English mint: variety description, cultivation and care with photo

English mint in the common people is called cold or cold mint. This variety is valued for its life-giving properties, a wide range of applications. It was bred by crossing wild subspecies - aquatic and spikelet.

Features of the variety

English mint is a herbaceous perennial that reaches 1 m in height, with a chill when biting, a pronounced smell. The rhizome is located close to the soil surface. Its foliage is ovoid, pointed. Gives small flowers, his corolla is bare, with a lilac limb. Flowering continues from June to September.English mint here is represented by two common types - black and white.

Growth conditions for English mint

Mint yields more in nitrogen-rich soil. But all the best should be in moderation, because excess nitrogen in the soil can lead to the formation of rust on the leaves. Fragrant mint loves moisture and sun, but it does not tolerate dry heat well without additional spraying. The perennial develops comfortably at a temperature of +18 … +20 °С.

With increasing temperature, there is a decrease in the content of menthol in the leaves. In severe winter conditions, the perennial staunchly withstands a drop in the thermometer to -10 ° C. But if this temperature level is observed at the depth of unprotected roots, then they die almost immediately. In the presence of a snow cushion up to 20 cm deep, life-giving mint is able to endure temperatures up to -25 ° С.

Plant planting date

If the perennial is grown at home, then you can plant selected seeds at any time, there are no restrictions. Thanks to its excellent frost-resistant qualities, life-giving mint can be planted in cool soil in the fall.

When sowing selected samples in garden soil, the planting period without seedlings is observed: the end of April - the beginning of warm May.

Preparation of planting material

Since the selected seeds are too small, the process of sowing in open ground must be approached with the utmost seriousness.

Mature mint seeds are purchased from a special store or harvested on their own. Before sowing at home, material is selected, leaving only mature specimens. Selected mint seeds have a low germination rate, 2-3 seedlings can come out of 1 bag.

Preparing the landing site

Before placing life-giving mint in the ground, it is necessary to prepare the site. First you need to carefully dig the selected area by 20 cm. Make 3 kg of high-quality humus per 1 sq. m. Do not forget about 2 tbsp. l. wood ash, 15 g of ammonium nitrate. All these actions will help turn any selected site into a comfortable place for the growth and development of perennials. If groundwater is too close to the surface, it is better to make an elevation at the site of planting life-giving mint.

Planting a crop

Prepare grooves for aromatic mint, keeping a distance of 20-30 cm. To make it convenient to plant, use a stick with a pointed end or a planting syringe for seeds, since mature specimens are very small. They are deepened by 5 cm, gently sprinkled with earth, watered to avoid water washout.

If the seeds are planted for seedlings, then when the young sprouts reach 6 cm in height, they are boldly relocated to open ground.

Mint Care Rules

Gardeners who decide to grow fragrant English mint on their plot are lucky, because for its normal growth and development it is necessary to make a minimum of effort due to its unpretentiousness. In one place, a perennial can develop up to 5 years, after this period it must be transplanted. Bushes must be rejuvenated by emergency pruning.

To prevent the intensive spread of mint throughout the site, it is necessary to establish special restrictions. In places of soil depletion, fertilizers are applied to develop mint. So that the fragrant plant does not stretch, choose illuminated areas.

Irrigation

English mint loves moisture in reasonable amounts. It does not tolerate waterlogged soil, which causes the roots to rot. Therefore, perennials need high-quality watering.

Loosening and weeding

Periodic loosening of the soil and weeding of the near-stem circle from insidious weeds are mandatory procedures that every gardener who has English mint on his plot needs to perform. Loosening the soil provides an additional supply of oxygen to the roots, this should be done once a month.

Diseases and pests

Fragrant mint is a perennial that is attractive not only to humans but also to pests.

From the moment the first leaves grow, she has been plagued by a mint flea, making round holes in the leaves. During the period of dry and warm spring, the risk of attack by this pest is very high.

Aphids destroy the upper part of the young shoot. Weevils attack the edges of leaves. A meadow moth can completely destroy a perennial. Wireworm can spoil the root system. What are the main methods of dealing with these pests? In case of severe damage, potent insecticides are used. Spraying procedures must be carried out 30 days before the start of harvest.

In the garden, it is better to do without the use of potent substances, preventive measures will be a perennial transplant once every 2 years. They also spray with a ready-made solution of celandine.

Like all perennials, life-giving mint is susceptible to various ailments. Most often, she suffers from powdery mildew, from which deep autumn digging of the soil, spraying with a solution of colloidal sulfur can save her.

Leaf spotting - it is characterized by the appearance of brown spots on the leaves with black dots, spraying Bordeaux liquid will help save the crop.

Fast-growing rhizome is affected by mycoplasma. To get rid of these destructive pests, only the destruction of the infected plant, the transplantation of he althy samples to another place will help.

Timely application of phosphorus with potassium will help strengthen the protective properties of the perennial.

Collection and storage

To collect young mint correctly, there are recommendations. You can not pluck the shoots with your hands, it is better to carefully cut the stem. It is cut to a third of the total length. During the period of active flowering, menthol extract is obtained from the shoots. If you need to dry the culture with stems, then it is better to do this before budding begins. The collection of mint for the preparation of fragrant tea begins in early spring, the peak of the harvesting season falls on sultry July.Collection is made 1-3 times a month. Cutting shoots is best done in the evening on a dry day.