of 4 smooth nutlets. Its ripening occurs in August-October.

curly mint

Curly mint is one of the names of curly mint, which was described above.


It is found in Africa, Asia, almost all of Europe. The application area is the same as that of other members of the genus, plus the production of green cheese. Has a pleasant aroma. The main component of the essential oil is pulegone, it also contains carvacrol, menthol, etc.

Long-leaved mint is rich in ascorbic acid. It has good frost resistance. Demanding on humidity and lighting. Propagated by rhizomes.

Important!For use as a spice-aromatic plant, this mint should be harvested before flowering and only occasionally during this period.

Soft fluffy appearance, up to 75 cm tall. Tetrahedral stems - strong, slightly pubescent, branched. Creeping roots. Pointed, pubescent leaves of a grayish tint, lanceolate or ovate-oblong in shape, have a fluffy-felt surface and serrated edges. Small flowers are collected in racemose whorled inflorescences, have a purple or pale lilac color. Blossoms in July-August, and bears fruit in August-September.


Ginger or thin- perennial herbaceous mint. It occurs naturally in Egypt, South-Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Has no cooling effect. According to the advice of traditional medicine, it is used for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is used, in particular, to combat flatulence, as a sedative.

Tetrahedral, straight, branched stems from 30 cm to 1 m high have dense foliage. Roots horizontal, well developed. Leaves on short petioles, 8 cm × 2 cm, pointed at the end. The shape is elongated-ovoid. Thanks to its variegated yellow-green color, ginger mint is also grown as an ornamental plant. Small flowers, collected in false whorls, form spike-shaped inflorescences of pink or light purple. Blooms from June to October. Fruit rarely forms.


Chocolate mint plant original version of peppermint. Spreads quickly and grows in damp places. Prefers light soil. Pretty aggressive. Requires minimal care. It has a pleasant taste and sweet aroma. Resistant to pests, diseases, mild frosts. With proper lighting, the foliage turns a unique deep purple hue. It is grown as an ornamental plant, as a spice with a lot of useful qualities, and is used in the confectionery industry and medicine.

Dense shoots look like a compact spreading bush up to 40 cm high. The rhizome is strongly branched. The stems are straight, tetrahedral, stable. Serrated leaves of a round shape, with veins, have a sharp tip, similar to the leaves of ordinary mint, grow oppositely, cruciformly. Small whitish flowers are collected in panicles and located in the axils of the leaves. Flowering occurs at the beginning of August.


Peppermint, or flea mint, refers to perennial plants of the mint genus. In Europe, it grows almost everywhere, it can also be found in the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, East Asia, and North Africa. The essential oil of the flea beetle is 95% pulegone, also contains menthol, limonene. Due to this, it is used in perfumery, confectionery, canning production.

Traditional medicine endows this plant with antiseptic, abortive, wound-healing properties and recommends it for the treatment of whooping cough, bronchial asthma, and hysteria.

The height of marsh mint is from 20 to 60 cm. The stems are branched, scattered hairy. The petiolate leaves are about 1 cm long, cuneate at the base, elliptical or oblong-ovate. Pinkish-lilac flowers with a tube of white color, formed into dense rings of almost spherical shape. Blooms in mid to late summer. Shiny, brown, egg-shaped fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn.

These are just a few varieties of mint with a photo and description for each name. As you can see, this beautiful herb has a lot of useful qualities, and everyone can choose the one that suits their needs.

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Product information


Chinese spearmint essential oil ( Chinese Spearmint Essential Oil)

New batch: retest 04.2020

INCI name: Mentha viridis oil.
product name: Krauseminzöl chinesisch.
Botanical name: Mentha spicata crispa.
Synonyms: spearmint, spearmint, curly mint, garden mint, green mint
Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae).
Country of origin: China, Japan.
Growing conditions: cultivation.
Part of the plant used: leaves.
Receiving method: steam distillation.
Quality: 100% pure and natural essential oil.
Appearance: light yellow, transparent liquid.
Storage conditions: in a dry, dark place.
Manufacturer: Joh. Vogele KG Germany.

Curly mint EM (Chinese), unlike Indian mint, contains almost no menthol, and has a more elegant, delicate, subtle sweet aroma. Spearmint by Joh. Vogele KG is the best quality spearmint essential oil on the market. It has a beautiful aroma. Spearmint EO is valued for its main component, L-carvone, usually 50-65%. Our butter, according to the documents, contains L-carvone - 75.3%. The use of mint is wide - it is used in various fields. It is one of the most famous essential oils in the world. A characteristic feature of this type of mint is the absence of a menthol chill, curly mint for its elegance is more often used in the confectionery industry, in the production of tobacco and in perfumery.

