In the heat of the summer, this can mean watering two or more times a week to ensure the soil is moist to the touch at all times. If you do find that you have them, spray plants with a blast of water to knock the little suckers loose. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Look for yellowing or curling leaves. For more information, read our complete guide to controlling cutworms. You dont need to leave much of a margin around the plant, but try to get up a good chunk. That said, you will want to harvest early in the day after the dew has dried for the most potency. 
Try chopping the leaves into a lamb burger mixture, grill, and top with a cucumber and mint sour cream sauce. GARDENER'S PATH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. If you live in a hot area where the soil dries out quickly, add an inch of natural mulch like leaves, grass, or compost to retain moisture. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you grow it near other mints, spearmint can hybridize. Its ideal as a garnish because the stalk can double as a swizzle stick for mojitos or vodka lemonade. 
Be aware that this fungicide contains toxic chemicals, so you shouldnt harvest your mint for at least a few weeks after application. Why not try this twist on the classic, a tomatillo mojito you can find the recipe on Foodal. So what sets spearmint apart?
It can grow in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil, but a pH of 6.0-7.5 is ideal. If youve ever nibbled a peppermint leaf and a spearmint leaf side by side, you can really tell the difference. It thrives in warm, dry weather and is recognizable by its powdery appearance on leaves and stems.
Any barrier will need to be at least a foot deep in the soil to work effectively. In the Middle Ages, spearmint was thought to be useful in treating dog bites. At the same time, it can repel rats, mice, and ticks, and can be used to kill mosquito larvae. She was raised in the Utah desert, and made her way to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs in 2018. In the case of a severe infection, the leaves may die, and rust may eventually kill the plant. You should always water at the base of plants and not on the foliage. Then, replace the original plant and fill the empty space with soil. That heat stresses the plants, which causes them to produce more oils. An annual dressing with well-rotted manure will give this plant everything it needs to thrive, unless your soil has a serious deficiency of nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus. Spearmint works in a variety of dishes ranging from sweet to savory. Please share your tips for using your harvest I can never find enough ways to eat them. In the past, Ive dug up a plant and tossed it in a corner of my yard where I forgot about it. Today, spearmint is a valuable commercial crop, with Oregon, Idaho, and Washington producing the majority of the essential oil in the US. You can also combine a cup of leaves with a quart of alcohol (vodka or another clear spirit works best) to create a tincture. Gradually add an hour of sunlight each day until the plant can be outside for seven hours. That doesnt mean that they have no trouble with diseases, however. Here is more about what we do. Its slightly less sweet than traditional spearmint, and its resistant to mint rust and powdery mildew. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or using plant-based remedies or supplements for health and wellness. Youll often see it growing along roadsides or in waste areas such as vacant lots or fallow fields. Cut the top and bottom off of a cardboard box and tape the ends together to form an open square. Powdery mildew is the foe of many garden plants. A product made of potassium bicarbonate such as MilStop, available at Arbico Organics, is also effective. Leaves can be hung in batches and dried, or you can place sprigs or leaves on a screen in a cool, protected area and allow them to dry that way. Spearmint is also unique among mints in that it resists verticillium wilt. Spearmint, on the other hand, is more mild. These soil-borne organisms disrupt the reproductive cycle of the pest. If youve started your plants indoors, harden them off for about a week before planting them out in the garden. Tea made from the leaves can be used to help relieve headaches, stomach issues, gout, and coughs. To make a warm drink to ease stomach issues or a gargle to relieve a sore throat, add a cup of leaves to three cups of boiling water and steep for five minutes. You can do this for several days in a row and you should be able to get rid of enough that your plants wont be harmed. Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) find mint to be a tasty little snack. Check out our guide for more tips on growing mint in your garden. Whatever propagation method you choose, mint transplants should be placed in the soil at the same level as they were growing before. Always water at the base of plants in the morning so the leaves can dry out during the day. Find more tips on growing mint from seed here.
