Mint: The Herb of Hospitality

Article by: Gwen Stewart

The Mentha species or mints as they are commonly called include many varieties that flavour everything from appetizers to desserts. The best-known species in North American are peppermint (M. x piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata), which are highly valued for commercial use. Mint symbolises "hospitality"Â and can be grown in pots , Backyard Landscaping Ideas - A Guide To Evergreen Trees And Shrubs and containers indoors , Landscape Gardening and out. In the garden, , Guaranteed Gladioli, Summer Colour that Returns mint should be grown with a barrier around the roots, , Choosing the Perfect Landscape Painting as it can be extremely invasive. Most mints do not come true from seed , How to Grow a Pineapple so it is best to purchase plants , Rose Tending in June from a nursery or garden , How to Make a Simple Homemade Aeroponics System centre. Fresh mints are a source of Vitamin C and pro-vitamin A.

Peppermint and spearmint are perennials , Rose Tending in June growing 12 - 36 inches (30 - 90 cm) tall although some mints are ground hugging. Produced at the end of square stems, terminal spikes of dainty lilac, purple, pink, , The Zoo-Doo Man - Or How to Make the Best Compost in the World! or white flowers , African Violet Care usually bloom in mid-to-late summer. , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden Cultivation requirements for growing , How To Bring An Old Lawn Back to Life mint: grows , Secrets To Beautiful Shade Gardens best in moist, deep, loosely textured sandy soil; full sun , How to Choose a Pond or Fountain Light but will do well in partial shade; keep well watered; pinch off flowers , Fertilizing to Create More Blossoms on Your s, Flowering Shrubs, and Trees to promote bushy growth; and if growing indoors, , Corylopsis (Winterhazel) - Spicata fertilise with an organic , How to Select the Best Hammock fertiliser at half-strength every 3 or 4 weeks. Where winters , The Amazing Hummingbird are harsh, mulch with straw , Birdhouses or leaves to protect your plants. , Gardening Tips For the Beginner

Mints have creeping roots , The Zoo-Doo Man - Or How to Make the Best Compost in the World! that require sufficient room , Lawn Care Business Owners - Don't Buy Yourself A Job to develop. When establishing indoor plants, , Gardening Tips For the Beginner pot , Outdoor Kitchens: Attention All Cooks - You've Never Had It This Good! up in good houseplant soil , Secrets To Beautiful Shade Gardens and sufficiently large containers to accommodate their root , How to Grow a Pineapple system. To bring indoors , Flag Day: Will You Be Ready? for the winter, , Corylopsis (hazel) - Spicata check for insects, and spray with soap and water , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden if necessary. To harvest and prevent indoor plants , The History of the Gnome from getting scraggly, keep the stems cut back to 5 inches (13 cm). This will also keep the plants , The Basics of Growth; Part 1 Hormones from blooming and ensure tastier leaves.

Indoor mints require at least 5 hours of strong sunlight daily. Grow , Backyard Landscaping Ideas - A Guide To Evergreen Trees And Shrubs them on a southern or eastern exposure. If you are growing , Basil: The King of Herbs them on a windowsill, rotate regularly to ensure each side receives equal amounts of light. , Planning Permission Tips UK - Landscaping Schemes - Do They Add Value-Is It The Chicken Or The Egg? Better yet, grow , Flowers For U them under fluorescent lights , Birdhouses hung 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants , African Violet Care and leave on for 14 hours a day.

In the garden, , Lawn Care Business Owners - Don't Buy Yourself A Job mint is a good companion to cabbage and tomatoes. , Basic Lawn Care - Mowing, Scarifiers, Aeration, and Watering Tips Mint deters cabbageworms and spearmint may help keep aphids off nearby plants. , How to Grow Ornamental Grasses Mints attract bees so planting them near fruit trees , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden will improve pollination and increase yields. Add fresh mint leaves to water , Choosing the Perfect Landscape Painting in the birdbath to keep the water , Gardening Tips For the Beginner attractive for birds. , Flag Day: Will You Be Ready? In the kitchen, , How To Bring An Old Lawn Back to Life use mint with roast lamb or fish, , Planning Tips for Compact Courtyard Gardens butter, salads, , CO2 for 'Free' cheese, fruits, , High Intensity Discharge Grow Light (Generic) fruit , The Zoo-Doo Man - Or How to Make the Best Compost in the World! salads, jellies, soups, sauces, plain meats, poultry, stews, sweet dishes, teas, bean and lentil dishes. Add fresh sprigs to cooking water , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden of peas, carrots, fresh beets, new potatoes, and in vinegar. Mint flowers , Landscaping Tips: What Mulch to Use for Trees can be used in salads , Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture – What You Don’t Know as well as garnishes for desserts. In Middle Eastern dishes, mint is used for cheese pastry fillings, yoghurt dressings, and stuffings for vegetables , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden such as bell peppers, , The Basics of Plant Growth; Part 1 Hormones tomatoes, , Want Curb Appeal - Play Dress-up and eggplant. Mint tea is useful for soothing upset stomachs. To brew a cup, use 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried leaves or 3 teaspoons (15 mL) crushed fresh leaves in 1 cup (250 mL) of boiling water. , Strawbale Construction Wins Hands Down Steep to taste. Mint can be dried or freeze leaves in butter, oil, or ice cubes.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden , Rose Tending in June consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place , Keep It Tidy! Your Home Outdoors Will Look Its Very Best When You Use Good Storage Methods! Of Peace - Gardening , African Violet Care For The Soil, , High Intensity Discharge Grow Light (Generic) Gardening , How To Bring An Old Lawn Back to Life For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening , Gardens Provide Peaceful Sanctuaries Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden , Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture – What You Don’t Know where you will find lots of free information , How to Select the Best Hammock about gardening , Outdoor Kitchens: Attention All Cooks - You've Never Had It This Good! for the soil , Birdhouses and gardening , Secrets To Beautiful Shade Gardens for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart Â© 2004 - 2005. All rights reserved.

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Mint: The Herb of Hospitality

Landscape Gardening

Seasonal Gardening