How To Grow Mint

The term 'mint' comes from the Greek word 'Minthe', the name of a Greek nymph. It is said that Minthe was attracted to Hades, the God of the Underworld. Hades' consort Persephone was jealous of Minthe and tried to trample her to death. However, Hades saved Minthe, by converting her into an herb, which was came to be known as mint. It is said that the very smell of mint plant oozes hospitality and wisdom. Mint has almost forty varieties and is used to enhance the flavor of food. The aroma of the herb is enough to add to the appeal of any dish. It is used in dressing, sherbets, dips, soups, tea, and in many other forms. Mint is used for medicinal purposes too, especially for treating common flu, cold, and fever. Ancient Greeks and Romans used to rub their tables with it, to enhance the appetite of their guests. Without mint, a kitchen garden is as good as incomplete. So, if you haven’t yet planted the herb in your garden, go through the following lines. We have listed tips on how to grow mint, below.

Growing Mint Plants

Before planting mint, you need to know the season in which it grows the best, without encountering any problem. Spring is considered the best season to plant the herb. Instead of buying its seed, sow a small plant, purchased from the nursery. Growing it from seeds can be tricky, as the germination of sapling takes a lot of time and is painstaking.
Choose an area where you want to grow mint. Don’t plant it near other plants, as the herb tends to take over the former. Choose a place where it can grow freely, without disturbing the other plants. Although mint can be grown almost anywhere, the best place would be where it receives partial shade. The soil should be moderately rich, but slightly acidic.
Mint plants tend to flourish faster. Therefore, if you don’t want them to cover all the space you have in the garden, plant the herb in sun or soil that is little dry. To contain its movement, you can plant mint in a bottomless container as well, dug into soil. If you are planting more than one plant, make sure to prove 12 to 15 inches of space in-between.
While growing mint, it is advisable to let the moisture remain in the soil until the plants become fully rooted. You can provide your plant with quality potting mix, including vermiculite and perlite, to make it grow faster and without any problem. You can also add half-inch of mulch to the plant, to help it retain the moisture.
While harvesting the leaves and sprigs of mint, go according to your need, but never ever remove all the leaves from the plant. Removing leaves from the upper twigs will encourage growth from down the stream. The leaves can be harvested for six months, when the plant is grown outdoors, and year round, in case it is planted indoors.

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