Mint

Also known as: Field Mint, Japanese Mint, Cornmint
Tamil Name: Pudhina; Scientific Name: Mentha arvensis var piperascens;

Beginner Level

B G T W

Planting/Sowing

Jun – Jul;

Harvesting

Aug – Sep; Nov – Dec;

First Harvest

~60 Days

General Info

Crop category	Herb
Life span	Perennial
Type of crop	Herb
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Leaves
Avg. Height	12 to 18 inches

Climate & Humidity

Most mint varieties are unsuited for tropical climates, however, Japanese Mint grows well in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
June to July;

How to plant:
Direct sowing of stem cuttings; It is best to plant mint in containers/pots as it spreads rapidly and invasively.

NOTE: Please refer to the How to Grow Greens and How to Grow Microgreens sections as Fenugreek makes an excellent microgreen.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Rooted stem cuttings are planted in beds at 40 x 40 cm spacing;

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Irrigation twice a week;

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Pruning

Prune plants back hard in early summer to promote good top growth.

Harvesting

When to harvest
First cutting starts in about 2 months after planting and subsequently at 3 month intervals. Young leaves have more flavour than old ones, and can be harvested as soon as they come up.

How to harvest
Right before flowering, cut the stems 1 inch from the ground. You can harvest one mint plant two or three times in one growing season. You can also just pick the leaves as you need them.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on environmental, climatic, and soil conditions.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Aphids
Common Diseases/ Problems	Wilt
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Control aphids with a strong spray of water or with a botanical insecticidal soap.

NOTE: Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

A variety of different mints exist, each with their own flavour. Popular examples include spearmint and peppermint. Menthol oil is extracted from mint plants and used in pharmaceutical and food industries. A single 400 pound drum of mint oil can be used to flavour 500 million sticks of chewing gum.