Agriculture of Russia. Fundamentals of agronomy - plant growing, vegetable growing, fruit growing, agrochemistry, plant protection from diseases and pests and other important branches of the agro-industrial complex

To the question Growing mint asked by the author Yatyanka Kurchieva the best answer is I conjure you - just not in the greenhouse! Mint is basically a weed. If there is anyone to take a piece of rhizome or a lump of earth with them - stick it anywhere and it will flood everything around. I have already made all the neighbors happy)) I have 3 types of mint growing. I got tired of limiting it. I prepare for myself, friends, relatives, parents, I take everyone to work ... And one bush grows on the corner of the greenhouse. The rhizomes sensed that it was better inside and rushed there. For 2 years in a row we dig this bush out of the greenhouse along with the roots, but it still grows)) And so in different places on the beds, in cucumbers, I leave it.
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Yes, in the same year - as it blooms, it is cut off.

Answer from 22 answers[guru]

Hey! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: Growing mint

Answer from Eurovision[guru]
It is unpretentious, and it is necessary to enclose the space, it grows strongly with roots ...

Answer from Solovyy[guru]
Mint perennial. Plant in open soil and collect mint every year.

Answer from Olya isakova[guru]
It grows near my house, I'm not in square meters I grow it, there is enough for seagulls, you don’t need a lot of it, it will quickly grow in you.

Answer from idle[guru]
We planted ours with a plant, took it from friends. Grows well.

Answer from Hope[guru]
do not need it in the greenhouse! plant it in the exhaust gas at the edge of the garden - it tolerates penumbra normally. It is better to take a shoot than to suffer with seeds (perennials do not sprout very well). It grows VERY fast

Answer from Ludmila Klochkova[guru]
and plant melissa. It's called lemon mint. the plant is not whimsical and the people love it very much. You don't need a greenhouse for it and it grows so well. perennial plant.

Answer from Elena Zubkova[guru]
for sale?

Answer from Aleks alex[newbie]
Yes, there is no salvation from this mint. I have it growing at the entrance to the yard in front of strawberries - they got tired of cutting it, digging it out. Just a weed...

Answer from Elena Ivanova[guru]
There are many types of mint. I want to collect and plant different ones. No need for a greenhouse, she unpretentious perennial. Limit space, multiplies very quickly. If you want to cut early greens, you can cover with a film. And so, in May we are already tearing with might and main.

Answer from Nellya Alpatova (Yatkevich)[guru]
What an unpretentious perennial! This is a terrible weed. A hundred points of odds will give wheatgrass. Crawling, you won't stop. Mint started up on my own, it was blown away by the wind. One plantation grows next to strawberries, the other in a flower garden. Without pity, I tear her round summer, along with the roots. Still growing. I beg you, don't put her in a greenhouse. It will be easier to rearrange the greenhouse later than to remove the mint!

Mint has long been recognized as a miraculous plant throughout the world. An unusually pleasant, refreshing aroma and piquant taste have made mint popular in many regions of Europe, America and Asia. Its feature is the versatility of application in cooking, cosmetology, medicine, alcoholic beverage, tobacco industry and other areas. Useful properties of essential oils, biologically active compounds and others nutrients contained in mint are unique and cannot but surprise.

This perennial herb has spread to most of the world since temperate climate. A rather unpretentious plant, mint is easy to propagate and grow at home. This does not require special skills, the process will be mastered by any amateur gardener. But the result obtained in the garden or in a flower pot will bring a lot of pleasure. Mint tea, tonic drinks, meat and fish dishes, cosmetic lotions and rinses, medicinal lotions and decoctions, homemade mint soap - this is a small list of using fragrant green mint leaves at home.

How to grow and harvest mint? What kind of care should be provided for its optimal growth and development? Where can mint be used? All these and many other questions will be answered in the following article.

Mint, plant description

Mint is a member of the genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Lamiaceae family. The distribution area is quite wide around the world. Known since ancient times, the herb is named after the goddess of Mount Mente, which Persephone, out of jealousy for her husband, turned into fragrant plant- mint.

