Apr 05 2008
Mint Herb Varieties
As a culinary herb, mint is a versatile addition to any kitchen. However, every gardener dreads finding mint in their garden. Mint grows like a weed, and once it crops up in an area, it can be invasive, choking out other plants.
The advantage of the invasive quality of mint is that it is easy for beginners to grow. Mint is virtually impossible to kill. It is not frost-hardy, and it will appear to die off with the first hard frost of fall. However, the underground root system is extensive and extremely hard to kill, so tender shoots of mint will pop up again next spring, seemingly out of nowhere. Mint will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Grow Mint Herb in Pots
Because of the invasive nature of the root system of mint plants, many gardeners prefer to grow mint herbs in containers or in a small planting bed that is surrounded by paving or concrete. However, if you have a natural area in your garden where you don’t mind letting mint herbs run rampant, you may wish to grow mint in that area where you will not mind if it grows wild and takes over the entire area.
Harvesting Mint
The advantage of growing a great deal of mint herbs in your garden is that, when harvest time comes, you will have abundant amounts of mint herbs available at your fingertips. Besides, every herb gardener knows that harvesting mint is one of the most pleasant gardening chores you will ever have to do, because of the fragrant aroma that emanates from these plants as you work among them.
Growing Catnip
The herb mint commonly known as catnip is actually cat mint, or nepeta. Scientists believe that a cat’s susceptibility to catnip is an inherited trait; thus, cats that love catnip will love it for their entire lives, while other cats will pass a catnip plant by without even noticing it. With catnip, it’s all or nothing. If you cat enjoys catnip, you should plant it in the ground, not in a pot.
Cats love to roll in catnip and strip the leaves from the stems with their teeth. A potted plant is likely to topple over under this attention, but putting a plant in the ground will give cats the leverage they need to enjoy the herb mint known as catnip. Whether you plant spearmint, peppermint, or catnip, growing mint is fun and gives a beginning gardener a lot of confidence. Why not plant some mint herbs today?
Related posts:
- Grow your Own Herb Tea
- What Are the Advantages of Creating Herb Gardens Outdoors?
- Grow Tasty and Healthy Fresh Herbs in your Kitchen with Herb Bags
- Using Organic Herb Seeds in Your Organic Garden
- Planning Your Herb Garden Layout
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I love fresh mint… it makes the best tea. I always keep a container growing
in my kitchen window.
Reading your comments about how invasive it can be in the garden reminded me of my dad. He thought it would be great to have fresh mint to make homemade mint jelly one year, and so he planted a ton of it. By the end of the summer he was going up and down the street inviting the neighbors to all come and help themselves because there was so much of it.
My MOM has a large crop of mint in her back yard. What should I do with it? Can it be dried and used later?
Yes, it can be dried and used later.
i put some mint seeds in 3 plant pots nearly 3 weeks ago and they are sitting in my window in the living room at the moment, they are kept moist, but not soaking, its warm on there.
Could you tell me how long it may be before they germinate, when and if it does it will be kept in a large pot in the garden.
Hopefully you can help.
Thanks