Mint is best known as an aromatic herb commonly used in drink mixes and desserts. We will tell you what is important when overwintering and propagating mint.
As early as around the year 800, Charlemagne prescribed, among other things, four types of mint to be grown in the gardens of his empire. However, mint has not been forgotten and is still grown in many gardens today. In the following article you will learn how to overwinter mint, how to propagate and whether mint can be poisonous to pets.
Mint: flower, origin and properties
The mint genus (Mentha) includes more than twenty different species. As a mint family (Lamiaceae), mints are associated with other famous garden herbs such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus ) or common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Most mint species are native to areas in the northern hemisphere that have a temperate climate like our latitudes. We took a closer look at what differentiates plant species and varieties in an extra article.
Mint is a herbaceous, perennial plant that grows an average height of about 0.5 to 1 meter depending on the species. The inflorescences of mint are mostly false whorls, which, like the bell-shaped, tube-like individual flowers, are typical of lamiaceae. Depending on the species, the mint flowers between May and October in white, pink or purple, depending on the species. The mint flowers have a medium to good nectar value and are particularly important for butterflies. After flowering, so-called Klausen fruits form from the flowers, which break down into four individual seeds. Since mint often grows near water in the wild, the partial fruits are usually spread by hydrochory, i.e. with the help of water.
The ovate to elliptical-shaped, mostly serrated leaves of the mint stand out due to their intense smell, which, depending on the species, has a wide variety of aromatic directionscan cover. More than a thousand years ago, mint was cultivated specifically to be used as a spice or to be brewed into a tea. The great thing is that mint is a very grateful plant that thrives in your own garden with little gardening skill. You can also plant mint in your garden, you can find out what you need to consider in our extra article.
What is the difference between mint and peppermint?
First of all, mint and peppermint (Mentha x piperita) have the difference that the term mint refers to an entire genus and Peppermint is just one species of this genus. Peppermint stands out among other mints because of its sharper taste.
Overwinter mint properly
Mint tends to be hardy when it comes to cold temperatures and by itself doesn't require any special protection. Mint is hardy down to -15 °C. However, to be on the safe side when mint overwinters, you can also protect the mint from frost. On the one hand, the parts of the plant that die off in autumn can only be cut back in spring and left as protection over the winter. Additionally, you can cover the mint with twigs or foliage. If you have the plants in the pot and want to overwinter the mint, you can wrap it with garden fleece, for example, to prevent the pot from freezing through. We have summarized further tips for the correct care of mint for you in a separate article.
Propagating mint: offshoots, cuttings and co.
As with many plants, sowing is one way to propagate mint. Not all species can be propagated from seed, but seeds of individual mint species are commercially available. To harvest your own seeds, cut off the withered stalks of the fruit and lay them out on kitchen paper or newspaper to dry. After a few days, you can crush the seeds and collect the seeds. The seeds should dry a bit before storing them in a dark and cool place.
The mint plant also develops fleshy roots, so-called stolons. These can be dug up after the flowering period, divided and grown as independent plants. Mint often forms offshoots on its own, which are separated as soon as they are sufficiently rootedbe able. They are then planted, and they should be watered well after planting.
If you already have a larger mint plant, you can propagate it by division. To do this, you have to cut off part of the mint with a spade and replant it in another place.
Another quick and promising way to propagate mint is to use cuttings. The best way to do this is to remove the shoot tips, so-called head cuttings, from the mint in late spring and place them in suitable soil such as our Plantura organic herb & seed soil. To loosen up the soil a bit, you can mix it with about 20% sand. If the humidity is high, the new mint will root within two to three weeks.
Tip: We explain exactly how to harvest and cut mint in our special article.
Is mint poisonous to cats or dogs?
Mint is generally considered non-toxic to humans and animals, with one exception: Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). The active ingredient in pennyroyal is called pulegone and, by irritating the digestive tract, can lead to vomiting, an increase in blood pressure or anaesthetic-like paralysis, and in high doses even death. The wild pennyroyal is highly endangered and threatened with extinction in Germany and is not one of the classic cultivated mint species.
Mint essential oil should also be used with caution on pets, as it can cause nausea and vomiting can.
Did you know that mint can be enjoyed all year round? Find out how to preserve mint by drying or freezing in our special article.