Curly mint is the most common variety of mint found in summer cottages. The plant is unpretentious and does not require special attention. Herbal teas and infusions are prepared based on the leaves of the culture.
Features of the variety
Spearmint gets its name from the shape of its leaves. They look like curls. Unlike peppermint, the aroma of this variety is not as strong. The leaves smell pleasant, but the smell is unobtrusive, menthol. The plant reaches a height of 30 cm to 1 m. The shade of the petals is light green.With the onset of the flowering period, the variety throws out inflorescences. The stems for teas are collected together with the flowers.
Conditions for growing curly mint
The variety prefers to grow in open sunny areas. It is advisable to choose places where the plants are in the sun in the first half of the day. Preference should be given to moist soils, but not wetlands.
It is recommended that the soil be fertile, loose, and well aerated. Loamy and sandy loam substrates are suitable. It is not advisable to plant bushes in the shade. They will not grow well. Every 4 years, the beds are replanted, and large bushes are planted in different areas.
Landing dates
The optimal time for planting is mid-spring. This is the second half of April - the first half of May. In cold regions, planting is delayed until warmer weather arrives. It is not recommended to plant mint in summer. Over the summer, it will not have time to take root in a new place and will most likely die in the winter.
Autumn planting is undesirable for the same reason. As a last resort, you need to finish planting mint before August. And with the onset of frost, cover the beds.
Preparing seedlings
Curly mint is grown in several ways.
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- seedling.
The most labor-intensive and ineffective method of cultivation is seed. They often germinate poorly and require increased attention.
Preference should be given to cuttings or seedlings.
To get mint seedlings, you can purchase them in garden stores or grow them yourself:
- To grow seedlings from a mint bush, cut off the stem at the base of the root.
- They put him in the water. After a few days, thin white roots appear.
- When they grow up, the seedlings begin to be planted in the soil in separate cups.
After the seedlings have taken root and become stronger, they are transplanted together with the soil to a permanent place.
Site preparation
They begin to prepare the site for planting curly mint in the fall. With the onset of autumn, all weeds are removed and the soil is dug up to a depth of 10-15 cm. This will avoid the appearance of insects in the spring. In addition, the soil is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate or iodine. Such disinfection is the prevention of fungi and other diseases.
In the spring, the soil is dug up again and fertilizers are applied. Use mineral and organic fertilizers. Manure, bird droppings, mullein, superphosphate and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are suitable.
Planting a plant
To grow mint by seed, the material is first germinated. To do this, it is placed in damp gauze and left for several days. When the sprouts appear, they are transplanted into the soil and sprinkled with a little earth. The boxes with seeds are wrapped in cling film and left in this form for 1-2 weeks. The film is removed periodically. This is necessary to check whether mold has appeared on the soil. And water the soil. After the sprouts appear, the film is removed.
You need to transplant the seedlings to a permanent place when the first few pairs of full-fledged leaves appear on the bushes.
Another method is cuttings. Part of the bush is cut off with a shovel and, together with the soil, planted in a new place. Then add soil and water generously with warm water. This method is considered the simplest, and the bushes take root faster than when planted by other methods.
Before planting bushes with white roots, holes are dug in the soil and fertilizer is poured into the bottom. Place the stem in the hole and cover it with soil. Lightly compact the soil on top and water.
General rules for crop care
Spearmint, like other plant varieties, is unpretentious. Bushes can grow on any soil. The only condition for care is that when grown in cold regions, the beds are insulated for the winter. Mint is afraid of frost and often freezes in cold winters.
How to water mint
The bushes need to be watered several times a week. Mint prefers to grow in moist soil. But it is not advisable to overwater the soil so that the plants do not start to get sick. If there is extreme heat, the amount of watering is increased. By the appearance of the bushes it will be clear whether they need additional moisture.
Weeding and loosening
The plant does not need frequent weeding. It is necessary to loosen the soil only if the beds are heavily overgrown with weeds and interfere with the growth of mint. You will also have to weed the beds if the plantings are very thick and some of the bushes need to be transplanted to a new place.
Diseases and pests of mint
Most often, flea beetles, aphids, leaf beetles and mites appear on curly mint. Insects feed on mint juice, causing the plant to wither and the bushes gradually die. Harmful insects must be destroyed immediately after they appear. The chemicals used are Karbofos or other insect repellent herbicides.
Among the diseases, mint is affected by powdery mildew and rust. Spraying with soap or soda solution helps against powdery mildew. And if the bushes are affected by rust, then they need to be dug up and destroyed away from the site. The beds are then treated with potassium permanganate. To prevent diseases, it is necessary to prevent waterlogging and thickening of the beds.
Harvest and storage
They begin to harvest mint when the stems of the plant have reached a height of 20-30 cm. Starting from the first half of June, the stems are already cut off. The cutting is carried out until the fall.The more often you cut the stems, the thicker they will grow.
Dry the mint in a cool, dark room, stirring occasionally. After the stems and leaves are completely dry, they are transferred to glass jars or fabric bags. Store raw materials away from sunlight.
