Mint: The Herb of Hospitality
The Mentha species or mints as they are commonly called include many varieties that flavour everything from appetizers to desserts. The best-known species in North American are peppermint (M. x piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata), which are highly valued for commercial use. Mint symbolises "hospitality" and can be grown in pots and containers indoors and out. In the garden, mint should be grown with a barrier around the roots, as it can be extremely invasive. Most mints do not come true from seed so it is best to purchase plants from a nursery or garden centre. Fresh mints are a source of Vitamin C and pro-vitamin A.
Peppermint and spearmint are perennials growing 12 ? 36 inches (30 ? 90 cm) tall although some mints are ground hugging. Produced at the end of square stems, terminal spikes of dainty lilac, purple, pink, or white flowers usually bloom in mid-to-late summer. Cultivation requirements for growing mint: grows best in moist, deep, loosely textured sandy soil; full sun but will do well in partial shade; keep well watered; pinch off flowers to promote bushy growth; and if growing indoors, fertilise with an organic fertiliser at half-strength every 3 or 4 weeks. Where winters are harsh, mulch with straw or leaves to protect your plants.
Mints have creeping roots that require sufficient room to develop. When establishing indoor plants, pot up in good houseplant soil and sufficiently large containers to accommodate their root system. To bring indoors for the winter, check for insects, and spray with soap and water if necessary. To harvest and prevent indoor plants from getting scraggly, keep the stems cut back to 5 inches (13 cm). This will also keep the plants from blooming and ensure tastier leaves.
Indoor mints require at least 5 hours of strong sunlight daily. Grow them on a southern or eastern exposure. If you are growing them on a windowsill, rotate regularly to ensure each side receives equal amounts of light. Better yet, grow them under fluorescent lights hung 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day.
In the garden, mint is a good companion to cabbage and tomatoes. Mint deters cabbageworms and spearmint may help keep aphids off nearby plants. Mints attract bees so planting them near fruit trees will improve pollination and increase yields. Add fresh mint leaves to water in the birdbath to keep the water attractive for birds. In the kitchen, use mint with roast lamb or fish, butter, salads, cheese, fruits, fruit salads, jellies, soups, sauces, plain meats, poultry, stews, sweet dishes, teas, bean and lentil dishes. Add fresh sprigs to cooking water of peas, carrots, fresh beets, new potatoes, and in vinegar. Mint flowers can be used in salads as well as garnishes for desserts. In Middle Eastern dishes, mint is used for cheese pastry fillings, yoghurt dressings, and stuffings for vegetables such as bell peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. Mint tea is useful for soothing upset stomachs. To brew a cup, use 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried leaves or 3 teaspoons (15 mL) crushed fresh leaves in 1 cup (250 mL) of boiling water. Steep to taste. Mint can be dried or freeze leaves in butter, oil, or ice cubes.
Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace ? Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca
Gwen Nyhus Stewart 2004 ? 2005. All rights reserved.
 Google News Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:25:40 GMT Microwave baby killer convicted - BBC News
BBC News - A US court in Dayton, Ohio, has convicted a mother of murdering her one-month-old daughter by burning her to death in a microwave oven. Video: Prosecutor: Ohio Mom Killed Baby in Microwave US jury convicts mom in microwaved-baby case Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:30:22 GMT Boeing union leaders recommend strike - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By MarketWatch Leaders of the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Friday rejected Boeing's third and final contract proposal and recommended its workers vote to go on strike. Union Leaders Reject Boeing Contract Offer Boeing Union Urges Workers to Reject Offer, Setting Up Strike Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:15:15 GMT Aid agencies scramble to help flood victims - CNN
CNN - (CNN) -- The grinding misery triggered by the massive floods in a downtrodden part of northeastern India and across the border in Nepal persisted Friday, with government and aid agencies swinging into action to help the 2 million-plus people fleeing ... India: Up to 2000 feared dead in Bihar floods Millions displaced in Bihar floods Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:45:57 GMT Obama’s Plane Palin Problem - FOXNews
FOXNews - by Major Garrett Reporters covering Barack Obama heard the news aboard Obama 1 (the campaign for the first time chartered a second plane for the swelling press corps), just before takeoff. Video: Raw Video: Schwarzenegger Praises Palin “Tougher in Alaska” host Geo Beach discusses Sarah Palin Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:07:29 GMT Earwax: Too Much of a Good Thing? - WebMD
