A useful and medicinal plant is field mint. Photos, nuances of planting and care

What it looks like: botanical description with photo

Field mint (Mentha arvensis) externally is a bush 70 cm high, sometimes 100 cm, in which:

• Root. Long, creeping, woody with a small number of adventitious roots.
• Stem. Hollow, erect, branched. The color is light green, sometimes red-brown. Covered with downward-pointing hairs, so it looks velvety.
• Leaves. Light green, opposite, short-petioled, upper leaf blades sessile. They, like the stem, are pubescent. The leaf shape is heart-shaped, elongated, with a pointed apex and jagged edges. Their length is from 2 to 7 cm, width 1-3 cm.
• Flowers (blooming time - from late June to October). The flowers are small, bell-shaped, located in the axils of the leaves along the entire length of the stem. The color can be lilac, light pink, purple.
• Fruit. In place of the flowers, small brown nut-like fruits ripen from August to October.

You can learn about all types of mint here.

What medicinal properties do varieties of wild mint have?

Despite all the differences, most varieties of mint are used in the manufacture of medicines. It relieves nausea and has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and appetite.

Catmint - what is this plant and what does it look like?

Tinctures prepared from the plant help relieve stomach cramps and colic, and the antiseptic properties of the plant allow it to be used as a sedative.

Note! The antispasmodic properties of mint help in the treatment of bronchitis, tuberculosis and asthma. Meadow mint tea will help you look good, as it improves your mood and makes you feel energized.

Essential oil can be obtained from almost any variety of mint. The most common Botanika Myata is an excellent pain reliever and disinfectant that is used for frostbite, migraines and runny nose. Essential oil is also used in aromatherapy. It improves immunity, reduces stress and has a tonic effect on the body.

Important! Despite all the positive properties, the plant has some contraindications. Therefore, before using mint-based products, it is recommended to consult a doctor about possible consequences.

Wild mint is a common and very useful plant. All its varieties are used as a spicy additive to make cooked dishes tastier, and in medicine. It helps with many diseases and has a positive effect on the overall well-being of the body.

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Smell, taste and composition

The aroma of field mint is a subtle, unobtrusive smell of freshness and greenery, the taste is pleasant. Essential oils contain aromatic substances:

1. menthol;
2. citral;
3. carvone.

Many chemical substances have been found in field mint, including: menthol, limonene, carotene, tannins, rutin, organic acids, glucose, flavonoids, etc. The leaves, stems and flowers of the plant contain about 2% essential oil.

Difference between meadow mint and peppermint

Peppermint and meadow mint differ from each other in composition, as well as in their place of growth. The first type contains from 40 to 55% metol, while field mint contains from 30 to 40%. The meadow variety is widespread in Europe, Western and Central Asia, in the Caucasus regions, as well as India and Nepal. In Russia, the plant can be found in the North Caucasus, as well as in the European regions of Eastern and Western Siberia in fields, meadows, near ponds and marshy areas.

Peppermint is cultivated everywhere, in vegetable gardens and garden plots. On the territory of the Russian Federation, selection species are grown mainly in the Voronezh region and Krasnodar region.

Useful properties and what are the dangers?

The beneficial properties of meadow mint are due to its chemical composition, especially the large amount of menthol content, which can have an anesthetic effect. If the substance is applied to the mucous membrane or skin, you feel coolness and a slight tingling sensation. Thus, by stimulating the nerve endings, it effectively relieves pain symptoms.

The plant can also cause harm if a person:

• individual intolerance;
• low blood pressure;
• low acidity.

The calming and relaxing effect of mint negatively affects male libido, reducing desire and potency. The plant poses a danger to infants: it causes weakening of the body and even respiratory arrest.

You can learn more about the benefits and harms of mint from this article.

Contraindications: good - in moderation?

When doctors prescribe herbal preparations and medications, the health status, gender, and age of the patients are taken into account. There is no universal harmless panacea for all ailments. Every product created by people or nature has contraindications that limit the scope of its use. Mint slows down metabolism and is not prescribed for children under 6 years of age. It is dangerous for infants - it causes weakening and cessation of breathing. Mint ingredients inhibit male sexual function. Experts recommend that nursing and pregnant women avoid adding even small amounts of the herb and its derivatives to their food due to their metabolism-suppressing properties.

Attention! The dosage of medications is calculated purely individually. Abuse of mint is a prerequisite for deterioration of well-being, decreased vascular tone, the risk of developing hypotension, and the appearance of allergic reactions (itching, swelling, skin rashes).

