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Growing Magnificent Mint
Herbs can add quite a bit to the garden, from fragrance and culinary experiences right through to structure and foliage appeal.
New Collection
Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of the herb bed this spring has been the steady development and emergence of my new collection. The old stand by peppermint is well established and growing well but I suggest new gardeners use caution with this plant in two ways: in choosing it and containing it.
Only Divisions
If you purchase peppermint or spearmint from a garden centre, ensure the pot is from a division or cutting never buy one grown from seed. Seed-started peppermint has a harsh taste that is not shared by the real thing.
In fact, much of the peppermint seed sold in North America is not "true" because true peppermint is sterile and does not set seed.
Containing Mint
Containing any mint in the garden is a full time exercise, the stuff moves faster than a speeding bullet.
In my garden, I bury large, deep plastic nursery pots - 12 inch or larger - in the soil and plant the mint inside the pot. This contains it for a few years, as long as you do not allow the plant to set seed.
This in-ground potted herb survives quite nicely over the winter and does not go wandering in the spring.
Hilary's Fresh Lemon
While Mr. Clinton had his own problems, the best variety in my collection is 'Hilary's Fresh Lemon'. This is an excellent lemon-tasting variety with a true lemon taste. The conspicuous after-taste of some lemon herbs, e.g. lemon balm, is almost absent with this variety.
Chocolate
Other friends have voted the Chocolate mint to be their favourite although I confess I have to search my taste bud memories to find a hint of chocolate in the leaf.
Silver
Silver Mint is a spearmint flavoured plant but with very attractive silver-hued leaves. This would make a good ground cover. From one small cutting last spring, my plant has completely filled its pot this spring and is hanging over the edges looking for more garden space. I needn't add that it is not going to get it!
Fruit Mint
Many of the grapefruit or other citrus mints have very faint citrus tastes although the grapefruit variety I got from Richter's herbs last year does have a true hint of grapefruit that appeals to the summer drink maker in me. It is another of the numerous spearmint hybrids but well worth searching out.
I do note that these fruity tasting hybrids do not come true from seed either as the hybridization will be lost with seed set and resulting genetic drift.
Variegated
Two variegated leaved plants in my spring garden are the Variegated Pineapple Mint and Variegated Spearmint. The Pineapple Mint has a sweet, fruity taste and an excellent and heavily variegated green and white leaf. It is quite hardy as well as attractive and its only fault is that it too likes to wander around the garden. Variegated Spearmint has golden and green blotches on its leaves, is very attractive and has the typical spearmint taste characteristics. The problem with this variety is that it reverts back to green leaves regularly and unless the gardener is very attentive, pulling out the non-variegated shoots, the plant will turn totally green again. The variegated shoots will be lost in the forest of aggressive green stalks. It is worth a place in the garden though if for no other reason than its attractive appearance in summer cooking.
There is nothing quite like a sprig in a summer drink or some fresh tea to calm jangled nerves. Medicinally, mints are used as a carminative - that is an agent that aids in expelling gas from the gasto-intestinal tract. This is a great aid in cases of intestinal cramping or colic.
Herbal Medication
Herbal medication books point out that the dried leaves of mint plants are not harmful in any way but the essential oils (the distilled concentrates) could possibly harm small children if the children drank them straight. As in all things, a little goes a long way and caution is needed where children are concerned.
Plant extracts when concentrated, become very valuable, if potent medications.
Care and due diligence are needed for any concentrated plant product - mint or otherwise. Let me repeat however that the raw leaf is not at all harmful to children, pets or gardeners.
The garden however is the second best place for this plant - the absolute best is in the recipes and summer drinks Im about to enjoy at the farm.
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