I have tried for years to grow Mint successfully, from planting seeds and rooting cuttings to buying the ready saplings from the nursery. This year I finally managed to grow Mint well without killing the plants, thanks to the wonderful advice from various gardening gurus. Many of the following are inputs from Buvana Raman and I am adding my own experiences as well.
Mint or Mentha belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which contains around 15 to 20 plant species, including peppermint, spearmint, and lemon mint or horsemint. There are others but these three are popularly grown by home gardeners in the Gulf regions. As most people are aware mint adds flavor to the food while reducing gastrointestinal problems and is extremely refreshing in summer. There are many recipes that use mint including summer refreshers and chutneys and I use them in vegetarian and meat kababs to give a crisp tangy flavor to the food.
Mint is relatively easy to grow(say some but I did struggle to get it right for years). What it does need is ample sunlight during the winter here and part shade once the weather starts getting hot. Mint can be grown from seeds, and from cuttings rooted in water. You also get saplings in the nurseries here in the months of October to April.
Mint requires a well-drained fertile growing medium and plentiful sunlight. You can grow from seeds but the seeds take a long time to germinate and I lose patience. Instead, grow them from cuttings. Even the store-bought mint bundles will do. Here is where I am sharing the expert tips of Buvana Raman.
If rooting in water – buy mint and immediately before refrigerating trim the end at a slanting 45-degree angle, keep a few leaves on top, and remove all the rest. You can plant it at this point in the soil, water very well, and cover the cutting with a plastic sheet creating a greenhouse. Make sure you don’t remove this for a few days. The water will condense inside giving the cutting just enough to root. Alternatively, take a bottle with water and place the stem inside in a way that it barely is touching the water and the root grows well. I would advise using a sieve or a foam cup with a hole to help balance the stem in such a way that it just touches the water. Change the water once in 3 days and plant only when it roots well.
Plant in a mix of sweet sand and soil in equal quantities and mix with compost – many make the mistake of using too much potting soil. Also fertilizing every few days a little bit works better than too much at one point.
Part sun part shade works best and moderate watering. Overwatering is a common mistake.
This process needs to be strictly followed.
Mistakes that are often made. I made them too.
- Soaking the stem in too much water – the stem blackens and wilts.
2. Putting in the fridge and then planting is a complete no no.
3. Choosing very thick or thin stems doesn’t work.
4. Not changing water while rooting in water is a problem.
5. Using too much potting soil and no sand is also a problem.
6. Too much watering could be disastrous.
The biggest tip for a healthy bushy mint plant is to harvest often and with a sharp knife or scissors. Most of the herbs in our gardens are very giving. The more you harvest the more they give you.
Remember to look out for spider mites and caterpillars feasting on the leaves. I use neem oil every week as a deterrent spray and also get Grow Safe from the United States to use in case of persistent infestation.
Some nice mint refreshers for you to try:
Mint Chutney:
This is something I make regularly. You can add or subtract the amount of green chillies to your taste –
Ingredients:
2-3 bunches of mint
1 bunch of corriander(optional)
2 tablespoons of yogurt
2-3 green chillies
Juice of one lime
1 tablespoon of ginger garlic paste
1 tablespoon of water as required
Salt to taste
Method:
Roughly chop the mint corriander and green chilles and place in blender. Add salt to taste, ginger garlic paste and yogurt and blend. Then add the lime juice and make a smooth paste. You can add the water as required.
Use this chutney with pakodas(fritters), anything you want to spice up and also in sandwiches to give that extra zing.
Mint Cooler:
This is a really refreshing drink for summer. This is for 4 people.
lemonade 1 litre. I make it from my home grown limes but you can use store bought limes or ready lemonade.
2 bunches of mint
Sugar or honey to taste
2 cans of chilled soda
Ice cubes(optional)
salt if needed
1 apple
1 Lemon
1 Kiwi
1 orange
Method:
Peel the apple, kiwi and oranges and section them into small cubes. Chop the lemon into small pieces with the peel. Seperate a few sprigs of mint from the bunch clean it and blend the rest after cleaning in the blender. Add the blended mint to the lemonade. Stir well and add honey or sugar as required. Now add the chopped fruit into the mix and cool well. You can add the ice and soda later. Make sure the soda is cold as well. Add a sprg of mint into each glass before serving. You might want to add a dash of chaat masala to each glass as well if you like the flavour.
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