Watch my YouTube video- “Grow Mint Indoors: Spearmint and Peppermint

 

Spearmint and peppermint are staples in a  Foodie Gardener’s herb garden and natural medicine cabinet, including those with  Type 2 diabetes like me

Blood Sugar Regulation:

  • Some studies suggest that mint may have potential blood sugar-lowering effects. Mint extracts have been investigated for their anti-diabetic properties, which may help in managing blood sugar levels.

 

PLUS, mint tastes great!

Tabouli, tzatziki, kebab (can you tell I like Mediterranean food?), mojitos, peppermint hot chocolate, and other delectable food and drinks rely on mint for their signature taste.

Peppermint tea can soothe a stomach ache like nothing else.

Fortunately, mint is easy to grow indoors, year-round, with proper care. Harvest mint from your counter as a fresh herb or dehydrate it as a tea or seasoning!

Take a look at the questions and answers below based on my “Mint 101: Grow Spearmint and Peppermint Indoors”  segment on the Home & Family Show on the Hallmark Channel.

Because of limited time, I was not able to answer them all on camera, but I do on my blog!

 

Spearmint Peppermint varieties growing white containers pots foodie gardener

Mint varieties on display at the Home & Family Show.

 

1. How many mint plants are there in existence?

There are over 600 plants in Mentha genus but I brought just a few spearmint and peppermint varieties to the show.

Mentha is a genus in the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family.

Other herbs in the mint family include basil, lemon balm, catnip, and lavender.

 

2. What’s the difference between spearmint and peppermint?

Most people have “mint confusion” and lump the two together, but there are some marked differences.

Different species: Spearmint is Mentha spicata while peppermint is Mentha piperita.

 

close up mint pulegrium pennyroyal with red square stems opposite leaves foodie gardener blog

 

Both spearmint and peppermint share the same physical hallmarks of the Mentha genus including opposite leaves, a square-shaped stem and a recognizable fragrance.

Essential oils are also extracted from both plants.

Take a close look at your mint plants sometime so that you can recognize common physical features, no matter the variety.

 

Different flavors: Spearmint’s flavor comes from the chemical ingredient, carvone, that gives it that sweet, familiar flavor.

Think Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum!

Peppermint’s flavor is marked by the ingredient menthol, which is stronger and more pronounced.

Both spearmint and peppermint have menthol in them but peppermint has a much higher menthol content (40% versus .05% in spearmint).

An interesting fact is that menthol imparts a “cool” sensation when we taste it, or a cold feeling on our skin when we rub peppermint-scented oil.

Menthol activates sensory receptors that are interpreted as a cold feeling, although there’s no actual temperature changes in our mouth or skin!

I love these amazing details.

 

foot powder ice cold muscle gel with menthol from peppermint plant foodie gardener blog

Different uses:  Both offer essential oils but peppermint is considered more medicinal because of the menthol content and it is used in muscle rubs, foot powder, toothpaste and other hygiene products.

Spearmint with its fresh, sweet flavor is used fresh in recipes and drinks much more than peppermint.

Some will argue that cooking with fresh peppermint will impart a very strong, acrid menthol flavor to the food.

All I know is that I LOVE  Junior Mints and York Peppermint Patties!

How about you?

 

dried peppermint leaves foodie gardener blog

Peppermint leaves are often dried first and used as a soothing tea and in other recipes.

 

Be careful with fresh peppermint leaves or peppermint oil; they should not be given to children because of the menthol ingredient that can be dangerous to their immature bodies!

 

 
3. WHAT VARIETIES OF MINT DID YOU BRING TODAY?
 

SPEARMINT PLANTS (Mentha spicata)

spearmint mentha spicata white container foodie gardener blog

  • Spearmint

apple mint mentha suaveolens foodie gardener blog

  • Apple mint

curly mint mentha crispa close up foodie gardener blog

  • Curly mint

MINT CORDIFOLIA WHITE PLANTERS FOODIE GARDENER BLOG

  • Cordifolia mint
 
 

 

PEPPERMINT PLANTS (Mentha piperita)

peppermint plant mentha piperita white container foodie gardener blog

  • Peppermint

orange mint plant mentha piperita citrata foodie gardener blog

  • Orange mint

chocolate mint plant mentha piperita white container foodie gardener blog

  • Chocolate mint
 
 
mentha pulegrium pennyroyal mint plant do not eat toxic humans pets foodie gardener blog      
  • Pennyroyal
TOXIC MINT: DON’T EAT PENNYROYAL MINT!
 
