Field mint: variety description, medicinal properties and contraindications with photo

Field mint is considered a fairly common perennial plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This plant is actively used in folk medicine and cooking to create salads and various dishes. Before you start growing mint, you need to familiarize yourself with its description and the nuances of growing.

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.On the edges of each leaf, small teeth are visible, the length of which reaches 3-4 mm.

Mature plants produce purple or purple flowers. 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.

Where it grows

Mint bushes are not found in all countries, as they cannot grow in some climates. Field grades grow in the western and central parts of Asia, Nepal. They are also found in most European countries and in Russia.

The plant does not like dry weather and needs constant moisture. Therefore, mint bushes most often grow on the banks of rivers, reservoirs or lakes. Less commonly, they can be found in swampy areas or areas with clay soil.

Healing properties and contraindications of meadow mint

It's no secret that the field variety of mint has many useful properties, due to which it is used in the treatment of diseases. Mint leaves contain a lot of menthol, which is considered an excellent anesthetic. When treating with leaves, they rub the skin or apply them to the irritated mucous membrane.

Also, medicinal decoctions and tinctures are made from the stems, which improve the functioning of the digestive tract and cleanse the digestive tract. Such funds are drunk twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Before using mint medicines for the treatment of diseases, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications. You can not use mint for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of children under six years of age. Pregnant girls and people with allergies will have to refuse to use the plant.

When to plant mint

Before you start planting mint, it is recommended to determine the optimal time for its planting. Experts recommend planting a plant in late spring or in the second half of summer. It is not worth planting in early spring and mid-summer, as the material will not grow well due to spring frosts and summer heat.

If the bushes are grown in a greenhouse, then the planting dates can be postponed to any other month. With this method of cultivation, too high or low temperatures outside will not affect the planted seedlings.

Preparation of planting material

It is recommended to prepare the seed in advance so that the mint grows well. For this, preliminary disinfection of all seeds is carried out. This is done with a weak manganese solution, in which the seeds should be soaked.Soaking the seeds lasts 15-20 minutes, after which all the seeds are removed from the solution, washed and dried.

Disinfection is carried out only if self-collected seed is used for planting. If the seeds were bought in a store, disinfection is not necessary.

Choosing a landing site

The choice of a place for growing mint should be taken seriously, as the speed of its growth depends on it. It is recommended to plant the plant in a well-lit area with sufficient protection from gusts of wind. Areas with fertile, loose soil and with the necessary amount of nutrients are best suited for mint bushes. Therefore, many plant them in black soil.

Lime soil is not suitable for mint, as weak and little fragrant bushes grow in it. In order for the plant to grow stronger, you will have to pre-treat the site with fertilizers. To do this, add to the soil:

superphosphate;
potassium chloride;
ash;
nitrate.

Planting a plant

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the planting process in order to properly sow the seeds.

First, rows are marked on the site, on which holes for landing will be made. The rows should be about 50-60 cm apart so that the bushes do not obscure each other. On each row, small holes are made about 5-7 cm deep. All holes are pre-filled with humus, watered with warm water, after which seeds are planted in them.

After planting, the planted mint is covered with soil and re-watered.

Basic mint care rules

Mint is considered an unpretentious plant, and therefore some people practically do not care for it. However, for the normal growth and development of the bushes, you still have to carry out standard care procedures.

When growing, be sure to water the bushes so that they have enough moisture. Soil moistening is carried out in the evening, after sunset. When all the mint is watered, loosening of the soil is carried out to remove the crust formed on the surface and remove weeds.

Also, plants are fed with fertilizers so that there is no shortage of nutrients. Once a season, ash with compost and peat is added to the soil.

Diseases and pests

Mint, like any other plant, is attacked by pests and suffers from various diseases. Among the dangerous diseases are:

Rust. The disease is manifested by yellowing of the leaves and often leads to the death of seedlings.
Fungal diseases. Appear as a result of high humidity and lack of fertilizers.

The most dangerous pest for seedlings is the mint flea, which feeds on young leaves. It appears on the bushes in late spring, when the air temperature rises to 15-20 degrees. If you do not get rid of this insect in a timely manner, the plant will begin to dry and die.

Harvest and storage of crops

Mint is harvested when it is actively blooming. During the flowering period, the stems with leaves are saturated with essential oils and tannins. During harvesting, you should carefully inspect all the bushes and make sure that they are not very young. Immature seedlings have a weak smell and are less useful.

After harvesting, the entire crop is hung in the sun and dried for several days. Dried plants are left in storage so that they can be used in winter.

Conclusion

Some gardeners want to start growing field mint on their plots, but do not know how to do it. To understand this, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the cultivation and care of mint bushes.