You can cut back plants to the ground in the fall if you choose. Note that you should avoid consuming spearmint if you have a hiatal hernia or acid reflux. For more tips to grow your own herbs, check out the following guides next: Photos by Kendall Vanderslice and Meghan Yager Ask the Experts, LLC. What does this mean for your garden? Its effective in relieving flatulence and in easing nausea and vomiting. You can start seeds directly in the garden after the risk of frost has passed, or start them indoors about eight weeks before your last frost date. For that reason, this herb is ideal for when you want something that complements your cooking, rather than becoming the flavorful focal point. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth six inches outside of the base of plants. English colonists brought the pungent herb along with them to North America, and by the time of the American Revolutionary War, spearmint was an important cash crop that was popular as an alternative to black tea. While an individual plant only reaches a mature width of about 24 inches at most, it can put out new growth and spread throughout your garden as much as you choose to let it. Mint seeds like the soil to be constantly moist and warm about 70F. It has been cultivated for centuries as a flavoring for candies, jams, medicines, teas, and desserts. Also known as bush, brown, garden, lamb, mackerel, and spire mint, spearmint is a member of the Mentha genus. There arent many cultivars of true spearmint, but you can find plenty of hybrid crosses between spearmint and other Mentha species. If all that fails, a chemical fungicide containing Azoxystrobin can be used according to the manufacturers directions. Some studies show the essential oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Or, to get a jump on the growing season, you can find a three-pack of plants available at Burpee. Spearmint has a distinctive scent, thanks to high quantities of a chemical compound called carvone. Spearmint will give you the best flavor when it is grown in a full sun location. It thrives in moist conditions and is particularly exacerbated by overhead watering. For commercial growers, it can be a serious problem. Spearmint takes well to layering since pretty much wherever mint touches the ground, it forms roots eagerly. After a few weeks, the buried branch should have developed roots, and youll see new shoots coming out of the soil. Otherwise, pluck leaves and stems as you need them, using scissors or a pair of clippers. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Its a bit milder than true spearmint with a hint of citrus. And why does it deserve a spot in your herb garden? If they resist, theyre rooted. We have an entire guide dedicated to freezing herbs here. Spearmint stands apart from other mint varieties because of its smooth, hairless, or nearly hairless leaves that attach to the stem directly, without a stalk in between. If youve ever waffled between selecting spearmint or peppermint gum at the store, then you know that there are lots of mint flavors out there. As for drinks, spearmint makes a nice flavoring for mojitos, mint juleps (obviously), and gimlets. After about two weeks, you should see seedlings emerge. This helps to encourage bushier growth and slows the spread of the plant. It also has pretty pink or lavender flowers that attract pollinators. Keep in mind that these pests may develop resistance to sprays, so you should only use them as a last resort. Trim off the top inch or so of the stems to encourage bushy growth. Now its ready to go into its new home. Find detailed instructions on drying herbs here. Fill the planting area back in with soil, and water well to settle the roots and give the plant a good drink of water. Kristine Lofgren is a writer, photographer, reader, and gardening lover from outside Portland, Oregon. Also known as Improved Spearmint, M. spicata Kentucky Colonel has large, pebbled, round leaves. The first line of defense is to keep your garden clean. M. spicata var. Compost, aged manure, or coconut coir dust are good options to aid water retention. Let me know in the comments below! Dig up a clump of mint with a spade. Spearmint can grow in almost any type of soil, including soils that are sandy or loamy, as well as clay. Also consider using the leaves in ice cream, and as a flavoring in fruit popsicles. In fact, if you grow spearmint near another type of mint, you might end up with a unique hybrid of your own if you save the seeds for planting. You can always make the classic mint sauce for lamb, but why not get a bit more creative? The common name spearmint references its pointed, spear-like leaves. Spearmint is attacked most often by the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) in particular. If you look closely, you may notice what looks like little dots scurrying around on the underside of leaves. Wash and roughly chop them, and place them in an ice cube tray to fill each cell about halfway. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for three to four weeks.
There are a handful of pests that love it as much as humans do. To change up my morning yogurt, Ill toss in fresh chopped leaves with some berries and granola. You can find spearmint seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers. Lay the branch on the ground and cover it with 1/2 inch of soil. See our TOS for more details. Agitate the mixture every day. Talk about a versatile plant! Read more about aphids in the garden here. Fill the rest of each compartment with water, and place in the freezer. Anywhere with temperatures in the 80s during the day and the 60s at night is ideal. Leaves will keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for three or four days.
