Moroccan mint, most often called garden mint, attracts with its curly, lush leaves and unique aroma. In terms of taste, it is softer than the traditional pepper variety, with a refreshing aroma.
Features of the variety
Moroccan mint is a curly mint and its name comes from its French roots when Morocco was a colony of France. This variety, grown in a hot climate, was distinguished by a high content of essential oils and menthol, and stood out from the rest with its corrugated leaves. It has a minty-fresh aroma and a tart peppery taste.
Useful properties of mint
In Morocco, beneficial properties of mint, it is used as a prophylaxis for various diseases. Based on its leaves, life-giving tea is prepared, which is an excellent tonic and refreshing agent.
This variety has many beneficial qualities:
- Stabilizes blood pressure levels.
- Has a relaxing effect.
- Has a positive effect on functioning blood vessels and the heart.
- Aimed at improving digestion and gastrointestinal function.
- Eliminates headaches and stress.
- Aimed at relaxing muscles, eliminating muscle spasms.
- Eases the condition of PMS.
In the summer, mint drink is a real salvation and has refreshing qualities. People take life-giving decoctions of natural mint as a sedative that can relieve emotional stress and stimulate brain function.
Seed preparation
Purchase planting samples from a specialized store for further sowing in the ground. The seeds do not require special preparation before planting; they can be kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Preparing the landing site
Mint prefers a nutritious soil composition. You can use ready-made soil for growing seedlings or make the mixture yourself. For this purpose, mix in equal proportions: humus, garden soil, sifted sand, peat. To disinfect the mixture, it is calcined in the oven.
To sow seeds, choose a sunny area with light shade at midday.
Sowing
It is very convenient to sow seeds in prepared plastic containers with a lid. The result is a kind of mini-greenhouse.In order not to constantly open the containers, small holes are made in the lid.
Be sure to sow the seeds in moist soil. For this purpose, small grooves are made, the embedding depth is no more than 5 mm, and the selected seeds are carefully placed there. The mint seeds are too small to wash; use a spray bottle. Sprinkle earth on top. The container with the sown seeds is placed on a lighted windowsill in a warm room.
Plant care
After the shoots appear, carefully open the lid. To prevent young shoots from stretching out, they are provided with high-quality lighting. If there is not enough natural sun, then the seedlings are illuminated with special lamps.
Beautiful mint loves moisture, so in addition to watering, it is sprayed. The grown seedlings are transplanted into separate containers or planted in open ground in a permanent place. It is advisable to plant young mint in areas where legumes, root crops, and various perennials have previously grown.
Mint is a creeping plant that fills every space, like a fast-growing weed. To prevent such a nuisance from happening, before direct planting, limiters are dug into the soil; slate sheets and sheet metal are used as such. To prevent such spread, it is advisable to grow mint in spacious containers.
Features of watering
This perennial is extremely moisture-loving. Water it moderately, without stagnant moisture, which it does not tolerate. During severe dry periods, the perennial requires daily watering. They add moisture in the evening hours. To ensure that life-giving moisture is retained during periods of drought, the tree trunk circle is mulched with high-quality compost and the soil is regularly loosened.
Weeding and loosening
Regularly weed the tree trunk to remove excess weeds. Periodic loosening of the soil is necessary; dry watering is necessary.
Diseases
When sowing seeds in open ground, they are sown at a distance from each other to prevent infection with various ailments. If powdery mildew is found on the leaves, then the young bushes are saved by treating them with a solution of colloidal sulfur.
Pests
Tender mint is attacked by weevils, aphids, and whiteflies; its appearance is also spoiled by slugs. Some gardeners collect destructive insects by hand, but it is still much more effective to carry out periodic treatment with a potent insecticide. The instructions indicate how long it takes to collect safe raw materials for making tea and infusions.
Harvest and storage
In the first year of intensive growth and development of the plant, fresh leaves are collected for drying. This should be done before the fragrant perennial begins to bloom, since at this time they have already accumulated a sufficient amount of useful substances and natural esters. In order to best preserve the taste, the collected material is dried in the shade. The leaves are dried whole or ground into powder, sometimes dried in twigs. The freshness of green shoots is preserved in damp gauze in the refrigerator.
