Of the more than 30 different species of mint plants in the Lamiaceae ( or mint ) syndicate , spearmint is one of the most popular and widely grown . Since ancient time , spearmint has been know as an herb that represents hospitality and Wisdom of Solomon . Like most metal money in the mint family . Spearmint is quite sluttish to produce .
Spearmint is commonly used medicinally to reduce the effects of testy gut syndrome , motion sickness , hiccough and nausea as well as other ailments . It is also a staple of the culinary art , normally used to season meat , Pisces the Fishes or vegetable dishes .
Growing Conditions for Spearmint
Mentha spicata is not unbelievably finical , but it prefer to grow in well - drain , moist , alimentary - rich soil with a pH balance around 6.5 to 7 . Though it will mature in slightly higher or lower pH level , 6.5 to 7 is the optimal scope for goodish growth . Spearmint commonly grows around river beds , so it ’s best to plant your Mentha spicata in areas that get lots of sunlight . However , if you are in an extremely hot climate area , you may want to use a tarp or canopy to cover the plant during the hot hours of the twenty-four hour period , as too much direct sunlight will burn the leaves of the plant .
How to Plant Spearmint
Spearmint is incredibly incursive and will take over your intact garden if you do not take preventive cadence . If originate outdoors , you will want to plant mint flora in a segment of your garden that has borders to keep runner from invading your entire garden . If you are growing indoors , a windowpane box or a likewise wide , shallow container with good drain works best .
Mentha spicata plants are commonly grown using seedlings , as produce from seeded player is very hard to do . However , you’re able to plant them from seeds when the ground has lead off to warm in the spring . mature from a seedling or a cutting from a fledged plant , is highly recommended , though . When planting Mentha spicata out of doors , spot seedling at least two feet aside , as they will pass around rapidly once they take source . If you are only harvest enough for your family and booster , you should only need to found two or three plants . Thoe few will spread out and cover any orbit their roots can expand into .
How to Care for Spearmint
mint candy plants will do well with very little supervision . However , the most essential matter that you’re able to do to keep them healthy and producing well is to thin out out your craw by cut each plant with shears regularly . Allow the trimmings to melody dry , and then store them in airtight containers for future use .
After your mint plant are sprouting up and doing well , bestow a stratum of mulch to the soil to keep it at the correct temperature and to protect against harsh weather . Occasional watering ( two to four times per week ) is enough to keep your Mentha spicata plant thriving if the mulch layer is doing its problem correctly . Allow the industrial plant to get plenty of Lord’s Day ( or artificial light ) throughout the sidereal day , but out-of-door mint plant can endure a little bit of shadowiness , especially in extremely hot clime sphere .
Spearmint Pests and Problems
Twospotted Spider Mites : Twospotted spider mites love to lay their offspring on the underside of mint leaves and attack mint plants for several generation . Keep your mint plant life out of juiceless , dust-covered areas , and body of water ofttimes during dry months to fend off these pesky pests . Make a 1 % neem oil nebulizer , [ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/how-to-get-rid-of-red-spider-mites/ ] and soak the soil and industrial plant proactively if you ’ve had problems with spider mite before .
Rust : If your spearmint plant life commence to train yellow topographic point on its leave with chocolate-brown or black spots on the leaf bottom , your plants have a fungal infection and ask to be destruct and replaced . Prevent this from happening by watering your plants at the dirt level . Make certain the leaves and stem wry during the watering process , and keep the plants in a elbow room with good air circulation . Rust infection usually only occur when growing mint indoors .
Verticillium Wilt : Another fungous contagion that can straiten your spearmint plants is verticillium wilt , which stimulate the flora to wither and die . This disease is usually due to overwatering or oversaturation . Attempt to water just to the soil levelfor indoor works , and keep the flora in a well - aerated elbow room .
Ways to Use Spearmint
Bug Filter : Spearmint attracts pollinating insects to your garden due to its scent and its flowers , but the odor can also be used to drive away undesirable louse , such as ants , flies , and even flea .
Freshen Up : Add Mentha spicata of the essence oil to your household cleansing agent of choice to light up up the smell of any room . Spearmint is also a slap-up breath freshener , as it is commonly used in mints , gumwood , and toothpaste .
Just a Dash : Mint has long been used as a flavorant in centre , fish and veggie sweetheart , especially with goat and lamb . It ’s also been used to season tea and democratic alcohol-dependent beverages , such as the mojito or the passel mint julep . Mint ferment great in desserts as well — it ’s one of the few herbs that pair well with both sweet and savory flavour .
Tummy Tamer : Spearmint has been used in medicine for ages to treat gastrointestinal offspring , such as indigestion , hamper and bloating . A cup of Mentha spicata tea is a capital cure for an upset stomach .
So , why should spearmint get a place in your garden ? Because it ’s easy to mature , it promotes the pollination of your garden , it smell wonderful , and it ’s great to have on deal when train meals , dessert and tasty beverages . Spearmint is a great addition to any herb garden .
Want to learn more about growing spearmint?
Check out these sites for more tips and tricks .
grow Mentha spicata at Gardening Know HowGrowing Mint at Herbgardening.comGrowing Mentha spicata
Matt Gibson is the Sales Director and Project Manager for Russell Gibson Content . He is also a freelance writer , poet , songwriter , rapper and composer . His horticulture expertness is centered around herbaceous plant , cacti , succulents , and carnivorous plants .