Pennyroyal mint, or Mentha pulegrium contains a toxic chemical for humans and pets.
Do not eat it.
Pennyroyal is a nice landscape plant and ground cover but it is not edible!

 

 
4. HOW DO YOU GROW MINT PLANTS INDOORS?
  • Select a wide surfaced container such as a window box and fill with well-drained potting soil.
  • Place your mint plant indoors in a bright, sunny room with temperatures over 60 degrees.
  • Keep your mint plant watered and moist.

Mint plants are easy to grow indoors, year-round.

 

One of the most important details is to select a container with a wide surface, rather than a deep one, to keep the mint roots from encircling themselves and choking a plant.

Mint roots are runners that, if allowed surface space, will set roots and sprout up tall leaf spikes that you can harvest.

 

white covered microwave container used as planter foodie gardener blog

I bought white microwave containers with lids at the Dollar store, drilled a drain hole and used the cover as a saucer!

 

white plastic container with drain hole foodie gardener blog

Drain hole in plastic microwave container

 

White plastic planters mint plants foodie gardener blog

 

Repurposed white microwave bowls make inexpensive and cute planters!

Keep in mind that clay pots are porous and lose moisture easily, so opt for plastic containers, especially if you forget to water your plants!

Plant one variety of mint per planter as they are very aggressive growers and will end up tangling themselves into the other plant and you’ll have a hard time telling varieties apart!

 

PROPAGATING MINT FROM CUTTINGS

Create more mint plants from an existing plant using cuttings rooted in water or in soil.
 
It’s easy!
 

Cut a 3-inch mint stem, remove the lower leaves, and place in a glass with water and it will root in 7-10 days.

Make sure you don’t remove ALL the leaves, as you need a few on the top for proper rooting.

When your new plant has roots, plant in the soil and follow the instructions above.

If you prefer to root your mint plant in soil:

Cut a 3-inch mint stem, remove the lower leaves, dip the lower tip in rooting hormone and place in moist soil.

Cover the pot with a plastic bag to preserve moisture.

Don’t place your cuttings in direct sunlight. A room with temperatures in the 70s is ideal.

Your new mint plant should have roots in 7-10 days and you can plant in a larger container.

 
 
 
5. HOW DO YOU HARVEST MINT LEAVES?
  • Cut from the stem tips to encourage your mint plant to grow more leaves and become a fuller plant.
  • Remove any flower buds before they open to prolong leaf growth.

Once your mint plant starts to grow flower buds, this is a signal that your plant is near the end of its productive life.

Cut off flower buds from your mint plant for a prolonged period of delicious leaf productivity.

 

mint plant roots girdled foodie gardener blog

Replace your potted mint plant every three years.

By the third year, most mint plants have outgrown their container space around the root area, compromising the quality of flavor in your leaves.

Since mint is “all about flavor,” treat yourself to a new plant.

Propagate a new mint plant from cuttings and save money!

 

shirley bovshow mint 101 home and family show hallmark garden designer edible garden expert, type 2 diabetic

Do you have any questions about growing or preparing and using mint for the Foodie Gardener?

Shirley

 
 

 

 

Author

I'm known as "EdenMaker," as well as a "Foodie Gardener" on the web, but you can call me "Shirley" anytime!When I'm not eating or growing my own food, I'm busy designing gardens and producing garden TV shows!When it's time to cook, I ask my family, "What country do you want to visit tonight?"Thank God for WeightWatchers, most of my fruits and veggies are "0-Points." Some of you know what I'm talking about!

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