It has larger leaves, as well. Its native to Europe, the Middle East, the Himalayas, and China. Allow to cool before gargling. Transplant the division that you took into its new spot. You can cover seeds with a plastic bag or glass cloche to help keep the soil moist if you live in a dry area. Spider mites attack a range of plants, but the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) loves members of the Mentha genus in particular. Her passion is focused these days on growing ornamental edibles, and foraging for food in the urban and suburban landscape. You should also amend the pH if your soil is too alkaline or acidic. Regular watering is particularly important in hot, dry climates or if you have sandy soil. While mint can be overpowering with some vegetables and fruits, spearmint is subtle enough that its a nice complement. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. In the late spring, take a four-inch cutting off the top of a mature plant just below a set of leaf nodes. Depending on the size of the plant, youll need to dig nine to 12 inches deep. Spearmint plants can reach about three feet tall at maturity, but it can also be low-growing, depending on the amount of light that it receives. For container growing, youll need a pot at least 18 inches wide and a foot deep, with drainage holes in the base. Wrigleys spearmint (M. spicata Wrigleys) can be a little hard to find. If you want, you can bury the entire container in the soil to inhibit its spread. If your goal is to produce spearmint oil, harvest your herbs in the heat of summer. Leave about an inch of stems above the soil. Add some pomegranate to make a sauce for chicken. Youll have to replace it every so often, after watering or particularly after it rains, but it creates an effective barrier by desiccating the worms if they try to cross. Infected plants should be removed and destroyed. Since these little arachnids are so tiny, youll probably notice webbing on your plant before you notice the insects themselves. In fact, the most demanding element of growing spearmint is that it needs plenty of water. Learn How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Ferns, Learn How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Ferns. Harden off rooted cuttings and plant them out in the garden as described above. Finally, you can create foil or cardboard collars to protect the base of your spearmint plants. Heres what to watch for: Cutworms (Agrotis spp.) If you see mojito mint or Scotch spearmint seeds (or peppermint seeds, for that matter), be wary. Prepare the area by testing your soil first. All mints are bothered by some of the seemingly ever-present pests like aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Look for rusty orange spores or white bumps on the underside of leaves. Snip the new plant free from the parent, and dig a hole about six inches deep and wide to carefully remove it from the ground. A lot of times, various types of mint are clumped together in one overarching category. You can find beneficial nematodes available at Arbico Organics. Reflective mulch helps to keep thrips off your plants, and you can avoid planting near anything in the allium family, another favorite food of theirs. If that fails, use an application of neem oil following the manufacturers directions. Spearmint spreads (and spreads and spreads) through rhizomes and stolons. You can grow it in a container to keep it under control, but there are also plenty of other ways to keep it contained in the garden. A month later, I had a healthy patch of mint growing. How to Grow Flavorful Cardamom in Your Home Garden, .slick-slider#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83656.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83656.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; }
Try chopping the leaves into a lamb burger mixture, grill, and top with a cucumber and mint sour cream sauce. GARDENER'S PATH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. If you live in a hot area where the soil dries out quickly, add an inch of natural mulch like leaves, grass, or compost to retain moisture. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you grow it near other mints, spearmint can hybridize. Its ideal as a garnish because the stalk can double as a swizzle stick for mojitos or vodka lemonade. Be aware that this fungicide contains toxic chemicals, so you shouldnt harvest your mint for at least a few weeks after application. Why not try this twist on the classic, a tomatillo mojito you can find the recipe on Foodal. So what sets spearmint apart? It can grow in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil, but a pH of 6.0-7.5 is ideal. If youve ever nibbled a peppermint leaf and a spearmint leaf side by side, you can really tell the difference. It thrives in warm, dry weather and is recognizable by its powdery appearance on leaves and stems.