Growing in the garden

Field mint grows well in sunny areas with loose, breathable soil. Plant care consists of the following procedures:

1. moderate watering according to the weather (excessive moisture can harm the plant);
2. loosening to a shallow depth, since the roots are superficial;
3. Mint practically does not need fertilizing, but in small quantities it will not hurt (complex fertilizers, organic matter);
4. preparation for winter (the plant is cut to a height of 8-10 cm and covered with fallen leaves).

You will find more information on how to grow mint outdoors in this article.

How to grow?

Meadow mint can be found almost throughout Russia , especially in the Far East. The temperate climate in our country has a favorable effect on its spread.

Landing

Inventory

• Shovel.
• Buckets or hoses for watering.
• Preparations for spraying against fungus and rust.

Preparation of material

Experienced gardeners recommend purchasing seeds in specialized stores, because from the very beginning they are treated with drugs against diseases and pests.

Advice

Reference. Growth enhancers added to seed bait increase the quality of germination and survival rate by almost 100%.

Place

The growth rate of mint will depend on the choice of planting site. In the garden bed, you need to choose a place with moderate humidity, sunlight and protection from strong winds.

Priming

Ideally, a meadow bush needs loose soil with a sufficient amount of nutrients. Gardeners prefer to plant mint on black soil. In order not to be disappointed in the grown nursery with low-aromatic and weak mint bushes, avoid calcareous soil.

To obtain strong bushes, it is necessary to pre-treat the soil with fertilizers:

• superphosphate;
• potassium chloride;
• ash;
• saltpeter.

Deadlines

• When planting mint, it is necessary to do this in early spring so that by autumn the plant has time to take root well.
• In the fall, it is planted not with seeds, but with cuttings, and the further north your region is, the earlier you need to finish planting, then the spicy plant will have time to take root before winter.
• If you are planting quite late, make sure you take care of it. Make a thick layer of mulch.
• In a greenhouse or indoor garden, you can plant all year round.

Attention!

As a perennial plant, mint is grown in the southern regions, while as an annual plant - in the northern regions.

Scheme

Mint easily grows throughout the garden like a weed, and to avoid this, it is enough to first grow it in a container that is dug into the garden bed. In this way, the plant forms roots, curling them into the shape of the pot, limiting the spread of the plant in that area.

Perennial onions can be an excellent neighbor for mint. They have similar periods of development and grow to approximately the same height.

Row spacing is 60 cm.

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• x – chives.
• ? – meadow mint.

Planting by cuttings

The distance between cuttings should be 10-15 cm for good development. The depth of the damage is 2-3 cm.

Seeds

Make the seeding depth no more than 0.5 cm and wait at least 2 weeks for seedlings to appear. The germination rate of mint is low - this is the reason why it is worth planting as many seeds as possible.

Rhizomes

For planting by dividing the bush, holes are made 10 cm deep. Mint planted in this way should be located at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other.

For better results, experienced gardeners recommend adding humus to the soil before planting.

How to care?

1. Watering. Under natural conditions, mint does not require special care, but for best growth and development, standard plant care procedures are required. Watering the soil occurs after sunset once every 5-7 days; the bushes themselves should also be sprayed to provide them with enough moisture.
2. Feeding. Once a season, ash with compost and peat is added.
3. Trimming. Mint is prolific and grows very quickly, so often its branches need to be pruned, then the plant will spend all its efforts on growing leaves and flowers.
   Trim the mint at ground level, then feed and water it, and within a couple of weeks it will be in excellent condition. It is better to perform this procedure several times a year. It is very convenient to cut off half of the bushes first, so while the first one grows, you can safely use the second one as needed.
4. Loosening. Immediately after watering, it is very useful to loosen the soil to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface and remove any weeds that have appeared.
5. Weeding. The necessary procedure on the site for removing weeds is done immediately after watering the bushes.

Collection, drying and storage for the winter

The timing of collection depends on the region in which mint grows. It is important to follow the technology of raw material procurement and its further storage.

On your own site

Harvest should be during flowering (mid-summer). By this period, the maximum content of all natural components accumulates in the plant.

Mint bushes are cut, thoroughly washed under running water and laid out in a thin layer on any moisture-absorbing material. Then they are collected in bunches and hung in a shaded, well-ventilated area until completely dry. Store raw materials in bags made of natural fabric or in glass containers.

See more ways to dry mint at home here.

In the wild

If mint grows in its natural environment, the timing of collection is also determined by the presence of flowers. The process of processing and preparation for storage is similar to that described above.

Landing rules

It is quite easy to plant mint in your garden. To do this, you need to purchase seeds or dig up part of a wild plant. Any well-lit place with loose, breathable soil is suitable for growing. To prevent the plant from spreading around the garden and turning into a weed, its roots must be kept from spreading. To do this, a bed of field mint needs to be fenced off, for example, with iron strips, digging them to a depth of 15-20 cm. You can use old pots, buckets, or any other containers to grow this plant, digging them into the ground at the same level as the bed.