WebMD - By Kelley Colihan Aug. 29, 2008 -- The body is a miraculous mechanism. Consider the once-lowly earwax. People used to try to remove it. Leave That Ear Wax Alone National Guideline Against Ear Poking Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:32:14 GMT Protests Rise in Thailand In Challenge to Regime - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By JAMES HOOKWAY and STEPHEN WRIGHT BANGKOK -- Waves of antigovernment protests spread beyond Thailand's capital Friday as clashes between police and demonstrators intensified, forcing the closure of several regional airports and disrupting rail ... Thai protest alliance not so happy with democracy US asks Thailand to end crisis through democratic means Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:33:23 GMT US Economy: Spending Slows, Inflation Accelerates (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Shobhana Chandra Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- US consumer spending grew at a slower pace in July as the impact of the tax rebates faded and a pickup in inflation eroded Americans' buying power. Bonds fall on mixed economic reports Consumer spending flags, but confidence rises Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:25:06 GMT RSS For Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... There's something magical about sleeping outside, drinking in the night... Read More Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries for both... Read More More and more people are enjoying their time spent outdoors... Read More Do you ever dream about what your yard could look... Read More Perennials are wonderful because, they bloom year after year. Sometimes,... Read More 1. Always read the instruction manual before operating your lawnmower.... Read More Along with lip-smacking sweetness, flower and foliage are also worthy... Read More An important addition to any British back garden, greenhouses are... Read More Do you love to sit outdoors and swing for hours... Read More Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the while... Read More A pond, logically, the first question you should ask is... Read More DendrobiumsThis month I am focusing our attention to the care... Read More The wonderful thing about choosing teak outdoor furniture is that... Read More It is not difficult to grow bedding plants from seeds,... Read More What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter?... Read More If you were to travel to Blue Mountain Lake, New... Read More Kirengeshoma palmata Sometimes known as yellow waxbells, Kirengeshoma palmata... Read More No matter how pleasant a garden is, it is not... Read More Though most Push Reel Mowers made today are durable, they... Read More Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a... Read More Just recently my friend had his house appraised between $800,000... Read More With summer right around the corner, it's time to sit... Read More Having an outdoor patio offers the opportunity and place to... Read More Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor... Read More Here's where your creative instincts kick in. This is where... Read More
Adsense
websites
Sleeping Beauties: Porches For Dreaming
Garlic: The Stinking Rose
Create and Furnish Your Outdoor Room
Dream Yard
Orange Perennials For Your Garden
16 Lawn Mower Safety Tips
How to Grow Blueberries
Aluminium And Wooden Greenhouses
Canopy Swings - Escape the Weather with One
Gardenscape On A Shoestring
Want to Build a Pond?
Care of Dendrobium Orchids
Teak Outdoor Furniture - Where Function Meets Beauty
Bedding Plants and Plugs (small plants)
Funky Garden Plants 2
History of the Adirondack Chair
Kirengeshoma palmata
Choosing Garden Furniture
5 Simple Steps to Care For Your Push Reel Mower
Tips On Caring For Your Cut Flowers
Add Value to Your Home - Landscaping
Why are Adirondack Chairs & Adirondack Furniture a Cottage Favorite?
Why Patio Benches are a Great Place to Relax and Enjoy
Buying Teak Wood Furniture Responsibly
Creativity with Ponds
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Garden Hot Tubs
Imagine starting your morning with a saunter out the back... Read More
Blue Wild Flowers for Your Garden
Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More
The Meanings Behind the Colors of Roses
Roses are a sign of love and friendship and by... Read More
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners
The Basics of Hydroponics Gardening.What is hydroponics gardening?Derived from the... Read More
Choosing Pond Plants
A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond... Read More
Garden for Birds #4
I would like to know.....................WHO STOLE SUMMER?????????????/What did you do... Read More
Drying Roses
There are many reasons why you might want to dry... Read More
How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails
Slugs are one of the most hated of garden pests.... Read More
Garden for Birds #3
Well, another week is passing us by.I want to thank... Read More
No Dig Gardens - How to Build One
The no dig garden is exactly what it describes...a fertile... Read More
Release Some Tension...Spend Some Time In Your Garden
Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and relaxing... Read More
Orchid Care What The Flower Tells
In Orchid Care The Flower Will Tell You About Some... Read More
The Rich History of Chrysanthemums
Did you know that those lush, colorful blooms called chrysanthemums... Read More
Wooden Garden Furniture
Wooden Garden Furniture can be the ideal solution to various... Read More
The Basics Of Pruning
The technique of pruning varies with the type of rose... Read More
How to Grow Basil
Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs... Read More
Flowers and Butterflies, the Perfect Combination!
Spring is coming fast and with it the colors of... Read More
10 Free Gardening Products
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding... Read More
Organic Hydroponics - Simplified
These days, it's easy to get lost in the wealth... Read More
The String Algae Blues
Now that Spring is upon us and things are coming... Read More
Catch a Leprechaun in Your Garden
There is no mention to be found of female leprechauns... Read More
Light Up Your Garden And Brighten Your Life
Extending Your Living SpaceThe garden is fast being considered to... Read More
Here is Why You Should Use Gypsum in Gardening
Do you have clay or layer of hard subsoil problems... Read More
Composting - aka: The Circle of Life!
Composting is where the gardening thing comes full circle. You've... Read More
Indoor Gardening Tips for Jerry Seinfeld
"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |