Kuban peppermint: variety description, planting and care with photo

Gardeners who love various spices grow at least a small amount of Kuban peppermint on their plots. This plant is added to tea and dishes to give them a unique original taste. In medicine, it is widely used to treat nervous disorders, colds.

To get strong and he althy seedlings, it is important to sow the seed material correctly. All varieties of mint are considered he althy and fragrant, but the Kuban mint is among the most curative, the bush of which reaches a height of 45 cm.

Features of the variety

Peppermint is characterized by the presence of a menthol refreshing aroma, which is slightly weaker than other varieties of the plant. The stems of the bushes are erect, the leaves are green with an ovate-lanceolate shape, more pubescent below. Flowering occurs from July to August, while the available small flowers with a light purple hue are collected in spike-like inflorescences.

Kuban mint is grown by sowing into the soil and transplanting seedlings. Plants are harvested during the budding period for subsequent drying.

Where it grows

Peppermint is a delicate, fragrant and refreshing herb. It does not require a specific type of climate and region at all. This quality allows many beginners and experienced gardeners to grow spicy bushes on their plots. Housewives who want to always have fragrant leaves on hand grow mint on their windowsills.

The plant does well in well-drained and fertile soils. It will not be able to take root on clay soil. The appearance of the bushes depends on moisture, you can not plant them in a place where there are groundwater flows, because their excess will spoil the mint. If the soil is not rich, then it is recommended to add rotted manure to it. In the case of using fresh organics, there will be an increase in the growth of leaves, and there will be less essential oils. This result is obtained due to the large amount of nitrogen.

Seed preparation

Sowing material is best purchased at gardening stores, because it does not need to be further processed. You can also prepare the seeds yourself, but here it is important to take into account the moment of their ripening, as unripe ones will not be able to sprout.

Before planting, you need to sort out all the seeds and leave only the whole ones. In general, mint has a rather low germination rate, only 2-3 sprouts can hatch from one package.

Choosing a landing site

The bed on which the Kuban mint will grow is being prepared in the fall. First, it is dug up, then 1 bucket of humus per 1 m 2 is introduced ² In the spring, digging is carried out again, the compacted soil is broken with a rake. Top dressing per 1 m2^{2 is used as follows:}

humus - 3 kg;
superphosphate - 15g;
s altpeter - 15 g;
sodium chloride - 15g;
ash - 2 tbsp. l.

The bed is well leveled, after which it takes several days to shrink the earth.

Sowing

It is most convenient to sow seeds in transparent plastic containers with lids. It is easy to observe the necessary indicators of humidity and heat in them for successful germination. In addition, seedlings and their condition are clearly visible. Sprouts need to be aired regularly.

In order not to waste time opening and closing the lid, small holes are made on the containers.

It is necessary to plant seeds in moist soil to a depth of no more than 5 mm. The earth is sprinkled on top quite a bit. Mint seeds are small, if you water them from a watering can, then a jet of water can pull them deep, as a result, sprouts will not appear. Therefore, it is recommended to use a spray gun.

Containers are placed on sunny windowsills in warm rooms. Favorable temperature level is in the range of 21-24 degrees Celsius. In winter, a basin of water is placed near the seedlings. This is necessary to maintain favorable humidity.

The first sprouts hatch after 7-14 days. At this time, the lids are removed from the containers. After they get stronger, they are transplanted into separate deep containers. It is important to add drainage to them in the form of gravel or broken bricks.It is best to use soil with an indicator of 6-7 in terms of acid-base composition. Special fertilizers are used to feed plants.

Plant care

Peppermint Kuban is undemanding. But for good growth, you need to take the following care steps:

Remove weeds while weeding and loosening the soil.
Water regularly - moderately in winter and more in summer months.
Apply mineral fertilizers with nitrogen and phosphorus, which will maintain the viability of the bushes.
Replant mint once every 2-3 years for rejuvenation, good growth and development of the plant.

Harvest and storage of crops

Mint is harvested when needed. But botanists recommend cutting it off during the flowering period, because at this time the content of essential oils is maximum.The stems are cut and tied into bundles, then hung in well-ventilated places or laid out on cloth or paper in thin layers. Dried mint is stored for 2 years. During this time, useful properties are not lost.

Many gardeners sometimes just cut the leaves of the plant and add them to tea. But in this case, essential oils and menthol are out of the question. From such a mint, you can only expect a pleasant aroma and a slight hypnotic effect.

It is not at all difficult to grow Kuban peppermint at home or on the site on your own. But in order to get he althy seedlings, you must follow the recommendations for planting and caring for plants. As soon as the bushes get stronger and become strong, they will no longer require much attention.