You can plant or propagate field mint in your garden plot in the following ways:

1. Seeds. They can be collected in September-October from faded mint bushes in the wild. In the spring, they can be sprouted at home, and when the weather warms up, they can be planted in open ground.
2. By cuttings. To do this, cut off the top of the young shoot at a height of 10-12 cm and place it in water. After about 2 weeks, the cuttings will form their own root system. When the roots grow to 2-3 cm, they are planted in beds.
3. Root cuttings. The climbing, strong roots of field mint contain a large number of dormant buds. Root cuttings 10-12 cm long with several dormant buds are harvested in late summer or early autumn. For the winter, they can be planted in pots, and when the weather warms up, they can be transplanted into beds.
4. Dividing the bush. In the wild, a mint bush can be dug up entirely and transplanted to the site, but in this case it will be difficult to determine its age. With each subsequent year, the quality of mint deteriorates, the greens become coarser. Therefore, it is better to divide the bush into several parts so that each division contains both roots and shoots of the plant.

Important! It is not recommended to grow a mint bush for more than 3-5 years.

Application

Meadow mint has a wide range of uses.

In folk medicine

Most often, a decoction or infusion of an aromatic herb is used for medicinal purposes; less often, fresh herbs are used:

• Due to the sedative effect, decoctions are used as a sedative, relaxant and hypnotic;
• alcohol lotions to relieve pain from gout, arthritis, rheumatism;
• the antiseptic properties of the plant are used for washing wounds, treating the oral cavity, and performing inhalations for colds;
• fresh leaves are ground and applied to the forehead for migraines;
• Freshly squeezed juice relieves toothache.

An extract from the essential oil of the plant, menthol, is used to make medicines and hygiene products.

In cooking

The plant, its oil, and essence are widely used as a spice in the alcoholic beverage and confectionery industries. At home, mint is added to vegetable and fruit salads, various pastries, fruit drinks, jelly, compotes, soft drinks, and tea.

Essential oil

Industrially, peppermint oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and flowers of the plant. Peppermint essential oil is one of the important components in the production of perfumes and cosmetics (primarily in toothpastes).

In the household

In everyday life, mint has also found many uses, for example:

1. Refresh old carpet. To do this, mix dried mint and baking soda, then sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and leave for an hour and a half, after which they vacuum thoroughly.
2. Prepare mint ice. Crushed mint leaves are poured with water and placed in the freezer. Refreshing ice cubes are added to any drink to add flavor.
3. Get rid of flies and ants from your house. It is enough to spread mint sprigs in places where insects accumulate.
4. Rid your dog of fleas. Take a small bunch of mint and thyme, place the raw materials in a cloth bag and place them near the pet’s bed.

Pests and diseases

The most dangerous are:

1. Rust. Yellowed leaves are the first symptoms leading to the death of meadow mint.
2. Fungal diseases. Excessive moisture and lack of fertilizers in the soil are the direct cause of the development of harmful bacteria.

There are other diseases that field mint can be affected by, but these are the most dangerous and can kill the plant.

Pests

• The main danger to seedlings is mint flea beetles , which feed on young leaves. They can be seen in late spring, at an air temperature of 15-20 degrees. If you do not protect the plant from this insect, the mint may die.
• mint mites may appear , feeding on plant sap, releasing a substance when feeding that leads to the death of shoots. Over the course of a year, more than 10 new generations of such parasites appear.

Prevention

It is better to prevent a problem than to make it worse. Preventive treatment of the plant with Actellica solution when the first leaves appear can protect meadow mint from flea beetles.

To prevent the possible proliferation of ticks in your garden bed, in the fall you need to dig it up and burn all plant remains.

Struggle

1. For poisonous mites, mint is treated with the acaricides Metaphos and Phosfamin.
2. There are also special spray preparations to combat rust

Pictured is lemon balm

This type of mint is also called lemon balm, honey mint, or bee mint. The names themselves say that this is an excellent honey plant. Melissa is a cold-resistant plant, but in northern regions it requires shelter for the winter. Honey honey reproduces by seeds, layering, and petioles. Since it grows slowly in the first year, they practice growing seedlings. The bush can be from 14 to 125 cm in height. The upper parts of the shoots are mainly fragrant.

In dense plantings in rainy summers, lemon balm can develop fungal diseases. The shoots are cut before flowering, dried in the shade, and used in cooking. The seasoning is valued for its special taste. She combined the aroma of citrus and the freshness of mint. This seasoning makes any dish delicious. There are 8 varieties cultivated, which are included in the Rosreestr of the Russian Federation. They differ in leaf color, bush height and winter hardiness. But the main difference will always be the created aroma and its subtle notes.

