How to Grow Mint: Planting Methods and Points to Note

Mint has been cultivated in China for a very long time. It is a plant that combines ornamental and edible value, with very high efficacy, so it is very popular among people on the market. Nowadays, many people grow mint, but before planting, everyone should still have a comprehensive understanding of its planting methods.

How to Grow Mint

The main methods of growing mint are as follows:

1. Rhizome propagation: Cultivate seed roots in late April or late August. In the field, select robust plants free of pests and diseases as mother plants, and plant them at a spacing of 20×10 cm. After harvesting the above-ground stems and leaves in early winter, leave the rhizomes in place as seed stock.

2. Division propagation: When mint seedlings are about 15 cm tall, thin and fill in the seedlings. Use the thinned seedlings for division and transplanting.

3. Cutting propagation: In May to June, cut the above-ground stems and branches into 10 cm long cuttings. On a prepared seedbed, insert them at a row and plant spacing of 7×3 cm for cutting propagation. After rooting and sprouting, transplant them to the field for cultivation.

Mint Planting Methods and Points to Note

I. Planting methods:

1. Site selection and land preparation: Mint is not strict about soil and can be cultivated in any soil except overly acidic or overly alkaline soil. Choose scattered plots with irrigation and drainage conditions and sufficient sunlight, such as beside ponds, houses, and water canals, preferably with fertile soil and flat terrain. Sandy soil, land with insufficient sunlight, and land prone to drought and water accumulation are not suitable for planting. Land where mint has been grown must be rested for about 3 years before it can be planted again, because residual rhizomes underground affect yield. Prepare the land by deep plowing, apply decomposed compost, farmyard manure, superphosphate, bone meal, etc. as base fertilizer at 37500-45000 kg per hectare, harrow fine, shallow hoe once, turn the fertilizer into the soil, break up the soil, rake level, and make beds 200 cm wide.

2. Transplanting method: Transplant mint in early spring of the second year before it has sprouted. Early planting leads to early sprouting, a longer growth period, and higher yield. When planting, dig up the rhizomes, select thick, short-internode, disease-free rhizomes as seed roots, cut them into 7-10 cm long sections, then on the prepared bed surface open furrows 10 cm deep at a row spacing of 25 cm. Place the seed roots diagonally in the furrows at a plant spacing of 10 cm, cover with fine soil, press firm, and water.

II. Points to note:

After full emergence, carry out inter-row cultivation and weeding, and manual weeding between plants, in order to preserve soil moisture, increase (soil) temperature, eliminate weeds, and promote seedling growth. Before the rows close, cultivate and weed 2-3 times. Before harvest, pull out all weeds in the field to prevent the odor of other weeds from affecting the quality of mint oil.

How to Fertilize and Water Mint

1. Fertilizing. Mint has a very long growth period, and more fertilizer can be added, but the principle is small amounts applied many times, using organic fertilizer or weak fertilizer. Be very careful about fertilizer concentration to avoid burning the roots.

2. Watering. In hot weather, water it once each morning and evening to ensure the mint leaves absorb sufficient water. For mint kept indoors in a cool environment for viewing, check even in summer whether the potting soil is moist, to avoid overwatering that the plant cannot absorb, causing waterlogging. In winter, when temperatures are relatively low, the plant's water absorption is also relatively poor, and evaporation is reduced, so mint requires little attention in terms of water management. If the pot is not dry, there is no need to water. Wait until mint sprouts new shoots in spring of the following year, then strengthen management.

How to Prevent and Control Mint Pests and Diseases

1. Black shank: It occurs at the seedling stage, with symptoms of the stem base contracting and sinking, turning black and rotting, and the plant lodging and withering. For control, during the onset period, use 70% chlorothalonil or 40% carbendazim at 100-150 g per mu, diluted with water and sprayed.

2. Inchworm: The main pest of mint is the inchworm, with damage periods around mid-June and late August. Generally, when the pest density reaches 10 insects per square meter, use 15-20 mm of decis per mu and spray 1-2 times, or spray with 80% dichlorvos at 1000 times dilution.

There are many methods for growing mint, and everyone can choose one of them. After planting, care should be strengthened, among which timely fertilization and watering and pest and disease control are essential factors for ensuring its growth. Some detailed introductions are given above, and I hope they can be helpful to everyone.