If you had to inform the difference between spearmint, peppermint, and apple mint, could you? they’re all beautifully scented, useful herbs from the Mentha which will make terrific additions to a garden. Though there are over 600 varieties or cultivars of mint, spearmint, deserves a better look on why you would possibly got to give this hardy perennial a spot in your garden.

Spearmint gets its name from its leaves, which compared to other mints are, as you guessed it, spear-shaped. Its botanical name is additionally taken from its pointy foliage — spearmint means “spike bearing” mint. it’s in these delicious pointy leaves that the magic happens.

The chemical that affects flavor and aroma in most mint plants is menthol, but spearmint actually features a minimal amount of this compound compared to other species and varieties. What sets spearmint apart may be a chemical called carvone. This same chemical is found in aromatic favorites like dill and caraway, and it leads to a spicier smell and taste. Combined with the opposite compounds in spearmint, it gives the herb a spicy, citrus, mint taste that this herb is prized for.

Spearmint has been prized for an extended time. The herb has been cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes since the first century CE. it had been mentioned within the bible as being so valuable, that, along side other spices, it had been wont to pay taxes.

From the center East, it moved to Britain by way of Roman soldiers, where it enjoyed much success in monastic then cottage gardens because it spread. within the 14th century an individual presumably under a penname, John Gardiner, writes about spearmint in Feate of Gardening, the earliest known work on horticulture within the English . At an equivalent time, it had been a standard ingredient in early sorts of toothpaste.

By the 15th century it had been known to assist with stomach ailments, a use it’s still known for today. In today’s world, it’s going to not be monetarily valuable, but it’s even as useful. From getting used in cocktails, teas, mint jelly, and non-traditional medicines, to candles and oils, the plant’s use has spread the maximum amount because it does within the garden.

Spearmint Care

Growing spearmint isn’t hard. In fact, sooner or later, if you plant your spearmint within the wrong place you’ll ask yourself how do I stop the mint from growing? the foremost important thing to think about when planting most sorts of mint is placing it somewhere that it doesn’t encroach on other plants in your landscape.

Mint spreads by rhizomes and stolon. This growth makes the plant a superb candidate for a container garden, but if you select to plant during a bed or within the ground it should be spaced carefully allowing spreading. Three feet apart may be a good rule for spearmint which can allow time for your plant to mature to a sufficient height to reap .

Harvesting is best done before the plant goes to flower because the flavor are going to be concentrated within the leaves. If you harvest consistently you’ll get numerous hauls of leaves throughout the season and may then dry your mint to be used throughout the year.

Light

Mints prefer full sun to partial shade. Spearmint also can be grown indoors under a grow light or on a bright windowsill.

Soil

Mints prefer an upscale , moist, and well-drained soil. If potting, use an upscale organic soilless mix.

Water

Water regularly, being careful to not overwater. Allow soil to travel almost dry between watering, then soak thoroughly.

Temperature and Humidity

Spearmint thrives in USDA zones 4a to 11 and doesn’t tolerate the cold. It does well indoors on a window or under a grow light.

Fertilizer

No got to fertilize, spearmint grows well on its own. But adding some additional nutrients post-harvest will rejuvenate for an additional haul.

Is Spearmint Toxic?

Spearmint is non-toxic and has many culinary and medicinal uses. The carvone found during this herb is superb at repelling mosquitos and other nuisances while still being an excellent pollinator.

Propagating Spearmint

Plants and seeds are both are readily available and equally easy to grow. Of course, seeds do take more effort, but they’re more cost-efficient.

Mint also grows easily from cuttings taken within the early spring using rooting hormone.

Growing Spearmint from Seeds

If you select to start out from seed start the method indoors eight to 10 weeks before the last frost. Indoors, seeds will germinate in about fortnight. Keep the soil moist till there’s germination then mist daily, but look out to not saturate the soil. Having a lover next to your seedlings may be a good idea to strengthen them. you’ll also sow directly outdoors in partially shaded, moist soil.

Identifying Spearmint

With care, spearmint is often distinguished from its close relatives. Apple mint, apple mint, is straightforward to spot. it’s softly rounded leaves, and its stems and leaves are covered in fine fluffy hairs called trichomes. The flowers of Apple mint are white or light pink, and therefore the taste is a smaller amount minty and almost fruity.

Chocolate mint, Mentha x Piperita ‘Chocolate’, has dark green leaves, is extremely fast-growing, and has rich reddish-brown stems. The smell and flavor are like a mint chocolate liqueur.

Lavender Mint, Mentha x Piperita ‘Lavender’, is ornamental because it is aromatic. This beauty has large purple blooms and may reach heights of 36 inches. there’s also a difficult version of spearmint referred to as curly-leaf mint, spearmint ‘crisp. This tall growing mint has all the traits of spearmint but with tightly curled leaves.