Content
Apple mint belongs to the Yamnotaceae family. It combines herbs that are often used as seasonings (rosemary, basil, sage). All of them are famous for their excellent aroma and delicate taste. To always have natural mint on hand, you should plant it in your summer cottage.
Description of apple mint
This plant was bred by crossing two species: longleaf mint and fragrant mint. These are low bushes (no more than 40 cm) with straight, densely overgrown stems. The leaves of apple mint are rounded, velvety to the touch, with a thin whitish coating. The flowering period occurs in May; the flowers themselves are small, painted white or purple. The fruits are quite small (weighing less than 1 g), shaped like a nut. Apple mint is successfully grown as a garden and indoor plant. Such a corner in the garden will become a favorite place for the whole family to relax.This is confirmed by the photo and description of apple mint presented below.
Use of apple mint in cooking
Due to the pleasant aroma and unique properties of essential oils, the leaves of this plant are added to fruit sauces, jellies, tea, kvass and other drinks. Apple (golden) mint is used in baking, pickling, and so on.
What is the flavor of apple mint?
The leaves have a pleasant menthol scent with subtle notes of fresh green apple. This variety of mint has a different aroma from regular peppermint. It is believed that it helps fight stress and gives a lot of positive emotions. Lovers of interesting new products should definitely try apple mint.
Where can you add apple mint?
Beautifully shaped spicy leaves are actively used as a seasoning and to decorate various dishes. Vegetable and fruit salads will become more interesting and piquant. Apple mint can be used in making dressing. It will add bright accents not only to the color of the sauce, but also to its taste. The combination of meat and mint will be quite unusual. In oriental cuisine, the leaves of this plant are added to stewed or fried lamb.
Apple mint is also widely used in the preparation of various desserts. It is added to baked goods, cream, jellies and jams. The tops of cakes and pastries can be decorated with these cute leaves. On hot days, it’s nice to treat yourself to a refreshing drink: your favorite cocktail, lemonade or iced tea with mint leaves or sprigs added.
Beneficial properties of apple mint
Apple mint is rich in valuable essential oils, from which menthol is obtained. It helps to relax and promotes sound sleep; It also freshens breath well and relieves sore throats.The plant contains a large amount of resins, flavonoids, acids, vitamins, minerals, as well as rutin and carotene. Such a rich composition makes apple mint indispensable in the treatment of various diseases. Mint also has mystical properties. It is believed that this plant attracts money to the house.
The use of apple mint in folk medicine
For problems with gums and sore throats, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with mint tea. It will help relieve inflammation and reduce pain. A decoction of apple mint is effective for colds (facilitates breathing during a runny nose, soothes coughs, is a diaphoretic and antipyretic). It is actively used as an auxiliary treatment for pneumonia. Oil is also obtained from mint. If you rub it a little into your temples, you can cope with the symptoms of severe migraines.
As a therapy, mint teas have proven themselves to be effective for insomnia, chronic fatigue and neuroses. Thanks to its unique properties, apple mint helps to relax, has a calming and mild hypnotic effect, and eliminates muscle spasms. Aromatic tea will lower blood pressure without the use of harmful chemicals.
Contraindications and restrictions
Apple mint has not only beneficial properties, but also contraindications. Therefore, it should be used with caution by allergy sufferers. In case of individual intolerance, the components of apple mint can provoke swelling, rash, and vomiting. Some people cannot even stand the smell of the plant.
Also, pregnant and lactating women, children under 12 years of age and people suffering from varicose veins or hypotension should avoid consuming apple mint.
Landing rules
The process of planting apple mint includes several stages:
- Choosing a location. For mint, areas with loose and light soil, which contains a lot of organic components, are ideal. In this case, the amount of sunlight does not play a decisive role. Apple mint feels equally comfortable both in partial shade and in the sun. You can sow seeds near trees and bushes.
- Soil preparation. The soil is prepared approximately 14 days before planting (this can be autumn or spring). For every 1 m2 soils add potassium salt (80 g) and wood ash (400 g). After this, the soil with fertilizers is dug up to a sufficiently large depth and leveled. 2 days before sowing the seeds, the area is watered abundantly.
