Why Everyone Should Grow a Mint Plant
The Benefits of Raising Spearmint
Spearmint, or mentha spicata is a small perennial plant known for its strong aroma and multiple uses. Its often considered an invasive species because of its hardiness and ability to spread throughout one yard, and into the next. And the next yard after that. And so on ad infinitum. While this plant is considered a pest by some, to others it is an easy to grow herb with dozens of uses around the home, and the ease of growing a mint plant makes it an easy choice for a potted plant on any patio.
Uses of Mint Plants
Spearmint has many commercial and private uses. While commercial companies extract the oil from the leaf, this is a process requiring a large amount of machinery, and is thus not doable from home. While mint oil cannot be made at home, this doesn't mean that a spearmint plant doesn't have dozens of household uses.
Besides its more common use as an herb in cooking, there are many health benefits to owning a spearmint plant, and for the budding gardener it is a cost-effective and easy-to maintain plant.
Mint in the Kitchen
One of the most obvious qualities of a spearmint plant is its strong aroma when the leaf is either cut or bruised. The leaves can be placed in water to make an herbal tea, and the fresh leaf is much stronger, and arguably better tasting, than its dry counterpart. An amount small enough to hold between the index finger and thumb can be enough to make an aromatic tea.
Spearmint leaves can also be chewed for a more pungent taste, though many find this to be overpowering, and the taste too strong to be fully enjoyable. The leaves are useful in a number of recipes ranging from soups and salads to main courses to deserts, and are often used in rubs for various kinds of meats. There is also its prominence in the southern favorite, the Mint julep.
Mint around the House
Mint can also be used to help clear the air in a room. A small bowl with several bruised or cut mint leaves can quickly give any room a cool, crisp smell that is quite soothing, and often is helpful in covering some unpleasant odors. A bowl placed by the side of the bed can be useful in helping open up stopped-up noses and mild sinus issues.
There are many other potential medicinal benefits of spearmint. The tea mentioned above is a quick, caffeine free drink with many beneficial vitamins. The plant also is rich in antioxidants, like many other types of herbal teas. A small amount of mint leaf crushed and placed in water can be rubbed on the temples to help ease headaches and aid in helping those with headaches to fall asleep.
How to Grow a Spearmint Plant
The following is needed:
1. A pot for the mint plant.
2. Potting soil.
3. Either a mint plant or mint plant seeds.
The instructions for how to properly plant mint seeds are incredibly simple. Fill the pot with potting soil and place the seeds a few inches below the surface. Soon, the small mint plant will begin budding out. Replanting a mint plant is also easy. Make sure the roots are teased out if it is a store-bought mint plant, and make sure the roots have plenty or room to grow into the pot.
The mint plant is such a common site in some areas that buying a store-bought mint plant is often not needed. Replanting a wild mint plant is easy to do, and the plants are hardy enough to survive transplanting. However, make sure the plant grew in a secluded area, as possible pesticides and other chemicals may have found their way into the plant
The biggest need of mint plants is water. The plant naturally grows in very moist environments, so ensuring that the plant is watered daily will result in the happiest possible mint plant. The plant copes well in sun, though extreme heat will distress the plant, so putting it in a place with partial shade during the warmer months is best.
It is recommended that any mint plant should be grown in a pot, as otherwise it can and will easily take over entire yards The tenacity of the mint plant can be a boon for new gardeners, but without properly managing it the plant will grow out of control. Finally, ensure that no members of the household have allergic reactions to the plant before using it in foods, teas, or any other purpose around the house.
Learn more about the history of mint plant use here.
Feeling thirsty? Learn how to make a mint julep
Mint Plant
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