Aroma:
Spearmint EO (Chinese) has a characteristic minty, fresh, refreshing, herbaceous, floral scent. It is a complex, elegant and sweet fragrance. Not cold in winter, but rather juicy green, like morning dew in a summer garden, has warm lemon balm and basil, light subtle shades, a delicate unobtrusive aroma of purity and renewal.

Main biochemical components:
L-carvone (75.3%), dihydrocarvone, menthol, menthone, limonene, cineole, linalol, pinenes, phellandrene.
Chemically, spearmint EO (Chinese) has little in common with Indian peppermint oil. As a rule, the content of menthol and menthone in such an oil does not exceed one percent.
The key ingredient is L-carvone - a substance with a sweet grassy smell, which is difficult to confuse with the smell of menthol.

Psycho-emotional impact:
Curly mint EO (Chinese) inspires, symbolizes a thirst for adventure, charm and courage, while its main impact covers the sphere of intellectual development and sociability. It relieves tension, negative experiences and anxiety, enhances self-confidence, helps to establish mutual understanding, communication, including great for preparing for public speaking, improves oratory skills and concentration. Curly mint EM (Chinese) symbolizes renewal, moral restoration, good spirits and vitality. Helps to cope with negative emotions, or emotional exhaustion, helps to eliminate physical and psychological fatigue, absent-mindedness, tension, nervousness and insecurity.

Therapeutic properties:
Curly mint EO (Chinese) has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, has a calming, sedative effect on the body. It is actively used to alleviate asthenic disorders (including dizziness, motion sickness, nausea). One of the beneficial properties of peppermint essential oil is the cleansing of mucous membranes, as well as its antibacterial properties are actively used in medicine. This is one of the most effective means for normalizing blood circulation and improving the state of cerebral vessels.
Unlike oil, which has a number of therapeutic qualities, spearmint oil is medically rather weak, but it is widely used in the production of toothpastes, chewing gums, in cooking and the confectionery industry.

Therapeutic action:
antiseptic;
sedative;
balsamic;
soothing;
analgesic;
hypotensive;
antibacterial;
venotonic.

Cosmetic properties:
Spearmint EO (Chinese) is a good tonic for health and freshness of the skin, it improves complexion, tightens and cleanses pores, relieves irritation, flaking and itching on reactive skin, normalizes sebum regulation of oily skin, eliminates inflammation. It is very useful and beneficial in showing its cosmetic properties on skin prone or prone to rosacea. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels and instantly brightens the spider veins, the fight against rosacea in combination with geranium essential oil and green tea extract is especially effective. Improves the protective properties of the skin, increases blood circulation, brightens and evens out skin tone. Spearmint (Chinese) EO retains moisture in the skin.

Cosmetic effect:
antifungal;
regenerating;
anti-couperose;
refreshing;
bleaching;
gives the skin a healthy, radiant appearance;
relieves inflammation in acne.

Combination and synergy, complementary flavors:
Spearmint EO pairs well with scents such as geranium, lavender, citronella, nutmeg, bergamot, ginger, jasmine, neroli, lemon balm, patchouli, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, jasmine, vetiver, clary sage, lemon balm, litzei cubeba, benzoin, cedar, geranium, sweet orange, mandarin, naioli.

Contraindications and use:
Do not use in the first trimester of pregnancy. This type of oil is very active, intense, requires caution and careful application. With caution and preliminary testing, apply to allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Do not use neat!

Toxicity:
According to RIFM (1978), the oil has the following toxicological data - oral LD50 5 g/kg (rats), derm. LD5o > 5 g/kg (rabbits). In the form of a 4% solution in petrolatum, it does not cause human skin irritation and sensitization reactions within 48 hours. There is no phototoxic effect. The oil has no IFRA restrictions for use in perfumery and cosmetics. Large quantities are used to flavor toothpastes and chewing gum.
Aromatherapy guidelines recommend the use of spearmint oil for respiratory diseases, inflammation of the mucous membranes, rheumatic pains. Attention should be paid to the possibility of replacing oil containing (-)-carvone with synthetic (±)-carvone.





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

This perennial herb has spread to most of the world's temperate climates. A rather unpretentious plant, mint is easy to propagate and grow at home. This does not require special skills, the process will be mastered by any amateur gardener. But the result obtained in the garden or in a flower pot will bring a lot of pleasure. Mint tea, tonic drinks, meat and fish dishes, cosmetic lotions and rinses, medicinal lotions and decoctions, homemade mint soap - this is a small list of using fragrant green mint leaves at home.

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

Mint, plant description

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

This is a perennial plant, quite winter-hardy, moisture-loving 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 leafy stem.

