How to grow Mint in pots | Growing Mint herb plant | Peppermint Care

Growing Mint (Mentha)

Mint plants are a perfect start for a new gardener to an herb garden. More than 600 varieties of mint are available, requiring a significant amount of sunlight and water to plant. It is a perennial herbs plant with very fragrant and toothed leaves. Although it would be a very aggressive plant, it can be grown in containers with proper care. To know more How to grow Mint in containers, Growing herb plant Mint, mentha  Care, Harvesting Peppermint, and more about it then read the following article.

People use it to enhance the taste of their food and tea, we and all of you buy it from the market, but it is not necessary to be fresh and organic, so it is not good for health. You can easily grow it in the courtyard or terrace of your house. Peppermint is a herb plant that grows very quickly and requires very little care.

Overview of Mentha herbs

There are many varieties of mint available but all have a special aroma, the leaves are shiny, shrunken, smooth, green, or different.  Herbs plant mint is also known as Mentha.  Mentha is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae. The species is not clearly distinct, with 13 to 18 variations estimated. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally.

You can grow in a pot of water. Mint has multiple uses to add taste to its fresh leaves in salad, sherbet, chutney, ice cream, and hot tea.

Scientific name             Mentha

Common name              Peppermint

Plant type                     Herb

Sun Required                Full sun to partial shade

Maturity                                    75-90 days from seed

Height                           12 to 30 inches

Watering                       Regular watering

Soil                              Moist soil

Zone                             3-11

Fact

Us produces 70% of the world’s peppermint.

Growing herbs plant Mint

Healthy mother plant

First, you buy a mint plant from a nursery or supermarket, but remember that this plant is healthy. Mind you this plant is free from any disease or insects, because it’s your mother plant, otherwise it may damage the other born baby plant. It is grown by the plant, that is easier.

Planting

Spring is considered to be the most suitable time to plant peppermint, however, many people have been successful in it even in the hot summer months. To grow this plant from seed is to waste time, these plants can be grown easily by cutting.

You can apply it directly in the soil or put the cuttings in a glass of water and keep it near the sunlight window, within a few days the roots will start to appear, you can transfer it.

Spacing                       

12 to 24 inches apart, 1 to 2 feet between rows.

Soil and location

You can plant mentha plants directly on the ground, for this, choose a place in the garden or yard where there is full sun or part shade. These plants prefer moisture so there should be enough moisture in the soil. Mentha prefers more fertile soil and a pH from 6.0 to 7.0. By adding more organic manure to less fertile soil, it can make it rich.

Watering

Mentha herb plant requires regular watering. They like moist soil with good drainage, but they do not like wet soil and wet feet. If the soil feels dry on touching, then water again. It is good to water early in the morning so that there is moisture in them till the midday sun.

Fertilizer

This plant does not require fertilization, but you can give it a topical dose of a balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer. Fertilization should not be done as it affects the taste of the herb.

Companion Planting

Mentha Herb plant can be planted with tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, and radishes. This will help to prevent pests. Read more on companion planting.

How to grow mint in pots

You can grow the mother plant into a large container. To plant it in the morning sun or partial afternoon shade would be better. You must care for it otherwise it would cover like a weed. If you put in the container, the container must have a drainage hole. You can place a plate below the container so that if required by the plant absorbs water again.

• It grows well in any size pot, but in a 5-gallon bucket or pot, peppermint develops very well.
• Fill the pot with a well-drained commercial potting mix, add elements such as sand, perlite, or vermiculite to ensure good drainage. Water well in this mixture. Let extra water escape from the surface.

Plant cutting

• Cut a 3-4 inch stem with a healthy mint plant from the nursery,  remove the leaves from the bottom of the stem. Dip it into rooting hormone powder.
• Make a hole in the potting mixture with the help of a pencil or stick and bury the lower part of the cutting.
• Do not touch the leaves on the surface of the mixture,  if the leaves touch the mixture then the cutting can rot. After planting, press lightly around the stem through the mixture.
• Now cover the container with a clear plastic bag, and seal the bag.
• Keep your container in bright and indirect light between 65-70 degrees and in normal room temperature. Protect the container from direct light and never put the container near the window, because the rapid light rises through the plastic and can burn the cutting.
• Keep in mind that the moisture remains in the soil, if the soil is dry, remove the sheet and add water. This is usually not necessary, because the moisture content remains within the plastic sheet for several weeks.

place containers in a sunlight

• After about a month, you can check the roots by removing a cutting from the soil.
• Raise the cutting from the potting mixture with the help of a knife, and then check the roots,  if the root does not rooted, leave it for a few weeks and check again.
• Remove the plastic sheet after the root has come, and put the plant in the container 2 -3 inches. When roots are 1/2 – 1 inch long you place them in a bright sunlight area.
• After all hazards of frost have passed, keep it in full sunlight or partial shade in the spring. Read more.

Mint Care

• Herb plant mint prefers more sun. If you grow in a container place it near the window where the sunshine better. If it is on the lawn, it will get enough sunlight.
• Mint plant requires regular watering to maintain the soil is always moist. watering is a must but you do not water the whole day, you may watering once or twice a day if necessary.
• Make sure soil moisture maintain every time. If you have a mint plant dies then you put it in the Sun and give plenty of water, you can re-live it. Read more.

Harvesting

Peppermint Herb plant is easy to harvest, these plants should encourage regular harvesting to prevent legginess. You can harvest most of the plant at one time, cutting about 2/3 of the length of the stem. For the good taste of the herb, harvest it just before its flowering. At this time you will get its extreme aroma. Read more.

Uses

You can enjoy mint tea, herbal treatment from mint, use in an upset stomach. Fresh mint leaves are used in salads, rice casserole, or cooked vegetables. It is used as a flavor in breath freshness, drinks, antiseptic, toothpaste, chewing gum, and candies.

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