I Mint Every Word (Mint)

Member Name: Emmald

Product:	Mint
Date:	19/02/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A very versatile plant

Disadvantages: Do take care it grows prolifically

Mint has a genus of around twenty five species, but in fact there are hundreds of different varieties. most of us think of mint as a herb that we only use in cooking when in fact it can be quite an attractive plant in it`s own right.

Mint in general likes a cool shady spot in the garden and it will flourish given the right conditions. Many of us have at some point made the mistake of planting a sprig and ending up with a patch that has grown out of control.
I have often grown my mint in a large terracotta pot, this keeps the plant at bay and if the pot is well situated it can be an ideal way of attaining a decent crop. If it looks as though a frost may be in the offing then move the pot closer to the wall or fence to protect the mint.

A tiny pot of mint can usually be purchased for very little at the local garden centre and when the night frosts have all finished then it is safe to plant the mint either directly into the ground or into that large planter.
The mint plant loves to have moist roots, so a handful of mulch at the top of the root area helps the roots keep moist, at the end of the season the mint plant will appreciate being fed a couple of spoonfuls of fertiliser or bonemeal too.
Mint is by no means labour intensive, once it has established then there is little to do to it. Make sure that when the flowers start to appear that you just tweak them off, if you don`t this stunts the growth for the following season. Rust is the only disease that mint is highly susceptible to, if you spot any rust on the plant then it may well be time to consider spraying it with a specially formulated chemical that will hopefully eradicate the rust.

The Spearmint plant and the Alpine mint bush are among two of the most common garden varieties. I love the plant when the leaves are young and lush green, mint leaves always remind me of a miniature nettle leaf.
The mint leaf has that same serrated edge as the nettle leaf.
I have a pot sat on the back patio that is filled with fragrant mint, I suppose I should take scissors to cut it but I prefer to just nip the sprigs off using my fingertips, it leaves my hands fresh and fragrant.

Say the word `Mint` and most will follow on by saying Roast Lamb!
I make my mint sauce by picking some healthy preferably bright green leaves and then I wash them under the tap.
Using the chopping board I take my sharp knife and finely chop the leaves, then put the chopped leaves into a sauce boat or a small dish and add some sugar, finally add sufficient vinegar to make the sauce a good pouring consistency.
New potatoes taste wonderful if they have a couple of sprigs of mint added to the water when they are boiling.

But for many hundreds of years mint has been renowned for its medicinal purposes, excellent for the digestive system in the form of mint tea.
Mint and rosemary chopped and then mixed with vinegar applied to the hair before the final rinse is helpful in combating dandruff.
Mint oil rubbed into the skin can help with arthritic or joint pain, I often buy the Other Half a small bottle from Holland and Barrett. (£4.30 for 10mls)
Mint tea is enjoyed by many, unfortunately I am not too keen.

So for medicinal purposes, cooking, in drinks, on salads and for garnishing Mint is a very useful little plant.

Summary: A plant with a hundred and one uses