The leaves are oblong ovoid, sharply serrated along the edge, 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 buds of the rhizome have an insignificant 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 an inflorescence spike. Mint blooms from late June to September. The fruit consists of four nuts, but is extremely rare.

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

The mint genus includes about 25 species and more than 10 natural hybrids. All species 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, due to the difference in their chemical composition.

Types of mint

The most popular and common types of mint:

  • Peppermint

It is considered the most famous and recognized type of mint. This cultivated plant is obtained by hybridization of two wild-growing types of mint: water and garden. Perennial, from the Latin name Mentha piperita, contains a large amount of essential oils and menthol. Due to its specific, slightly burning and cooling taste, mint has received the name "pepper". It is also called "English" because it was bred 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.

There are interesting varieties of peppermint: lemon - with a lemon aroma, Thuringian - with a strong menthol smell.

  • field mint

Mentha arvensis - field mint - is a wild species, widely distributed in forests and forest plantations throughout Europe. The variety has been known since the time of Kievan Rus, where it was used as a spice and medicine. In the common people it was often called: “dog mint”, “deaf mint”, “horse mint”. Moisture-loving plant, prefers places of growth near water bodies, rivers or lakes. In height, the perennial reaches an average of up to 50 cm, although there are specimens that have grown up to 1 meter in favorable conditions. Stem erect, branched, pubescent. Fresh leaves contain ascorbic acid, carotene, flavonoids, tannins, 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 various dishes. Fresh and dried mint leaves are brewed as a tea or other tonic drinks are prepared.

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

Essential oil is used in perfumery to prepare extracts in the manufacture of toothpastes, powders, essences, elixirs, toilet water.

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

  • Water mint

A moisture-loving plant, which in nature is mainly found near water bodies 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 kind of mint, it is used as a flavoring agent in the preparation of a variety of dishes and drinks.

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

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

  • Longleaf mint

Mint name, Mentha longifolia , characterized by the presence of long (up to 20 cm) oblong-ovate leaves in the plant. Tall perennial with an upright and branched stem, completely pubescent with soft grayish hairs.

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

The collection of mint is carried out in the period preceding the mass flowering, cutting off the stem at a height of 10 cm from the soil level. After harvesting, this type of mint grows well and gives a second crop.

Longleaf mint is widely distributed in the wild throughout Europe and Asia.

Possessing a pleasant delicate smell, mint has found its application in the food, alcoholic beverage and perfume industries. It is also used in the process of making soaps 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. With diathesis and rickets, children are prescribed baths from a decoction of mint.

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, is also called curly, garden or German mint. This is a prefabricated cultural species, of hybrid origin. It differs from other species in a pungent odor. The content of a large amount of essential oil provides curly mint with a leading position in the food, alcoholic beverage, perfumery and tobacco (tobacco flavoring) industries.

  • Flea mint

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

Flea mint essential oil contains from 75 to 90% pulegone, an organic compound that is a common component of essential oil, as well as menthol, limonene, 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 flavor with an apple or pineapple tinge. Mentha rotundifolia is a perennial hybrid, reaching a height of about 50 cm. A rather cold-resistant species, although it is inferior to peppermint in this. Due to its taste and delicate aroma, mint is very popular among culinary specialists around the world. It does not bitter and does not give a cooling effect, which is the polar difference from other types of mint.

  • Spearmint

A species of hybrid origin, Mentha spicata, is very similar to spearmint. It reaches an average height of 60-100 cm, covered with curly, wavy, purple-tinged leaves. 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 spice plants, in Europe the species is popular to this day. In Russia, this mint has long been added to kvass, and in America, its leaves are indispensable in the preparation of chewing gum. Due to its beautiful aesthetic appearance, mint sprigs are often used to decorate dishes.

  • fragrant 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 the typical mint smell becomes more pronounced. The plant is undersized (up to 30 cm), can be propagated by seeds, winter-hardy.

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

mint propagation

Mint reproduces in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively.

Mint seed propagation method

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

  • Purchase seeds in a specialized store, more often choose varieties such as Peppermint or Lemonmint. These species have a pronounced taste and aroma, while not requiring any special care.
  • Seeds can be sown both in open ground and in pots. Mint seeds are quite small, which causes some inconvenience when sowing them. It is recommended to lightly press them into the soil, sprinkling lightly with compost or earth.
  • Seeds are sown to a depth of about 0.5 cm into the soil. It is important to provide good lighting and optimally favorable temperature for the germination of mint seeds - 20-25 ° C. To do this, in addition, you can cover the seed container with cling film and, periodically, expose it to the sun. Also, several times a day, you need to slightly open the film for ventilation, in order to avoid rotting of the seeds.
  • 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.
  • Under all conditions, the first shoots begin to appear in 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 a vegetative propagation method. On the other hand, the stems and leaves of seed-grown mint for a long time (while the mint is gaining in growth) remain tender, thin and not coarsened.