- Preparation of planting material. Apple mint seeds are usually harvested in late summer. Until next spring they are stored in the refrigerator so that the material is preserved and undergoes stratification. Immediately before planting, they are kept in potassium permanganate to destroy harmful microflora. Then lay it out on a paper towel and let it dry completely naturally. Apple mint is planted for seedlings quite rarely.
- Landing technique. It is necessary to wait for stable heat (air and soil temperatures should be the same, + 10 ° C). In the garden bed, furrows with a depth of about 3 cm are made every 15 cm. In a separate container, fine planting material is mixed with clean sand (in equal parts) and transferred to the finished furrows. Gently sprinkle earth on top, lightly compacting it, and water it.
Until the first sprouts of apple mint appear, you need to carefully monitor the soil: regularly moisten it, loosen it so that a hard crust does not form on the surface, and remove weeds. If the temperature changes sharply (wind, rain, sudden cold snap), it is recommended to cover the plantings with film. This way, young apple mint sprouts will not freeze and dry out. If all basic rules are followed, the first shoots will appear in 14 days. If the apple mint plantings are too dense, they should be carefully thinned out so as not to damage the roots of neighboring plants.
Features of cultivation and care
As soon as the mint stalks are strong enough, they are transferred to a permanent place in the garden or vegetable garden. Between the bushes they leave 30 cm, but the row spacing is larger - 0.5 m wide.
Aftercare includes the following:
- Watering. Young plants need frequent, but not too much watering. It will help quickly increase green mass.
- Loosening. Be sure to do this after each watering (the next day or every other day), otherwise moisture and oxygen will not reach the roots.
- Feeding. Apple mint needs nitrogen, but manure or urea is applied only a few times throughout the entire season, at the very beginning of spring and summer. It is most effective and safe to fertilize only after watering.
- Shelter. During the cold season, mint needs protection from wind and low temperatures. Any covering material is suitable for this. Gardeners often use agrofibre, dry leaves, spruce branches or ordinary garden soil.
Pests and diseases
Most often, apple mint is affected by rust or powdery mildew. It is impossible to cure these diseases.If you spray the leaves with fungicides, they become unsuitable for treatment and food. The affected bushes are carefully dug up along with the roots and burned. To protect plants, they must be frequently replanted to a new location and the beds must be promptly cleared of weeds.
The stems and tender leaves become easy prey for mint fleas, whiteflies, aphids and spider mites. Pests can only be controlled using natural means. To do this, use an aqueous solution of laundry soap with ash, as well as aqueous tinctures with garlic or tobacco. Preventive treatment is done three times a year.
When and how to collect apple mint
They start collecting mint when it begins to bloom. Right now, different parts of the plant will have the maximum content of nutrients. If you rush and collect mint before flowering, it will be too dry and poor in essential oils. After drying, it will turn into dust and lose its unique aroma. The same fate will befall the mint, which has already bloomed. A dry day is chosen for collection. It is best to do this early in the morning or late in the evening. The stems are carefully cut with a sharp knife or scissors, without pulling the roots out of the ground.
How to dry apple mint correctly
The stems are laid out in an even layer on clean and dry sheets of paper. Dry mint in rooms with good air circulation and without contact with the sun. The raw materials are turned over periodically so that they dry evenly. It is strictly forbidden to use the oven, otherwise the plant will lose all its beneficial properties.
Dried mint is placed in any convenient container: glass jars with sealed lids, bags made of natural breathable fabric or clean cardboard boxes.
Conclusion
Apple mint is highly valued by amateur herbalists and many housewives. With the help of this plant you can add an unusual taste and aroma to familiar dishes. And hot tea with mint will help you warm up on winter evenings and get the necessary vitamins.
Reviews
I'm looking for apple, strawberry and pineapple mint seeds. Only seedlings are sold. I want to grow it myself. Can you tell me where to buy. Thank you