This is a perennial plant, quite winter-hardy, moisture-loving and light-loving with a powerful root system. The height of the bushes varies from 30 cm to 1 meter, depending on the type of mint and growing conditions.

The plant has a tetrahedral, hollow, branched and leafy stem.

The leaves are oblong ovoid, sharply serrated along the edge, capable of accumulating in special glands. essential oil.

The rhizome of the plant is highly branched, with nodes from which additional shoots and roots are formed. The buds of the rhizome have an insignificant dormant period and begin to germinate already at zero temperatures. This feature is one of the reasons for the death of roots in winters with prolonged thaws followed by persistent frosts.

The flowers are small, light lilac in color, collected in an inflorescence spike. Mint blooms from late June to September. The fruit consists of four nuts, but is extremely rare.

Mint contains an essential oil containing menthol, phellandrene, pinene, pulegone and other valuable organic compounds. Mint leaves are rich in ascorbic acid (up to 25 mg/100 g), carotene (12 mg/100 g) and rutin (13.8 mg/100 g), contain trace elements, tannins, flavonoids and other biologically active substances.

The mint genus includes about 25 species and more than 10 natural hybrids. All species have a strong pleasant aroma, and most contain organic matter- menthol with a characteristic refreshing and cooling effect. Different types mints differ in aroma and taste, due to the difference in their chemical composition.

Types of mint

The most popular and common types of mint:

• Peppermint

It is considered the most famous and recognized type of mint. This cultivated plant obtained by hybridization of two wild-growing types of mint: water and garden. Perennial, from the Latin name Mentha piperita, contains a large number of essential oils and menthol. Due to its specific, slightly burning and cooling taste, mint has received the name "pepper". It is also called "English" because it was bred in England in the 16th century.

Peppermint leaves are bright green in color, the roots lie in the soil at a depth of about 15 cm. The plant blooms almost all summer with small purple flowers. Propagated vegetatively: by sections of rhizome or cuttings with several internodes.

The plant is widely used in pharmaceutical, chemical, perfumery and Food Industry. It is considered a valuable honey plant and phytoncide.

Peppermint is found interesting varieties: lemon - with a lemon aroma, Thuringian - with a strong menthol smell.

• field mint

Mentha arvensis - field mint - is a wild species, widely distributed in forests and forest plantations throughout Europe. The variety has been known since Kievan Rus where it was used as a spice and medicine. In the common people it was often called: “dog mint”, “deaf mint”, “horse mint”. Moisture-loving plant, prefers places of growth near water bodies, rivers or lakes. In height, the perennial reaches an average of 50 cm, although there are specimens that have grown in favorable conditions up to 1 meter. Stem erect, branched, pubescent. Fresh leaves contain ascorbic acid, carotene, flavonoids, tannins, organic acids. The variety is quite frost-resistant and can be cultivated in the garden.

Field mint has found its use in the food industry as a seasoning for preparing various dishes. Fresh and dried mint leaves are brewed as a tea or other tonic drinks are prepared.

Thanks to medicinal properties Mint is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Essential oil is used in perfumery to prepare extracts in the manufacture of toothpastes, powders, essences, elixirs, toilet water.

One of the varieties of field mint - Japanese mint, is massively cultivated in Japan, India, China, in countries Latin America. It is valued due to the high content (up to 90%) of menthol in the essential oil.

• Water mint

A moisture-loving plant, which in nature is mainly found near water bodies and therefore received the appropriate name. Mentha aquatica, water mint, has stems creeping at the base, then turning into erect and branched shoots. The variety is considered a valuable cultivated plant.

Possessing a rich pleasant aroma, it is widely used in the perfume industry.

Like any kind of mint, it is used as a flavoring agent in the preparation of a variety of dishes and drinks.

One of the varieties - bergamot mint, has a pleasant lemon or orange smell. In addition, valuable bergamot oil is obtained from it.

This type of mint is widely used by breeders to develop new varieties.

• Longleaf mint

Mint name, Mentha longifolia , characterized by the presence of long (up to 20 cm) oblong-ovate leaves in the plant. Tall perennial with an upright and branched stem, completely pubescent with soft grayish hairs.

The species is winter-hardy, unpretentious and drought-resistant. Prefers open sunny areas, can be propagated by seeds.

