Description of black mint, plant characteristics, planting, yield, and storage

Black peppermint is a type of English mintThis fragrant herb is intended only for home cultivation, as it was artificially bred.

Black mint is one of the most popular spices, containing beneficial essential oils. It is often used in cosmetics, cooking, medicine, tobacco, and the liquor industry.

The specifics of black mint

Black mint is a perennial plant. This fragrant herb is a cross between garden mint and water mint. Its stems are vibrant purple-red, and its leaves are a rich green.

The perennial plant propagates by cuttings or rhizomes. Due to its high menthol content, black mint is widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

This variety, unlike white mint, has a milder aroma but is superior in its nutritional content. Black beauty is a valuable phytoncide and honey plant.

Necessary conditions for growth

This plant is hardy, so even a novice gardener can easily grow it in their garden. This fragrant herb grows and thrives in a variety of soil types.

For growing mint, choose sunny areas with some shade.

There's no need to fertilize the bed. It's recommended to plant the plant in areas of the garden previously occupied by legumes; they oxygenate the soil, which promotes the growth of the black beauty. Also, when choosing a planting site, keep in mind that chemicals prevent the plant from eating, so avoid planting flowers or vegetables treated with insecticides near mint.

When to plant mint

Mint tolerates any frost well and can be planted in both spring and fall. Let's take a closer look at the best time and conditions for this.

Planting mint in spring

If you'd prefer to plant your fragrant herb in the spring, you have two options: using seeds or vegetatively. One option involves planting the seeds in the spring, while the other involves planting them a little later, when the herbs are already ripe.

Planting a plant in autumn

In the fall, young plants are planted only from cuttings, either root or stem. However, in this case, you'll still need to ensure the plant is insulated by covering the area with a thick layer of sawdust or peat. This is best done in early fall.

Another planting method is dividing the bush, which should be done in late autumn, before frost.

Preparation of planting material

There are two ways to obtain planting materials: by making them yourself or by purchasing them from a specialist store.

The first option is quite painstaking. It's also important to keep in mind that a synthetically bred variety will produce a completely different result. Therefore, experts recommend purchasing material from specialized facilities that professionally cultivate mint.

The best raw material is considered to be a cutting from the mother plant, taken directly from the garden bed. It is placed in a small container of water and waited for the rhizome to sprout.

Where to plant the plant

• The first step to growing a plant is choosing a planting site.
• The mint's growing site should be well-lit and have moderate humidity. Drafts should be avoided.
• The soil should be fertile and well-drained. Black soil near a pond is the best option, but keep in mind that the black beauty will not grow in clay or chalky soil.

• The area for planting fragrant herbs must be free, otherwise the mint may crowd out other plants.
• The selected area is cleared, weeds are removed, the soil is loosened, and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the appearance of pests.
• The best place to grow the plant is a plot where vegetables or legumes were previously grown and were regularly fertilized with organic matter.

How to plant a crop

Once the seeds are acquired, we move on to propagating and growing the perennial. For this, you'll need a thin stick or a syringe needle. Spread the seeds on the soil, press them into the soil with the stick, and cover with plastic wrap. By the end of May, the seedlings will be ready for planting outdoors. By this time, each plant should have 4-6 leaves.

Before planting the black beauty in open ground, it should be treated with organic fertilizers and minerals to promote germination. Then, the soil is dug over and leveled.

For seedlings, create a bed with rows spaced approximately 40 centimeters apart. Mint is planted at intervals of 30-40 centimeters. The roots are buried 5 centimeters deep in the soil.

Mint care rules

Like any other plant, fragrant grass requires care. To ensure comfortable growing conditions, it needs to be well watered during the growing season, weeded regularly, the soil loosened, and the bushes pruned regularly.

Features of watering

This plant is drought-tolerant, so it doesn't need to be watered daily; 2-3 times a month is sufficient. The exception is during the growing season and drought, when it should be watered more intensively.

Loosening

There is no need to loosen the soil very often; a couple of times a season is enough.

Weeding

Weeds should be destroyed in a timely manner, otherwise they can slow down the growth of the plant.

Diseases

This plant is susceptible to diseases such as rust and powdery mildew. The former causes orange spots to appear on the mint leaves, while the latter causes white spots.

Pests

If not properly cared for, it becomes susceptible to pests such as leaf beetles and aphids. Controlling them takes time, requiring insecticides and folk remedies.

Harvesting and storing mint

The most valuable leaves of this fragrant herb are harvested during the first year of growth, before the plant flowers. During this period, the leaves contain the greatest concentration of essential oils.

Drying the harvested mint is best done in the shade; this way, the black mint retains its aroma to its fullest potential. Store the leaves in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity.