Mint: The Herb You Need to Keep in Check
1 min read By Екипът на Seeds
Mint from seed — a slow start, but then you have to hold it back. How to grow it in a pot and in the garden.
From seed
Mint seeds are very small and germinate in light. Scatter them over the surface of damp compost, press in lightly and cover with a clear lid. At 20 °C they come up in 10–15 days.
The seedlings grow slowly for the first few weeks — be patient.
Planting
Mint spreads by underground runners and quickly takes over the whole bed. Plant it in a pot or in a buried container with the base removed to restrict the roots.
- Position: partial shade, moist soil.
- Spacing: 30–40 cm.
Harvest
Cut the stems just above a pair of leaves — the plant branches out. The aroma is strongest before flowering; that is also the best time to dry it for tea.
Types
Peppermint is the strongest; spearmint (garden mint) is milder and the classic for cooking. Try lemon or apple mint as well.
Photo: C T Johansson, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