The collection of mint is carried out in the period preceding the mass flowering, cutting off the stem at a height of 10 cm from the soil level. After harvesting, this type of mint grows well and gives a second crop.

Longleaf mint is widely distributed in the wild throughout Europe and Asia.

Possessing a pleasant delicate smell, mint has found its application in the food, alcoholic beverage and perfume industries. It is also used in the process of making soaps and toothpastes.

IN traditional medicine mint is used as a sedative, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, diaphoretic and expectorant, as well as to improve the digestion process. With diathesis and rickets, children are prescribed baths from a decoction of mint.

Being a good honey plant, it provides honey collection up to 300 kg/ha.

• Curly mint

A perennial herb with oval leaves ending in a wavy curly edge, Mentha crispa, is also called curly, garden or German mint. This is a prefabricated cultural species, of hybrid origin. It differs from other species in a pungent odor. The content of a large amount of essential oil provides curly mint with a leading position in the food, alcoholic beverage, perfumery and tobacco (tobacco flavoring) industries.

• Flea mint

It got its unusual name (Mentha pulegium) because of its use as a flea remedy. The species is widespread throughout Europe, Asia and America, known since ancient times. A low-growing, creeping plant with branchy and lying stems does not tolerate frost and needs additional shelter for the winter. Mint is propagated by seeds sown annually.

Flea mint essential oil contains from 75 to 90% pulegone, an organic compound that is a common component of essential oil, as well as menthol, limonene, dipentene. This type of mint with a rich aroma and taste is popular in cooking and in the preparation of many dishes, especially meat.

• apple mint

It has a delicate, pleasant and unobtrusive mint flavor with an apple or pineapple tinge. Mentha rotundifolia is a perennial hybrid, reaching a height of about 50 cm. A rather cold-resistant species, although inferior in this to peppermint. Due to its taste and delicate aroma, mint is very popular among culinary specialists around the world. It does not bitter and does not give a cooling effect, which is the polar difference from other types of mint.

• Spearmint

A species of hybrid origin, Mentha spicata, is very similar to spearmint. It reaches an average height of 60-100 cm, covered with curly, wavy purple tint, leaves. pink flowers collected in false whorls, forming spikelets at the tops of the shoots. Unlike peppermint, it reproduces well by seeds.

One of the oldest spice plants, in Europe the species is popular to this day. In Russia, this mint has long been added to kvass, and in America, its leaves are indispensable in the preparation of chewing gum. Due to its beautiful aesthetic appearance, mint sprigs are often used to decorate dishes.

• fragrant mint

Perennial plant (Mentha suaveolens,) capable of active and rapid growth. A distinctive feature of the species is the presence of small and wrinkled leaves with a white edging along the edge of the leaf blade. The aroma of fragrant mint resembles the unusual and exotic smell of pineapple, which is why it is often called “Pineapple mint”. Moreover, the younger the plant, the stronger the pineapple aroma, and the older the typical mint smell becomes more pronounced. The plant is undersized (up to 30 cm), can be propagated by seeds, winter-hardy.

There is still a fairly large number of types of mint with different shades of pleasant, subtle aromas and unusual taste: chocolate, ginger, banana, apple, orange, pineapple, currant and mixed compositions. For their successful cultivation, it is important to know the features of reproduction and care.

mint propagation

Mint reproduces in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively.

Mint seed propagation method

How to grow mint from seeds? The seed method of growing mint is quite popular and uncomplicated among experienced gardeners, however, is not applicable to all types of mint.

• Purchase seeds in a specialized store, more often choose varieties such as Peppermint or Lemonmint. These species have a pronounced taste and aroma, while not requiring any special care.
• Seeds can be sown as open ground, and in pots. Mint seeds are quite small, which causes some inconvenience when sowing them. It is recommended to lightly press them into the soil, sprinkling lightly with compost or earth.
• Seeds are sown to a depth of about 0.5 cm into the soil. It is important to provide good lighting and optimally favorable temperature for the germination of mint seeds - 20-25 ° C. To do this, in addition, you can cover the seed container with cling film and, periodically, expose it to the sun. Also, several times a day, you need to slightly open the film for ventilation, in order to avoid rotting of the seeds.
• It is better to water the planted seeds with a sprayer, so as not to disturb the location of the seeds and prevent stagnation of moisture.
• Under all conditions, the first shoots begin to appear in 2-3 weeks.
• When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into large pots (with a diameter of at least 8 cm) and placed in cooler conditions to gradually acclimatize the plant to external conditions. After 7 - 10 days, you can start planting mint outdoors.

