Peppermint
Types of mint are very diverse. However, peppermint is one of the most common. The birthplace of peppermint is not exactly established. It belongs to ancient cultures, it occurs in nature both in Asia and in Europe. Her as a medicinal and spiny-broom plant was used by ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks. Dried or fresh flowers and peppermint leaves are used as seasonings for soups, salads, salads, cheese, vegetables, meat and fish dishes. Leaves and essential oil of peppermint are used for aromatization of fruit jellies, chilled drinks, tea blends, sauces, jellies. Mint flavored confectionery and bread kvass. Mint pepper is widely used as a flavoring in the fish and tobacco industries. Essential oil from mint is added to toothpastes, soaps, drinks, sweets.
The main component of mint oil is menthol. It has found wide application in medicine for neuralgic diseases as an analgesic. And with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - as an antiseptic. In addition, menthol dilates the coronary vessels of the heart. Tea from mint leaves in folk medicine is used for nervous excitement, and infusion for inflammation of the gums is for mouthwash. Peppermint is a part of Validol, Corvalol, Valocordinum and other preparations. Leaves of peppermint contain phytoncides, ascorbic acid, tannins, vitamin P, carotene.
Growing peppermint. Peppermint is a hybrid of mint water and spikelet. Homeland of this hybrid is considered England, where it was first introduced into the culture. Confirmation of hybrid origin is the fact that its flowers are almost sterile. If the seeds are obtained, then they give plants that are not similar to the parent ones. Therefore this kind of mint propagates in a vegetative way. To do this, take the lengths of rhizomes, creeping shoots and rooted processes. Spring planting begins early, when the soil is still saturated with moisture. The method of planting is wide-row with a distance between rows of 50-60 cm, between plants in a row is 10-20 cm. The depth of planting is 8-10 cm. Mineral fertilizers are applied. During the growing season, two additional fertilizing is carried out - 5-8 g / m 2 of ammonium nitrate, 5-6 g / m 2 of potassium salt and 15 g / m 2 of superphosphate.
In one place mint can grow 5-6 years. Care consists of loosening the soil, weeding weeds, fertilizing mineral fertilizers, watering in arid weather. Remove the peppermint during the growing season 1-2 times at the beginning of flowering. Cut off at the very ground. First it is waxed on the site, and then dried in the shade. Store mint in a dry place in paper bags at a temperature of 10 - 15 °.
Long-leafed mint
Long-leaved mint is a perennial plant up to 120 cm high. Stems and leaves are used as spices in the stage of vegetation. During the flowering period, the long-leaved mint loses its useful properties. In folk medicine, this kind of mint is used as an analgesic, antiseptic, soothing, anticonvulsant, improves digestion, diaphoretic. It uses long-leaved mint with a cold for expectoration, with jaundice, dropsy, a number of gastric diseases. Mint infusion is used for lotions and rinses for pain in the ears, toothache, throat disease, ulcers in the mouth, with abscesses. Bathe children in the decoction of mint with rickets and scrofula.
Thanks to the content of essential oils, long-leaved mint is used in cosmetology. Used for perfume toothpastes and soaps. Leaves of this type of mint are characterized by a high content of vitamin C. Long-leaved mint is a good honey plant. It is also an ornamental plant, often used for planting green areas of flower beds.
Cultivation of mint leaves. The plant is easily cultivated on light, moist and fertile soils. Propagated by seeds sown for the winter, and stretches of rhizomes. Blooms in July - August. Seeds ripen in the second half of August - September. The leaves are collected before buds appear, because during the flowering the quantity of essential oils decreases in the plant. Dry mint at a low temperature in the shade. Store in a dry place, in tightly closed cardboard boxes.
Spearmint
Mint curly grows up to one meter. Distributed and applied almost as often as peppermint. Adding a few leaves of curly mint to a mixture of spices ennobles, enhances their smell and taste. Propagates mint curly in spring by planting root cuttings. This kind of mint, apparently, of hybrid origin. If the curly mint is bred from seeds, approximately 1/3 of the real curly mint plant, 1/3 half-curled and the same perfectly smooth-leafed spearmint are obtained. This should be taken into account when growing mint curly.
When planting root shoots in May, the curly mint blooms in the same year. In this case, the seeds have time to ripen. Spring growth of perennial mint begins in early April. Blossom mint curled in late June. The flowering period is long and lasts until the end of September. Seeds ripen in October. It hibernates mint curly well.
Royle Mint
This perennial herb has a delicate aroma. Much more powerful and pleasant than other types of mint. Royl's mint grows well with seeds. They are put in front of the very frosts right into the ground. And in May of the next year shoots are already appearing. Only single copies of Roel's mint bloom in the first year, but they do not give seeds. Mass flowering begins in the second year. Blossom plants in July. Flowering lasts about 53 days. Wintering is good.
As you can see, in nature there are many kinds of mint, their cultivation and application in medicine is diverse.