Wild mint photo

This type of mint also has another name, oregano. The plants are low and perennial. The lower shoots lie down and take root. Therefore, the plant seems to cover the ground. The leaves are used both for cooking and for flavoring tea. The plant is used as a medicinal plant for colds. Oregano repels moths.

The plant is unpretentious and reproduces by seeds, division of rhizomes, and cuttings. After three years, the bushes should be replaced, since the yield on old plants is reduced. Wild mint is affected by aphids. To combat the pest, a soda solution is used.

For storage, shoots with leaves are used, cutting them off above the soil at a height of 6 cm. The dry collection is stored in tightly closed packaging for several years.

Biological features of mint

Under natural conditions, the most common species is field (meadow) mint . Its distribution area covers temperate and warm regions of Russia and other countries. In the wild, mint prefers light or slightly shaded, damp places along the banks of rivers, various bodies of water, and in damp meadows. Under optimal conditions, mint is characterized by the capture of free areas, sparsely overgrown with herbs, which is facilitated by a creeping rhizome.

Even without knowing this perennial plant by sight, it can be immediately identified by its specific, pronounced menthol smell. The ground organs of field mint contain more than 2.5% of essential oils in the leaves and up to 6% in the inflorescences, including menthol and terpenes, as well as other useful substances: organic acids, carotene, flavonoids, vitamins, glycosides, phytosterols, etc.

Field mint is distinguished by a branched tetrahedral stem covered (not always) with short bristles or softer hairs. Plant height is from 10 to 100-130 cm. The leaves are medium sized, opposite on short petioles. The leaf blade is ovate-elongated with a pointed apex and serrated edges.

Pollinators are attracted to the distinct scent of the flowers. The flowers themselves are small, pinkish with a lilac tint, collected in a false whorl in the axils of opposite leaves. Flowering is long - from June until almost the end of September.

The smell of mint, regardless of the type, repels mosquitoes. It is enough to rub open areas with leaves.

Garden varieties, their varieties and hybrids were obtained from wild mint using the selection method.

Cultivation care

Caring for garden crops is standard and does not require special growing skills. Even novice gardeners can get a harvest of medicinal herbs. Once every 3 years, additional planting is carried out, since weeds lead to the effect of thinning mint plantings. Plants are fed with nitrogen-phosphorus preparations for better yield, this is done during the growing season.

In autumn, it is recommended to mulch the soil with dry soil or cover it with straw for better wintering of the crop.

Features of watering

Mint does not require watering. If there is sufficient natural precipitation, the plantings are watered 2 times a month. In hot weather conditions, the time of the next irrigation is determined by the degree of moisture evaporation.

Loosening

For better penetration of moisture and oxygen into the soil, it is necessary to carry out periodic loosening. The frequency depends on the quality of the soil and the amount of precipitation. In most cases, the work of weeding and loosening is combined.

Weeding

Weeding is carried out as needed. It is impossible to allow mint plantings to become overgrown with weeds, since this will reduce the volume of mint green mass.

Description

Field mint has a number of features that distinguish it from other varieties. Mint bushes grow up to one and a half meters in height. The main distinguishing feature is the stems, which are covered with shaggy reddish hairs. The leaves on the bushes grow up to five centimeters in length and are ovoid in shape. At the edges of each leaf small teeth are visible, the length of which reaches 3-4 mm.

On mature plants, flowers are formed, colored lilac or violet. They are located at the base of the stems near the leaves. After flowering, mint is covered with rounded fruits that look like smooth nuts.

Use of mint in everyday life

The plant is actively used in various spheres of human life. Mint is often used:

• for aromatherapy;
• in perfumery;
• in home cosmetic procedures;
• for the prevention and treatment of diseases;
• as a spice and herb;
• when preparing cosmetics.

Mint is an incredible plant that is also used in medicine and other areas of people's lives.

In the photo there is field mint

Tibetan healers use this variety of mint to create mixtures for the treatment of tuberculosis. They also use this type of medicinal plant to treat the digestive system and for external rubbing or sprinkling. In traditional medicine, it is recommended to use field mint for use in gastritis with high acidity, liver diseases, and bloating. As a powder, mint stops vomiting and nausea goes away.

It has been noted and collected statistical data that if spearmint is used for weight loss, the effect is surprising. By inhaling the aroma of mint throughout the day, a person naturally and effortlessly reduces food intake by about 1,800 calories per day. The experiment was conducted in America on a large group of women.