HOW TO PLANT MINT, AND OBTAIN YOUR BENEFITS

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Hello friend of the farm in this opportunity I am going to speak to you of a plants that we can plant in the garden as they are the aromatic ones it is quite common to find mint in the edges of our garden or in pots. Normally it is grown in small auxiliary terraces or in closed containers to limit its growth since with these plants we must take special care because they are invasive and if they grow a lot they can invade the garden and become a problem. The mint whose scientific name is Mentha belongs to the genus of the perennial herbaceous, part of the family of the Lamiaceae, dividing into several species among which the mint stands out.
If you like mint and you want to create your own urban garden, these indications will be very useful to know firsthand how to grow mint and thus make the most of all its benefits and properties. If you like to drink mint tea or use it in your recipes, what better way to enjoy this plant by planting it in your own home. This herb is not difficult to sow.
The Mint. It is a perennial plant quite resistant, originating from temperate climates that adapts to all climates although if we live in very hot regions it is much better to plant it in semi-shade.
The mint adapts to all types of soil but it prefers them to retain a little moisture but nevertheless it is important that they drain very well so a clay soil would be ideal and also likes the soils rich in organic matter that will make it I developed a lot better.
Mint We will plant it in spring or autumn and it is best to buy the plant directly or reproduce it by cutting from another plant. Even so we can also make seedbed in protected winter if we prefer to buy seeds.

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THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING MINT IN OUR GARDEN
Apart from preparing mojitos or other culinary uses is that we can take advantage of it to make infusions with it and fight aphids, but also by putting it on the edges of the garden helps us to bring beneficial insects like ladybugs, pollinators such as bees and other predators. It would even be ideal to put it near our insect hotel. If this were not enough with its aromatic compounds repels plagues like the butterfly of the cabbage, the fly of the carrot, the ants even if we put enough plants bordering the orchard will serve to repel the rodents. Peppermint has a bad reputation because if we plant it on the ground in our garden and we forget it, it spreads everywhere and there is no way to control it since it easily reproduces with a piece of stem or root and would always come out again. That is why we recommend that this type of plants be placed in a small space such as a flowerpot or planter, there are many varieties and today we are going to convince you to add mint to your plant collection

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MINT GROWS QUICKLY
The mind grows very quickly and without a doubt for the people who love their garden it will be a joy to see it grow in such a short time we have to have it in an isolated place to prevent it from spreading through the soil of the garden. However, despite its rapid growth it takes some time for the plant to establish itself and thus enjoy its delicious flavor. It is a good idea to plant several plants at the same time in order to let the mint grow enough

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TIPS ABOUT HOW TO PLANT MINT

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WHEN TO PLANT MINT
The cultivation of the mint prefers temperatures of 13 to 15 ° C during the night and 18 to 21 ° C in the day. According to the season of the year in which the plant is planted, you must choose your position since during the spring and summer should be placed to the east and in autumn and winter to the south or west, however to the cultivation of mint prefers to grow in spring or autumn in free seasons of extreme climates. Another way to know the orientation of the plant is to receive the sun during the morning and partial shade in the afternoon.

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CROP IRRIGATION
Something to keep in mind about how to plant mint is that it needs to be watered with continuity since it likes moisture. It is not necessary that you water it all day, however you must make sure that the earth is moist but without puddling. If the plant dies it is probably due to lack of water or sunlight. If you give the right amounts of light and water, you can probably recover the plant. However you should be more friendly since a dead plant does not absorb the right amounts of water unlike a growing one.

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EARTH TO USE
If you are going to plant it on the ground, you should bear in mind that when it comes to how to plant mint it is that this herb requires a wet area in the garden, with a pH that ranges from 6.0 to 7.0. Peppermint can grow vigorously without much care, however appreciates that a little fertilizer is applied every few weeks. You must keep the soil moist and apply mulch around the plant to keep its roots moist and prevent the plant from spreading.

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HOW TO CULTIVATE IN MACETA
Obviously the best option is to plant it in a pot because that way you control that it will not grow anywhere else. Thanks to its rapid growth we can prune it as we need the plant, picking up small twigs, the plant will sprout and another branch will grow again in a few weeks. It is very common to see how mint plants are sold in small plastic pots. However, the cultivation of mint requires enough space to grow, this being something necessary especially for our initial plant. Preferably choose a pot with a hole, as this will allow the removal of excess water. You can also place a small dish underneath so that the excess water evaporates and absorbs again.
Growing mint requires that we have a place without much sun exposure. Although the mint can be in the sun, the ideal is to cultivate in the shade or in what we call semi-shade. If it is not possible, we can place it in a place where the sun arrives but in a small amount. On the other hand, like many crops, mint needs a moist place something to keep in mind during maintenance and irrigation

