VeggieHarvest

Mint - A quick growing and often invasive perennial herb which comes in many varieties. Used to calm upset stomach and relieve muscle spasms. Leaves are used in jellies, sauces, teas and to flavor various candies. Numerous species with various scents. More popular mints include spearmint, peppermint, apple mint and orange mints. A sprig of fresh mint is a pretty garnish for summer drinks — and you can't have a mint julep without it. Cook peas in a very little water to which you've added a couple of sprigs of mint. Toss boiled new potatoes with butter and chopped mint—a nice change from parsley. Instead of mint jelly with a lamb roast, try the traditional English mint sauce. Add a little sugar to a couple of tablespoons of chopped fresh mint leaves, add boiling water to bring out the flavor, then top off with vinegar to taste.

Where to Grow

Mints in general are very hardy and can easily be grown almost anywhere in the United States. Plant them from root divisions any time during the growing season.

Soil

Mints grow well in any soil; they prefer sun but will tolerate partial shade. Don't fertilize before planting, they will produce more than adequate supply of mint without it.

Planting

When
Although you can plant mints anytime during the growing season, root divisions will be established faster if planted on a cool, moist day in spring or fall.

How
Mint varieties from seed will not grow "true." So it's generally more satisfactory to use root divisions, which can even be purchased in grocery stores these days. An innocuous little plant of mint will wander all over the garden if it gets half a chance, so plant each one in a container that will keep the roots in one place — a two pound coffee can with both ends removed is good. Space plants two or three inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

Culture

To contain invasive growth, plant mint in a container from which the bottom has been removed, and set into the ground. Don't fertilize mints; they'll never miss it. Both peppermint and spearmint prefer moist soil, so they'll require more watering than the rest of the garden. Keep them evenly moist until root divisions are well established.

Harvest

The more mint you pick, the better the plants will grow, and you can pick sprigs throughout the growing season. To harvest the entire plant, cut it down to 1-2" above the soil. You'll get a second smaller harvest the same season. Fresh mint can be kept for several days in the refrigerator. If they dirty or sandy, rinse them gently just before using them. Wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a plastic bag, herbs stay fresh for several days. Those herbs that still have their roots can be kept longer; place them in fresh water at room temperature, like cut flowers. You can also wrap the roots in a damp cloth and store the herbs in a plastic bag in the warmest part of your refrigerator. You could also freeze the herbs whole or chopped, without blanching; if you wash them, be sure to dry them thoroughly. To dry, strip the mint leaves from the stem and let them dry in a warm shady area. The dried leaves can be stored in a jar with an airtight seal and if kept in a dark place remains flavorful for up to 2 years.

How it grows

Mint is a tall (2-3'), shallow-rooted, fast spreading perennial with square stems and leaves that usually have a purple tinge . It is very prolific—once you set them in a corner of the garden they'll quietly take over. Its roots spread freely and is commonly contained in some sort of pot or physical barrier. Its long spear like leaves are slightly curled and deeply veined, and have a refreshing, clean aroma. The plant is usually propagated by vegetative cuttings. The light lavender flowers appear in terminal spikes (2-4" long) and bloom through most of the growing season. You may also come across varieties like golden apple mint, which has a more delicate flavor than spearmint. This plant also has pale purple flowers, but the leaves are dark green streaked with gold. Orange mint, sometimes known as bergamot mint, gets its name from its delicate scent of oranges. Orange mint has reddish-green leaves edged with purple; the flowers are lavender.

Pests

Mints have no notable pest concerns.

Disease

Mints are susceptible to verticillium wilt and mint rust. Prevent these diseases by removing all the dead stems and leaves from the bed before winter.