A plant grown from seeds grows and develops more slowly than with a vegetative propagation method. On the other hand, the stems and leaves of seed-grown mint for a long time (while the mint is gaining in growth) remain tender, thin and not coarsened.

At seed propagation There are also risks of over-pollination when mature plant will differ from the originally selected mint variety, especially if it is a hybrid.

Vegetative propagation of mint

• Practice mint propagation using root cuttings, on which there is at least 1 bud and at least 3-5 leaflets that have appeared. This method ensures the complete transfer of the hereditary properties of the variety. Separated root cuttings are simply added dropwise to the hole (rows) in a new place, providing moderate watering, sufficient light and an air temperature of about + 5-10 ° C and above.
• For propagation of mint, use and stem cuttings plants. In the spring, cut a twig about 7-10 cm with an internode and put it in water or in a damp cotton-gauze pad in a warm, bright place. They also practice dropping cuttings into moistened sand. When white roots appear, continue to keep the cuttings in water for a few more days, until the roots increase in size to 8-10 mm. Then planted in a prepared place.
• Reproduction of mint, possibly with the help of a simple dividing the bush when the excavated plant is divided into several full-fledged separate parts, after which they are planted in the soil. It is important to track the presence of full-fledged buds or several shoots with roots in each part. When planting a daughter bush, it is better to cut off its aerial part about five centimeters from the ground so that it takes root better.
  In two weeks, pale green young leaves will appear on the planted plants. This means that the plant has taken root and can be additionally fed (1 - 2 grams of urea per 1 liter of water).

The vegetative propagation method contributes to the rapid and active growth of the plant, although the stems will no longer be as tender as young shoots from seeds.

Planting mint: agricultural technology and necessary conditions

Landing site preparation

• Before planting mint, you need to decide on a landing site: be it a flower pot or open ground.
• Mint is a demanding plant good lighting, moderate humidity and qualitative composition soil. It is also better to avoid drafts and choose a place protected from the winds.
• The plant prefers fertile and loose priming. The most optimal are fertile black soil in the floodplain of the reservoir. But heavy clay soil, with constant moisture stagnation, will not be suitable for growing mint. Calcareous soils also negatively affect the intensity of the mint aroma.
• You can plant mint in open areas in spring, summer and autumn. In areas with cold winters, mint is planted in the spring (April-May) so that its buds, which germinate already at 2-3 ° C, are not damaged by frost. In the southern lane, on the contrary, autumn planting is recommended.
• When choosing a planting site, it is important to consider the degree of growth of mint, which may well crowd out other cultivated plants.
• So, choosing an open sunny area for planting mint, you need to clear it of weed grass, loosen and apply, if necessary, organic (3 kg of humus per 1 m²) and mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, 15 g per 1 m²). For the prevention or destruction of pests, the earth is preliminarily watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• The best predecessors of mint will be vegetable crops, legumes, perennial grasses, fertilized, in due time, with organic matter (manure, compost).