There are also risks of cross-pollination when propagating from seed, where the mature plant will be different from the originally selected mint variety, especially if it is a hybrid.

Vegetative propagation of mint

  • Practice mint propagation using root cuttings, on which there is at least 1 bud and at least 3-5 leaflets that have appeared. This method ensures the complete transfer of the hereditary properties of the variety. 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.
  • For propagation of mint, use and stem cuttings plants. In the spring, cut a twig about 7-10 cm with an internode and put it in water or in a damp cotton-gauze pad in a warm, bright place. They also practice dropping cuttings into moistened sand. When white roots appear, continue to keep the cuttings in water for a few more days, until the roots increase in size to 8-10 mm. Then planted in a prepared place.
  • Reproduction of mint, possibly with the help of a simple dividing the bush when the excavated plant is divided into several full-fledged separate parts, after which they are planted in the soil. It is important to track the presence of full-fledged buds or several shoots with roots in each part. When planting a daughter bush, it is better to cut off its aerial part about five centimeters from the ground so that it takes root better.
    In two weeks, pale 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 contributes to the 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

Landing site preparation

  • Before planting mint, you need to decide on a landing site: be it a flower pot or open ground.
  • Mint is a demanding plant good lighting, moderate humidity and qualitative composition of the soil. It is also better to avoid drafts and choose a place protected from the winds.
  • The plant prefers fertile and loose priming. The most optimal are fertile black soil in the floodplain of the reservoir. But heavy clay soil, with constant moisture stagnation, 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 lane, on the contrary, autumn planting is recommended.
  • When choosing a planting site, it is important to consider the degree of growth of mint, which may well crowd out other cultivated plants.
  • So, having chosen an open sunny area for planting mint, it is necessary to clean it of weeds, loosen it and apply, if necessary, organic (3 kg of humus per 1 m²) and mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, 15 g per 1 m² ). For the prevention or destruction of pests, the earth is preliminarily watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
  • The best predecessors of mint will be vegetables, legumes, perennial grasses, fertilized, in due time, with organic matter (manure, compost).

The technology of planting mint in pots

  • A ready-made germinated seedling is planted in a pot or grown directly from seeds. It is easier to plant mint seedlings prepared in advance. Landing is carried out in spring or autumn.
  • A layer of drainage is laid out at the bottom of the flower pot, preventing the roots from excess moisture. As with any other flower plant, there are holes at the bottom of the pot through which excess moisture will drain into the pan.
  • It should be noted that clay pots contribute to faster drying of the soil. And in winter, in a heated room, dry air will dry out the soil in a pot even more. Therefore, most often, for planting mint, plastic pots or containers are used. The diameter of the pot should be at least 30 cm, taking into account the subsequent growth of the plant.
  • Growing mint at home, you need to monitor the temperature in the room. A bright, warm place will favorably affect 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 conditions of dry air, mint will be “delighted” with a wet “shower” from the atomizer. 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 selected fertile, it is possible to combine the soil with fertile compost. Peat-based mixtures are also perfect. After filling a third of the pot with the prepared mixture, put 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 the appearance of dense sprouts, some of them can be moved to another container. However, when extracting plants, you should be extremely careful, since the root system of young mint is still very tender.

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

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

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

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

Field mint is an excellent aroma additive in tonic drinks.



Mint planting technology in open ground

  • The technology of planting mint on a personal plot does not differ in many respects from growing it on a windowsill. Having prepared the soil accordingly, 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 earth, the beds should be watered.
  • In order for the plant to bush better, at a height of about 20-25 cm, pinch the upper parts of the shoots. By constantly removing mint flowers, maximum leaf growth can be ensured for subsequent harvesting.

In one place, mint is grown from 3 to 5 years, then, in order to improve and rejuvenate the plant, it is better to change the garden.

If you are going to grow mint in your backyard, you need to remember about its ability to actively grow. Creeping rhizomes quickly and aggressively occupy new spaces around. In order to avoid such growth, it is possible to initially protect its root system by digging 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. on the garden bed.

  • When planting and caring for mint, you need to consider that this perennial is a moisture-loving and light-loving plant. Watering needs moderate, avoiding waterlogging and drought.
  • Caring for the plant, it is enough to weed the bed from 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 a strong pruning - the mint will be better bushed.
  • Spring top dressing with complex fertilizers (humus, nitrogen-phosphorus mineral top dressing, 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 content. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
  • In conditions of frosty and little snowy winters, you can cover mint with dry foliage, sawdust or spruce branches with a layer of 15-20 cm. Such measures will prevent the plant from freezing.