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PLANT TRANSPLANTATION
One point to keep in mind about how to plant mint is transplant. For this you have to trim the limbs of the mint culture that has already been established, to a measure of 5 to 6 inches in length. Then remove the lower leaves and place the cuttings in a container full of water or bottle. Finally, place it in a sunny window where it gives at least four to six hours of light a day.
Afterwards you should wait for the roots to grow, it may take a week to see small roots. However, you must wait even longer for the roots to have the proper length. Do not forget to add water in the container whenever you need it.
When the roots grow enough, remove the branch and plant it in another pot or on the land you use. In case of sowing it in a pot only one branch per pot is needed, however if you have a larger pot you can plant several. If you handle these new plants well and grow enough thanks to the adequate amounts of water and light, it will grow and you will be able to take your branches to transplant them.

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CARE
Do not forget to completely raise and re-sow the mint every 3 to 4 years to maintain its flavor and smell. In addition, you should rotate the plant every three or four days so that it maintains a more uniform appearance, since these plants tend to turn in the direction of the sun and if it is not done it could be unbalanced.
In case of sowing in confined areas such as pots, do not forget to cover the plant with a thin layer of compost or organic fertilizer after a few months. In addition, the upper part of the pot will require protection in cold winter climates.

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HARVEST
To make a good harvest, you must make it at the moment before its flowering in order to have an intense flavor and odor. For this you must cut the entire plant just above the first or second group of leaves. You must also remove all those leaves that turn yellow to promote a more dense growth. Three harvests per season is what is usually done.

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ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS
When the mint blooms it will attract all kinds of pollinators to your garden, such as bees, wasps, butterflies, flower flies and even tachimid flies that feed on other insects.

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GOOD FOR PETS
Hens love fresh herbs and mint have many properties that benefit them as a digestive aid, antioxidant properties and repels parasites, provide a daily bunch of mint will suit them. If you have sheep, cows or goats, a little mint also comes in handy, so try to plant it in large quantities in order to have the ideal supply for livestock. It can also be good for cats and dogs, the mint known as catnip (Nepeta cataria) love it and often rub it with it and eat its leaves and flowers.

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AN INGREDIENT IN THE FOOD
Mint is an aromatic plant. It is usually used to flavor foods and all kinds of cosmetics such as body oils and even perfumes. Also, as it happened in Ancient Greece, it is used as an environment flavoring. Mint produces a very fresh, radiant and sweet smell, which contains a great stimulating power
The mint known as good boil is an ideal ingredient for broths and soups because it gives them a fresh touch, in addition you can also make tea or ice cream.

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MEDICINAL PLANT
Peppermint is a type of aromatic plant that is characterized by medicinal properties as are its antiseptic and expectorant properties which makes us consume mint in those moments that we suffer from sore throat or discomfort in the chest. Among the benefits of cultivating mint, we can say that medicinally has antiseptic and expectorant properties, that is why we usually consume it when we suffer from congestion, pain or discomfort in the throat (in those cases, we are recommended to use it in vapors ). Its high content of menthol provides an analgesic function, which will also help to combat, in a very relaxing way, the big headaches called migraine. The same happens with the elimination of tension and stress.
As if that were not enough, another of the great benefits of peppermint is to help digestion, preventing gas, cramps, nausea and all kinds of upset stomach.
The use in my shakes, gives a very refreshing flavor, and a great contribution due to its great properties.

1. Perfect in flu and colds, in addition to helping you breathe better, it will help eliminate mucus and reduce cough.
2. It also helps to release gases and reduce vomiting or colic. With all this I'm perfect now for the winter.
   To make matters worse also provides many health benefits, for example the water mint has relaxing properties and I use to soothe the nerves. An infusion of good grass helps us improve digestion and freshen breath.

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PESTS OR DISEASES OF MINT
You can find the cultivar mint highlighting the Rust, a type of disease that causes the plants to turn yellow on the stems, and Phyllosticta menthae, a fungus that causes brown spots throughout the plant.

CONCLUSION
Like all plants, you can make some crop association, which means growing more plants in the same urban garden. In the case of mint, a good growing association would be with spinach, lettuce or cabbage. Surely when you hear about mint, the first thing that comes to mind are candy or mint gum. It is not a coincidence that before the pains and itching of throat we choose a candy of this type. The same to improve our breath. The benefits of mint certainly leave much to glimpse to be used as a flavoring for this type of candy. Being a small plant, it is possible to grow it in an urban garden at home, where in addition to all these benefits to consume it, will provide us a rich aroma throughout the house. If you have an outer space you can also grow mint there. Although it is a plant that is recommended to have in the shade, it can be adapted to a bit of sun around it.

SOURCE.
https://plantas.facilisimo.com/aromaticas-menta_1860219.html
https://plantas.facilisimo.com/beneficios-de-cultivar-menta-en-casa_1142965.html

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