Mint – Peppermint

Heirloom.
Perennial.
Peppermint is a favorite. Used for flavoring tea, ice cream, candy, chewing gum, and toothpaste. It’s leaves are delicious and can be used fresh or dried in a variety of ways. May be added to salads, vegetables, sauces, potato dishes, jelly, tea, ice cream, potpourris. This hardy perennial is very easy to grow. It’s small pink, white, or purple flowers are large nectar producers, a favorite for bees and butterflies. It has a wonderful fragrance and soothing medicinal properties. It can also be easily grown indoors. It is wonderful to have some peppermint plants around!
Sowing: Plant 1/8 of an inch deep as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant in part sun to shade areas. It needs good water supply. Blooms July- September. Can also be grown indoors. Peppermint prefers medium to fertile well drained soil, but it is adaptable.
Germination: 12-16 days Spacing: 18 inches Height: 1-2 feet Light: Part sun to shade
Moisture: Ample water Soil: moderately rich; well drained
Care information: It usually thrives in shade and expands quickly by underground rhizomes. Take care when introducing into your garden to keep control over it, as it spreads rapidly. Best to plant in an isolated area and let it spread, or set up a physical barrier to contain the roots. During growing season keep cutting mint to use fresh or dry. You can freeze as well. The leaves and flowering tops are the usable portion of the plant and are harvested as soon as flowers bigin to open and then used or dried. When drying, cut stems 1″ above base and hang upside down in warm dark and well ventilated place. Pick leaves when dry and store in airtight container.
Menta x peperita
Perennial
Heirloom.