"Garden mint and how to grow it..."

Growing garden mint at home is probably the easiest and quickest way to a prolific herb garden...

but watch out, mint is an aggressive perennial and will soon take over if not controlled. Plant mint into a sunken clay pot in your herb bed to control spreading of the roots.

It will grow well in containers or as an indoor plant.

There are thousands of species of mint although the most common types are peppermint and spearmint.

Garden mint can be started from seed, cuttings, or simply by digging up and re-planting a little patch of someone else's mint plants. Most gardeners will be only too happy to donate a clump of mint to get you going. It isn't easy to propogate from seed but if you really want to start from scratch, try Thompson and Morgan for mint seeds...



Garden mint UK deliveries
Thompson & Morgan worldwide Type 'mint' into the search box on their homepage and you'll land on a page of beautiful varieties of mint - seeds and plants.

Or for a quicker result, buy plants ready for placing directly in your herb bed.

Postitioning:

Mint does well in just about every position and every type of soil. However, as it likes to have fairly moist roots to produce lots of leaf, partial shade and sun would be ideal.

Give a thought to space. It likes to grow and grow and can be invasive if not checked. Grow a small clump next to the back door, or use as a border for your herb or vegetable plots. Mint has a lovely presence in the garden. The strong smell deters some insects and will refresh and invigorate your morning stroll around the garden - plant garden mint where you can always rub a few leaves and fill the air with the mint aroma, or collect a few for the kitchen...

Mint can be used in tisanes, added to hot chocolate or cocktails, and made into a traditional mint sauce.

Once you have positioned your plants and put them in the ground, water and forget about them!

Unless your soil is very poor, garden mint will not need feeding. A couple of feeds during the growing season will help to produce more leaf but it is rarely needed.

You won't need to water mint unless the plant has been in full sun in severe drought conditions. A little mulch around the base of the plant will help keep moisture in if necessary.

Keep picking leaves and stems as and when you need them. As with most herbs, the more you pick, the more they grow!

Garden mint, once established, will grow back year after year. A couple of small cuttings planted ten years ago has grown into a solid mint patch in our garden and never needs any attention!

NB: If you are growing mint in containers you will need to water regularly as the soil will generally dry out faster than open ground.

Ideally garden mint should be used fresh off the plant, but it can be stored successfully.

Cut as much as you need just before the plant starts to flower; this will probably be mid to late summer depending on your region. Leave about 3 inches of stalk in the ground.

Drying:

Hang upside down in small bunches (in paper bags) in a dark airy place free from damp. When very dry, crumble and store in an airtight jar. Or, if you have the space, dry leaves and stems on racks. Keep dust free and turn regularly until completely dry. Some taste is lost during drying.

Use as tea or sprinkle a little in everyday meals.

Freezing:

Freeze whole stalks or individual leaves quickly on trays, and then store in freezer in sealable plastic bags or other containers. Remember to label.A single small mint leaf frozen in individual ice cube blocks is a perfect addition to a summer cocktail or a long lemonade.

Preserving:

What would roast lamb be without mint sauce?!

Chop fresh leaves into very small pieces. Use a grinder or food blender if you have one - it's a lot faster.Mix with malt vinegar ( apple cider vinegar can also be used if preferred ).Taste. Add a little sugar if needed and store in airtight glass jars. Label and date.

Garden mint preserved in vinegar will last indefinately. But if you have fresh mint coming up every year in your garden, don't give yourself too much extra work. Make what you will use during the winter months, then dry or freeze the rest.

When the mint comes up next year there will be another fresh supply!

Medicinal:

Mint has been used as an aid to digestion in many cultures and for many generations. A cup of mint tisane after your meal will help your body digest food gently and efficiently.

It is also a useful medicine against colds and flu.

NB: As with all herbs, mint should be taken in moderate doses. One or two wineglasses of mint tisane a day is generally sufficient to keep a healthy balance!

Mint can clear a fuzzy headache. Simply rub the leaves and breathe in the fresh minty smell. Guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs.

Culinary:

Garden mint can be:

-made into a traditional sauce to serve with meats,

-added to rich chocolate desserts,

-and infused to make refreshing mint tisanes.

Happy Gardening!

Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months.

Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.

Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense

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