Room mint care, differs depending on the season.

  • In summer, mint pots are put on the balcony, providing plenty of sunlight (avoiding direct sunlight) and systematic moistening. It is better to water with water at room temperature, periodically spray the leaves from the sprayer. During this period, you can once feed the mint with urea (1 g / 1 liter of water).
  • In winter, it is important to prevent waterlogging of the plant, excessive cooling and drafts. During this period, the growth of the plant slows down, the smell weakens. Therefore, it is better to rearrange the pots to the southern windows.
  • After 2-3 years, you need to plant a mint bush, as the roots grow strongly and it becomes crowded in a flower pot.

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

  • Spider mites, root weevil, aphids, whiteflies and slugs are a small list of pests that can spoil or kill a mint plant.
  • To prevent diseases, air circulation and soil drainage should be ensured.
  • 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 terms (indicated on the medicine) in which it will be possible to harvest an environmentally friendly mint crop after spraying it with an insecticide.
  • When mint is affected by powdery mildew (white bloom on the foliage), the plantation is thinned 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 a 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 harvested in the first year of plant growth. They need to be collected before the mint flowering period, when they accumulate the maximum amount of useful substances and essential oil. Dry the leaves in the shade to better preserve the aroma and taste. You need to store them 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 and whole sprigs.

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



Mint use:

Food supplement

Mint as an aromatic seasoning is added to meat, fish, sweet dishes, salads and drinks (tea, lemonade). They make palatable, minty chewing gums, candies and other confectionery products. Mint is also used as a fragrance in liqueurs, homemade tinctures, vodka.

Medicine

A tonic, sedative that can stimulate the brain and relieve nervous tension. Eliminates bad breath, restores healthy sleep. Longleaf mint is used for gastric diseases, jaundice, dropsy, colds, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, heart disease. Externally, an infusion of this type of mint is used for mouth ulcers and stomatitis, ear pain, abscesses, and for gargling with tonsillitis. Known analgesic and antiseptic properties of the plant, peppermint essential oil relieves spasms of blood vessels, headaches and successfully fights colds. Eye compresses with a decoction of mint 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 manufacture of, for example, toothpastes, not only the refreshing properties of mint are used, but also its disinfectant qualities. Mint (menthol) is also used to flavor tobacco.

Cosmetology

From mint, menthol oil is obtained, which is widely used in cosmetology. Aromatic baths, creams and cosmetic ointments are very 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 man. The variety of all shades of smell and taste of different varieties of mint allows you to experiment and apply it in various areas of human life.

The world of mint is amazing and attractive. This perennial is a must have on your site or windowsill. How easy it is to grow mint at home was detailed 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, which improves sleep, memory, which increases the body's defenses, but also just a beautiful looking bushy plant. And the taste of dishes will be enriched with spicy and unique notes. In addition, fresh leaves contain much more nutrients than dried ones. And, in general, green mint bushes in the house have a positive effect on the mood and well-being of a person.

Video: How to grow mint on a windowsill

(lat. Mentha Crista) is a herbaceous plant of the mint genus. It grows wild in North America and some countries of Western Europe. It also grows in Ukraine and the European part of Russia. In a number of countries it is specially cultivated. On the territory of our country, it is grown mainly in garden plots. Other names: curly mint, garden mint, spearmint, spring mint, German mint, mint.

Curly mint in plant taxonomy
Curly mint is a perennial herbaceous plant-bush 80-90 cm high with numerous stems of the Lamiaceae family. The leaves are broadly ovate, wrinkled, curly, pubescent, serrated along the edges. It got its name from the curly leaves.
Curly mint properties


Essential oil is obtained from the above-ground mass. Spearmint leaves provide 1-2% essential oil. Peppermint essential oil is used in the pharmaceutical industry. It combines the taste properties of several mint plants, but at the same time it has its own minty taste, quite gentle and pleasant, without a cooling menthol taste.

The use of spearmint
The leaves and oil of spearmint are used in medicine less often than the same preparations of peppermint. It is milder in effect and more palatable than peppermint, and for this reason is more recommended for children. Take orally one drop of oil in a glass of water, or with a piece of sugar or a spoonful of honey.
Spearmint is widely used in cooking. It is part of mixtures for vegetable and meat soups.
Curly mint leaves are boiled and used in folk medicine to relieve pain from bruises, for therapeutic baths, and also as a sedative.