The technology of planting mint in pots

• A ready-made germinated seedling is planted in a pot or grown directly from seeds. It is easier to plant mint seedlings prepared in advance. Landing is carried out in spring or autumn.
• To the bottom flower pot a layer of drainage is laid out to prevent the roots from excess moisture. As with any other flower plant, there are holes at the bottom of the pot through which excess moisture will drain into the pan.
• It should be noted that clay pots contribute to more fast drying soil. And in winter time, in a heated room, dry air will dry out the soil in the pot even more. Therefore, most often, for planting mint, plastic pots or containers are used. The diameter of the pot should be at least 30 cm, taking into account the subsequent growth of the plant.
• Growing mint at home, you need to follow temperature regime in the room. A bright, warm place will favorably affect the growth and development of perennials. If it is too cold near the window, you need to find a more suitable and comfortable place for mint.
• In conditions of dry air, mint will be “delighted” with a wet “shower” from the atomizer. But with a lack of light, the content of essential oils in mint leaves decreases, the aroma weakens and the stems, stretching out, may even die.
• The soil for the pot must be selected fertile, it is possible to combine the soil with fertile compost. Peat-based mixtures are also perfect. After filling a third of the pot with the prepared mixture, put the seedling in the pot and pour the rest land mixture. To support the planted shoot, you can use special flower supports.
• At seed way, after the appearance of dense sprouts, some of them can be moved to another container. However, when extracting plants, you should be extremely careful, since young mint root system still very soft.

Growing mint using the pot method, most often they use sowing seeds. Thus, young and fresh shoots of fragrant mint will appear on the windowsill, and will delight all year round.

Mint takes root very well and can be grown at home throughout the year. In summer, it is better to put the pots on the balcony, avoiding direct, burning sunlight. In winter, pots look spectacular on a well-lit windowsill.

For culinary purposes, spearmint is more often chosen, due to the lack of a cold menthol flavor in it, as in peppermint.

apple mint delicate taste and aroma, when heated, it does not give a taste of bitterness, so it is added to compotes, jams and jelly.

Field mint is an excellent aroma additive in tonic drinks.

Mint planting technology in open ground

• The technology of planting mint on a personal plot does not differ in many respects from growing it on a windowsill. Having prepared the soil accordingly, as indicated above, you can proceed directly to planting.
• Mint is planted in furrows up to 10 cm deep, maintaining a distance between rows of at least 40 cm, and between plants in a row of about 30-40 cm. After sprinkling the shoots with earth, the beds should be watered.
• In order for the plant to bush better, at a height of about 20-25 cm, pinch the upper parts of the shoots. By constantly removing mint flowers, maximum leaf growth can be ensured for later harvesting.

In one place, mint is grown from 3 to 5 years, then, in order to improve and rejuvenate the plant, it is better to change the garden.

If you are going to grow mint in your backyard, you need to remember about its ability to actively grow. Creeping rhizomes quickly and aggressively occupy new spaces around. In order to avoid such growth, it is possible to initially protect its root system by digging restrictive strips of iron, plastic or slate to the depth of the rhizomes.

Mint is a relatively unpretentious plant that grows and reproduces on its own. on the garden bed.

• When planting and caring for mint, you need to consider that this perennial is moisture-loving and photophilous plant. Watering needs moderate, avoiding waterlogging and drought.
• Caring for the plant, it is enough to weed the bed from weeds, loosen the soil and water as needed. The soil should be light and crumbly.
• To obtain more green mass, in the spring, as the shoots grow, it is recommended to carry out a strong pruning - the mint will be better bushed.
• Spring top dressing with complex fertilizers (humus, nitrogen-phosphorus mineral supplements, potassium salt) will only improve the growth and development of the plant.
• Mint can grow optimally on sandy and loamy soil with sufficient humus and moisture content. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
• In conditions of frosty and little snowy winters, you can cover mint with dry foliage, sawdust or spruce branches with a layer of 15-20 cm. Such measures will prevent the plant from freezing.

Room mint care, differs depending on the season.

• In summer, mint pots are put on the balcony, providing plenty of sunlight (avoiding direct sunlight) and systematic moistening. Watering water is better room temperature, periodically spray the leaves from the sprayer. During this period, you can once feed the mint with urea (1 g / 1 liter of water).
• In winter, it is important to prevent waterlogging of the plant, excessive cooling and drafts. During this period, the growth of the plant slows down, the smell weakens. Therefore, it is better to rearrange the pots to the southern windows.
• After 2-3 years, you need to plant a mint bush, as the roots grow strongly and it becomes crowded in a flower pot.

Disease and pest control- an integral part of mint care, in case of infection.

