Written by Andrelyn Izquierdo
A beginner gardener's plant guide.
One of the easiest ways to start a garden regardless of where you live is an herb garden. It’s small and having just a few plants in containers would suffice. Herbs are convenient in the fact that you can snip some off the plant and use it in cooking. Some people dice them up into butter while others dip the leaves into a cup of hot tea. Mint makes a delightful addition to any type of tea, especially chocolate mint. There are many cultivars to choose from including pineapple, spearmint, and apple mint. All four of these varieties each smell yummy. If you’d like to add some to your existing garden or begin one, here’s what you need to know for indoor and outdoor care:
The herb mint is a perennial meaning it will regrow year after year as long as it’s maintained. It can be trained upright with a small stake or left to trail down the widths. It is an aromatic plant that can have its sweet scent linger as you pass by it outside or you can scent your hands by rubbing the leaves.
Keep the vegetation in a sunny area outdoors where it receives morning sun, for at least four hours. As long as it is well watered, it can tolerate the harsh afternoon rays. Otherwise, the plant will become stressed and then die off becoming brown in color and brittle in texture. Indoors, be sure to position near a window that receives sun. A good spot can be the kitchen window to catch some rays and also receive the humidity while doing dishes as well. This spot is a double win for you aiding in your watering routine.
As mentioned already, mint is part of the herbal family of plants. With its many flavors and scents, it can be added to almost anything you’d like to cook as part of a sauce base or garnish. It has such a lovely taste in tea accompanied by a spoonful of honey. Add a pinch into a strainer ball, leave it in for at least 30 seconds and your cup will smell refreshing leaving your nose tingling as you walk back up to it.
Mint can be known as a super spreader outdoors when not contained. If not monitored, it can take over an entire raised bed or yard. This is why it is likable as a groundcover for areas needing some aromatic greenery. This plant can toughen and become cold hardy in its best growing conditions. Use containers to maintain it this way, you can easily prune as needed when it spills over.
You may have heard already about containers having a thriller, filler, and spiller. If not, that’s a-okay! To give a plant container that wow factor, you assemble the right kind of plants on their correct layer, and “BAM” you have that curb appeal in your front yard. Mint is best at the bottom spiller layer. It sprouts as long tendrils that delicately texturize and elongate your arrangement. Just prune it before it gets too long, or else it will replant in your soil and you’ll come back to additional mint plants growing at the base of your container. It will spread quickly before you know it and take over the plant bed. Or you may need more green in your yard and the mint will help you get there with very little maintenance. Whichever floats your boat.
The next time you come across this wondrous plant, you’ll remember that it’s easy to maintain and a little bit goes a long way. Start small and let it take off.
Happy Gardening!
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Thank you for reading.
This article is written by:
Andrelyn Izquierdo
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