Any barrier will need to be at least a foot deep in the soil to work effectively. In the Middle Ages, spearmint was thought to be useful in treating dog bites. At the same time, it can repel rats, mice, and ticks, and can be used to kill mosquito larvae. She was raised in the Utah desert, and made her way to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs in 2018. In the case of a severe infection, the leaves may die, and rust may eventually kill the plant. You should always water at the base of plants and not on the foliage. Then, replace the original plant and fill the empty space with soil. That heat stresses the plants, which causes them to produce more oils. An annual dressing with well-rotted manure will give this plant everything it needs to thrive, unless your soil has a serious deficiency of nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus. Spearmint works in a variety of dishes ranging from sweet to savory. Please share your tips for using your harvest I can never find enough ways to eat them. In the past, Ive dug up a plant and tossed it in a corner of my yard where I forgot about it. Today, spearmint is a valuable commercial crop, with Oregon, Idaho, and Washington producing the majority of the essential oil in the US. You can also combine a cup of leaves with a quart of alcohol (vodka or another clear spirit works best) to create a tincture. Gradually add an hour of sunlight each day until the plant can be outside for seven hours. That doesnt mean that they have no trouble with diseases, however. Here is more about what we do. Its slightly less sweet than traditional spearmint, and its resistant to mint rust and powdery mildew. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or using plant-based remedies or supplements for health and wellness. Youll often see it growing along roadsides or in waste areas such as vacant lots or fallow fields. Cut the top and bottom off of a cardboard box and tape the ends together to form an open square. Powdery mildew is the foe of many garden plants. A product made of potassium bicarbonate such as MilStop, available at Arbico Organics, is also effective. Leaves can be hung in batches and dried, or you can place sprigs or leaves on a screen in a cool, protected area and allow them to dry that way. Spearmint is also unique among mints in that it resists verticillium wilt. Spearmint, on the other hand, is more mild. These soil-borne organisms disrupt the reproductive cycle of the pest. If youve started your plants indoors, harden them off for about a week before planting them out in the garden. Tea made from the leaves can be used to help relieve headaches, stomach issues, gout, and coughs. To make a warm drink to ease stomach issues or a gargle to relieve a sore throat, add a cup of leaves to three cups of boiling water and steep for five minutes. You can do this for several days in a row and you should be able to get rid of enough that your plants wont be harmed. Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) find mint to be a tasty little snack. Check out our guide for more tips on growing mint in your garden. Whatever propagation method you choose, mint transplants should be placed in the soil at the same level as they were growing before. Always water at the base of plants in the morning so the leaves can dry out during the day. Find more tips on growing mint from seed here. You can cut back plants to the ground in the fall if you choose. Note that you should avoid consuming spearmint if you have a hiatal hernia or acid reflux. For more tips to grow your own herbs, check out the following guides next: Photos by Kendall Vanderslice and Meghan Yager Ask the Experts, LLC. What does this mean for your garden? Its effective in relieving flatulence and in easing nausea and vomiting. You can start seeds directly in the garden after the risk of frost has passed, or start them indoors about eight weeks before your last frost date. For that reason, this herb is ideal for when you want something that complements your cooking, rather than becoming the flavorful focal point. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth six inches outside of the base of plants. English colonists brought the pungent herb along with them to North America, and by the time of the American Revolutionary War, spearmint was an important cash crop that was popular as an alternative to black tea. While an individual plant only reaches a mature width of about 24 inches at most, it can put out new growth and spread throughout your garden as much as you choose to let it. Mint seeds like the soil to be constantly moist and warm about 70F. It has been cultivated for centuries as a flavoring for candies, jams, medicines, teas, and desserts. Also known as bush, brown, garden, lamb, mackerel, and spire mint, spearmint is a member of the Mentha genus. There arent many cultivars of true spearmint, but you can find plenty of hybrid crosses between spearmint and other Mentha species. If all that fails, a chemical fungicide containing Azoxystrobin can be used according to the manufacturers directions. Some studies show the essential oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Or, to get a jump on the growing season, you can find a three-pack of plants available at Burpee. Spearmint has a distinctive scent, thanks to high quantities of a chemical compound called carvone. Spearmint will give you the best flavor when it is grown in a full sun location. It thrives in moist conditions and is particularly exacerbated by overhead watering. For commercial growers, it can be a serious problem. Spearmint takes well to layering since pretty much wherever mint touches the ground, it forms roots eagerly. After a few weeks, the buried branch should have developed roots, and youll see new shoots coming out of the soil. Otherwise, pluck leaves and stems as you need them, using scissors or a pair of clippers. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Its a bit milder than true spearmint with a hint of citrus. And why does it deserve a spot in your herb garden? If they resist, theyre rooted. We have an entire guide dedicated to freezing herbs here. Spearmint stands apart from other mint varieties because of its smooth, hairless, or nearly hairless leaves that attach to the stem directly, without a stalk in between. If youve ever waffled between selecting spearmint or peppermint gum at the store, then you know that there are lots of mint flavors out there. As for drinks, spearmint makes a nice flavoring for mojitos, mint juleps (obviously), and gimlets. After about two weeks, you should see seedlings emerge. This helps to encourage bushier growth and slows the spread of the plant. It also has pretty pink or lavender flowers that attract pollinators. Keep in mind that these pests may develop resistance to sprays, so you should only use them as a last resort. Trim off the top inch or so of the stems to encourage bushy growth. Now its ready to go into its new home. Find detailed instructions on drying herbs here. Fill the planting area back in with soil, and water well to settle the roots and give the plant a good drink of water. Kristine Lofgren is a writer, photographer, reader, and gardening lover from outside Portland, Oregon. Also known as Improved Spearmint, M. spicata Kentucky Colonel has large, pebbled, round leaves. The first line of defense is to keep your garden clean. M. spicata var. Compost, aged manure, or coconut coir dust are good options to aid water retention. Let me know in the comments below! Dig up a clump of mint with a spade. Spearmint can grow in almost any type of soil, including soils that are sandy or loamy, as well as clay. Also consider using the leaves in ice cream, and as a flavoring in fruit popsicles. In fact, if you grow spearmint near another type of mint, you might end up with a unique hybrid of your own if you save the seeds for planting. You can always make the classic mint sauce for lamb, but why not get a bit more creative? The common name spearmint references its pointed, spear-like leaves. Spearmint is attacked most often by the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) in particular. If you look closely, you may notice what looks like little dots scurrying around on the underside of leaves. Wash and roughly chop them, and place them in an ice cube tray to fill each cell about halfway. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for three to four weeks.
