Contents
Cold mint was transported to Our Country in 1885 from England. On an industrial scale, it began to be cultivated only since 1938.
Description of cold mint
Cold mint belongs to plants from the Lamiaceae family. It reaches a height of 1 m, has a characteristic aroma and a cooling sensation if you bite the leaf plate.
The rhizome of cold peppermint is horizontal, fibrous type, close to the surface of the earth. The stems are erect, but, in addition to them, the plant also develops creeping shoots of an above-ground or underground type.
At the base, the lower branches rise, have a tetrahedral shape. They are densely leafy, distinguished by a dark purple hue.
The leaf blades are opposite, ovate-lanceolate in shape, with sharply serrated edges, green in color.
The flowers of mint are cold pink in color, collected in the form of false whorls. Fruits are rarely formed, consist of 4 nuts placed in a cup.
The flowering period of cold mint lasts from June to September. Reproduction of the plant occurs by vegetative root segments or young shoots from a rhizome that has successfully endured winter frosts.
Seeds are rarely formed, have low germination: from 10 to 25%. When using this growing method, there is a high risk of obtaining a plant that has not inherited maternal traits.
Application of English mint
The area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbuse of the plant is extensive: teas are brewed from it, medicines are made, added to decoctions and infusions according to folk recipes.
English mint is known for its analgesic and antiseptic, antispasmodic properties, so the plant is used in the form of menthol for the following diseases:
- neuralgic pains;
- angina pectoris;
- pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
- toothache;
- epilepsy, depression;
- gynecological diseases;
- inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract.
Externally, the leaf plates of the plant are applied in the form of poultices to ulcers, bites and ulcers.
The main dosage forms of cold mint are oil, decoctions and infusions, tablets, herbal preparations and others.
What is the flavor of cold mint?
Despite its name, English mint bears no resemblance to pepper. It contains a large amount of menthol, so it has the appropriate aroma and cooling taste, which then acquires burning shades. This is due to its properties, it dilates blood vessels. Cold mint can be characterized as a plant that “colds the mouth, but warms the intestines.”
Where can you add cold mint
In addition to the use of the plant in the medical industry, cold mint is added as a seasoning to various dishes. Essential oil from it is used not only in the confectionery, but also in the perfume industry. The resulting waste is not disposed of, but sent to feed livestock.
Cold mint is added to cosmetic care formulations. Use it as a refreshing and bactericidal agent in toothpaste. It is possible to add the leaves of the culture to the aromatherapy mixture.
Rules of landing
From the photo it is easy to distinguish varieties of cold mint: there are black and white species. The principles of growing culture are similar. In the black variety of mint, the shade of the stem and leaf plates is purple, in white cold mint, the leaves are light green in color.
On nitrogen-containing soil, crop yields are higher. The plant is also demanding on moisture: it does not tolerate drought seasons. The optimum temperature for cultivation is + 18-20 °C.
The perennial is resistant to frost, withstanding up to -10 ° C, but if the soil freezes, the plant quickly dies. When providing shelter, cold mint successfully resists frost down to -25 ° C.
The optimal time for planting a crop is the end of April or the beginning of May.
The seeds of cold mint are very small, do not germinate well, so you should purchase them only from trusted suppliers. Only mature, whole specimens are subject to planting.
The seed material is placed in containers with ventilation holes, placing them in the soil to a depth of 2-3 mm. From above they are sprinkled with earth and moistened with a spray bottle. Until sprouts appear, containers should be stored on a draft-free windowsill, watering as needed. The optimum temperature in the room is up to + 24 °C. The first shoots appear 14 days after planting.
Seedlings should be transferred to open ground when the plant reaches a height of 6 cm. Before planting, seedlings should be dived into separate pots and pre-hardened, taking the plant outside for several hours within 10-14 days.
Before planting cold mint in open ground, you should dig up the area and add humus to it according to the scheme: 3 kg per 1 m2. Together with it, it is recommended to add 2 tbsp. l. ash and 15 g of saltpeter.
After the formation of the beds, grooves are prepared in it, keeping a distance of 20-30 cm between them. The aisle should be 40 cm. The seedling is carefully removed from the container and placed in a hole, after which it is covered with earth and watered abundantly.
Peculiarities of growing
Cold mint can grow on the site for up to 5 years, after which it needs a transplant. Bushes should be rejuvenated by pruning.
To prevent the spread of mint around the site, it is recommended to install restrictions in the form of a fence.
The plant loves moisture, but waterlogging has a disastrous effect on the root system, so watering is required as the soil dries.
Weeding and loosening should be carried out regularly to provide the roots with an adequate supply of oxygen. The minimum number of procedures is once a month.
Pests and diseases
Perennial must be protected from pest attacks. After the appearance of the first leaf plates, a mint flea may occur. It damages the leaves, becoming more active during the drought period. To destroy it, Aktellik’s solution is used.
They destroy the upper part of the shoots of aphids, and the edges of the leaf plates are affected by weevils. The activity of the meadow moth is extremely detrimental to the shoots of the plant.
For pest control, insecticides Fufanon, Karbofos, Decis should be preferred.
The best prevention of pest attack is a perennial transplant every 2 years.
Cold mint is susceptible to powdery mildew that infects leaf blades, leaving a white coating on them. For prevention, the soil around the plant should be dug up annually, and the perennial should be treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.
From leaf spotting, mint should be sprayed with cold Bordeaux liquid. The disease is manifested by brown spots on the leaf plates.
When and how to collect mint
The maximum concentration of menthol in the plant is noted during the flowering period, so it should be collected at this time.
Plant collection principles:
- the stem should be cut with a sharp knife to a third of the length so that the cold mint can recover in the future;
- only healthy specimens are subject to collection;
- it is recommended to cut the plant on a sunny day without precipitation (excess moisture can provoke the process of decay in the leaf plates);
- to prevent premature wilting, cut stems should be placed in a damp cloth and transferred to the room.
To preserve all the beneficial properties of the plant, it must be properly processed.
How to dry cold mint
After harvesting, the shoots with leaves should be washed and dried thoroughly. To do this, it is collected in bunches and hung in a ventilated room. Sunlight on cold mint should be avoided. The bunches should not be large, otherwise the risk of leaf rotting is high.
If it is impossible to hang the bunches, the stems are laid out on a layer of newspaper or fabric, then periodically turned over so that they dry out evenly.
Most often, the drying process lasts 7 days. To check the readiness of raw materials, it is necessary to break the stem. Ready-to-eat leaves break easily.
Keep cold mint in a closed container away from the sun for 1 year. If it is impossible to dry the leaves, it is recommended to freeze them: all the beneficial properties of the plant will be preserved.
Conclusion
Cold mint is a plant known for its healing properties. A wide range of applications and unpretentiousness in care are common reasons for cultivating perennials on the site. The harvested crop can be stored for the winter.
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