• Spider mites, root weevil, aphids, whiteflies and slugs are a small list of pests that can spoil or kill a mint plant.
• To prevent diseases, air circulation and soil drainage should be ensured.
• If harmful insects are found on the plant, if possible, they should be removed and treated with plant protection products. When processing mint, pay attention to the terms (indicated on the medicine) in which it will be possible to harvest an environmentally friendly mint crop after spraying it with an insecticide.
• When affected by mint powdery mildew (white coating on the foliage), the plantation is thinned and sprayed with a 1.5% solution of colloidal sulfur with the addition of 40 g of liquid (potassium) or green soap to 10 liters of a solution.
• Plants infected with rust (red spots on the underside of the leaf) must be removed.

Collection and storage of mint

Leaves for drying are harvested in the first year of plant growth. They need to be collected before the mint flowering period, when they accumulate the maximum amount of useful substances and essential oil. Dry the leaves in the shade to better preserve the aroma and palatability. You need to store them in a dry, dark and cool place (for example, in a closed jar or paper bag). The leaves are kept whole or ground into powder, you can also dry mint and whole sprigs.

Fresh, green shoots can be stored for some time in the refrigerator on damp gauze or cloth.

Mint use:

Food supplement

Mint as an aromatic seasoning is added to meat, fish, sweet dishes, salads and drinks (tea, lemonade). They make palatable, minty chewing gums, candies and other confectionery products. Mint is also used as a fragrance in liqueurs, homemade tinctures, vodka.

Medicine

A tonic, sedative that can stimulate the brain and relieve nervous tension. Eliminates bad smell from the mouth, restores healthy sleep. Longleaf mint is used for stomach diseases, jaundice, dropsy, colds, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, heart disease. Externally, an infusion of this type of mint is used for mouth ulcers and stomatitis, ear pain, abscesses, and for gargling with tonsillitis. Known analgesic and antiseptic properties of the plant, mint essential oil relieves spasms of blood vessels, headaches and successfully fights colds. Eye compresses with a decoction of mint will be useful for people who spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Peppermint oil is an anthelmintic. Widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Perfumery

Peppermint essential oil is added in the manufacture of perfumes, in the process of soap making and in the preparation of toothpastes, shampoos, creams and powders. Moreover, in the manufacture of, for example, toothpastes, not only the refreshing properties of mint are used, but also its disinfectant qualities. Mint (menthol) is also used to flavor tobacco.

Cosmetology

From mint, menthol oil is obtained, which is widely used in cosmetology. Aromatic baths, creams and cosmetic ointments are very popular.

honey plant

Mint is valued as an excellent honey plant that attracts bees. Mint honey is healing and has a special aroma, color and taste.

Almost all types of mint are used by man. The variety of all shades of smell and taste of different varieties of mint allows you to experiment and apply it in various areas of human life.

The world of mint is amazing and attractive. This perennial is a must have on your site or windowsill. How easy it is to grow mint at home was detailed in the article. Caring for mint is not complicated and not burdensome, but not only fresh and tasty greens will always be at hand, rich in vitamins, improving sleep, memory, increasing the body's defenses, but also just a beautiful looking bushy plant. And the taste of dishes will be enriched with spicy and unique notes. In addition, fresh leaves contain much more nutrients than dried ones. And, in general, green mint bushes in the house have a positive effect on the mood and well-being of a person.

Video: How to grow mint on a windowsill

Healthy greens are often grown in a greenhouse. One of these crops is lemon balm, which is familiar to many by another name - lemon balm. In the photo you can see how this culture looks like. The description of lemon balm will let you know how useful it is and where it can be used. If you decide to grow such a fresh spice with a charming smell, you should familiarize yourself with the basic principles of caring for it in advance. As practice shows, growing lemon balm is a simple matter even for young gardeners.

Lemon Balm Planting Technology

The technology for planting perennial herbs is quite simple. However, it is worth remembering that its germination is extremely low. At the end of May or in the early summer days, you will need to prepare cups or special boxes for planting material.

Attention! Growing lemon balm in a greenhouse allows planting directly into the ground.

When sprouts appear, they can be thinned out. This approach will ensure active growth and normal development of herbs. The optimal distance between sprouts is an interval of at least 5 cm.