There are a handful of pests that love it as much as humans do. To change up my morning yogurt, Ill toss in fresh chopped leaves with some berries and granola. You can find spearmint seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers. Lay the branch on the ground and cover it with 1/2 inch of soil. See our TOS for more details. Agitate the mixture every day. Talk about a versatile plant! Read more about aphids in the garden here. Fill the rest of each compartment with water, and place in the freezer. Anywhere with temperatures in the 80s during the day and the 60s at night is ideal. Leaves will keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for three or four days.
It has larger leaves, as well. Its native to Europe, the Middle East, the Himalayas, and China. Allow to cool before gargling. Transplant the division that you took into its new spot. You can cover seeds with a plastic bag or glass cloche to help keep the soil moist if you live in a dry area. Spider mites attack a range of plants, but the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) loves members of the Mentha genus in particular. Her passion is focused these days on growing ornamental edibles, and foraging for food in the urban and suburban landscape. You should also amend the pH if your soil is too alkaline or acidic. Regular watering is particularly important in hot, dry climates or if you have sandy soil. While mint can be overpowering with some vegetables and fruits, spearmint is subtle enough that its a nice complement. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. In the late spring, take a four-inch cutting off the top of a mature plant just below a set of leaf nodes. Depending on the size of the plant, youll need to dig nine to 12 inches deep. Spearmint plants can reach about three feet tall at maturity, but it can also be low-growing, depending on the amount of light that it receives. For container growing, youll need a pot at least 18 inches wide and a foot deep, with drainage holes in the base. Wrigleys spearmint (M. spicata Wrigleys) can be a little hard to find. If you want, you can bury the entire container in the soil to inhibit its spread. If your goal is to produce spearmint oil, harvest your herbs in the heat of summer. Leave about an inch of stems above the soil. Add some pomegranate to make a sauce for chicken. Youll have to replace it every so often, after watering or particularly after it rains, but it creates an effective barrier by desiccating the worms if they try to cross. Infected plants should be removed and destroyed. Since these little arachnids are so tiny, youll probably notice webbing on your plant before you notice the insects themselves. In fact, the most demanding element of growing spearmint is that it needs plenty of water. Learn How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Ferns, Learn How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Ferns. Harden off rooted cuttings and plant them out in the garden as described above. Finally, you can create foil or cardboard collars to protect the base of your spearmint plants. Heres what to watch for: Cutworms (Agrotis spp.) If you see mojito mint or Scotch spearmint seeds (or peppermint seeds, for that matter), be wary. Prepare the area by testing your soil first. All mints are bothered by some of the seemingly ever-present pests like aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Look for rusty orange spores or white bumps on the underside of leaves. Snip the new plant free from the parent, and dig a hole about six inches deep and wide to carefully remove it from the ground. A lot of times, various types of mint are clumped together in one overarching category. You can find beneficial nematodes available at Arbico Organics. Reflective mulch helps to keep thrips off your plants, and you can avoid planting near anything in the allium family, another favorite food of theirs. If that fails, use an application of neem oil following the manufacturers directions. Spearmint spreads (and spreads and spreads) through rhizomes and stolons. You can grow it in a container to keep it under control, but there are also plenty of other ways to keep it contained in the garden. A month later, I had a healthy patch of mint growing. How to Grow Flavorful Cardamom in Your Home Garden, .slick-slider#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83656.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83656.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; }