Another key rule for caring for lemon balm plantings is to ensure the culture good lighting. It is recommended to install a box with seedlings as close as possible to the light source. Spicy greens respond well to use artificial lighting. Especially useful will be the use of a lamp for seedlings of lemon balm on cloudy days.

In order for the seedlings to develop well, they can be planted in peat pots. For optimal seedling growth, nitrogen supplements can be used. However, it is much more important to thin out the lemon balm in a timely manner. This will need to be done as soon as the first leaves form. It is important to consider that it is not customary to dive this culture. After about 40 days, lemon balm is planted in a permanent place in the greenhouse, if this was not carried out immediately.

Preparing the soil for grass and using cuttings

Planting spicy grass has a number of features. First of all, it is recommended to plant it in well-prepared soil. The soil is recommended:

• dig;
• free from weeds, if any;
• fertilize with organic and mineral compounds.

It is very important that the substrate in the greenhouse does not turn sour. If this is a possibility, it is recommended that the site be well drained. To do this, you can use small gravel or crushed brick. If this problem is not corrected, you may encounter root rot and the death of lemon balm.

Well-drained soil is the first step to successful crop production. However, do not forget about the features of the soil. An excellent substrate for lemon mint is sandy, neutral or slightly acidic soil. Acidic soil for growing lemon balm in a greenhouse is not suitable.

Advice. If the soil in the greenhouse is acidic, you will need to add dolomite flour to the soil.

Since growing herbs from seeds is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process, many gardeners prefer to use cuttings. It is recommended to remove them lower leaves. Myself planting material should be at least 15-20 cm high. In just a few days, lemon mint gives roots if the stems are placed in water to which a few drops of a growth stimulant have been added. As a rule, after a week, the plant's own root system is formed. Such a lemon balm can already be planted in closed ground.

Basic principles of crop care

As for the care of lemon mint, first of all, it needs:

1. Systematic spraying (especially when elevated temperature air and its excessive dryness) /
2. Moderate watering.
3. Sufficient amount of light.
4. The presence of illumination.

It is optimal to plant lemon balm in the spring. To get a crop of lemon mint in the greenhouse in winter, it is worth planting in the last summer days or in early September. At the same time, it is recommended to provide the herb with a sufficient amount of natural sunlight and extra lighting.

About 3 times in 8-10 days it is necessary to water the culture. In summer, watering should be plentiful, with the onset of cold weather, it should be reduced. The most important thing is to prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil. Despite the fact that the spicy grass loves water, from its overabundance, the culture can get sick or rot.

No less important for lemon plant sufficient air humidity. On summer days, it is recommended to spray the grass with cool water. To do this, you should use a spray gun. This procedure will provide lemon balm with strength. Its sheets will acquire an attractive color, become juicier and larger.

When the stems reach 20 cm in height, their tops are usually shortened. This avoids the weakening of the lemon balm and the formation of color on it. By pinching, side shoots will begin to appear, due to which a large amount of foliage is formed.

Lemon mint should be watered every 2-3 days

The optimum temperature for the growth of lemon balm is 18-20 degrees Celsius. It is important to remember: sudden changes in temperature level adversely affect the condition of the leaves of the culture. The heat is also detrimental to them.

As you can see, growing lemon herb in a greenhouse is a fairly simple and feasible task for most gardeners. The main thing is to provide culture sufficient level illumination and timely optimal hydration.

Melissa or lemon mint - video

Growing lemon balm - photo

Mint all year round or how to grow mint at home

There is a wide variety of types of mint, such as peppermint, apple, fragrant, field, and so on. Many people know about useful properties mint, but finding it on store shelves can be quite difficult. There is a wide variety of types of mint, such as peppermint, apple, fragrant, field, and so on. Mint is a perennial herb that can reach up to 1 meter in height. To enjoy the wonderful taste of this herb all year round, it is not necessary to spend time looking for it in stores and spend money on buying it. It is quite simple and not expensive to grow it in your own apartment.

Growing mint does not require special skills.

Growing mint is quite simple and interesting. Following all the tips, this process will bring joy, and the result will please and will not keep you waiting.

If you need seeds for the next season, AgroSemFond is organizing a sale with up to 40% discounts. Details can be found here.

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