Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. To grow mint, you either need to plant it in containers or find a method of restricting the growth of its roots below ground. Last Updated: May 3, 2019 There are reports from various parts of Mexico and the southern United States of message-carrying long-distance runners using especially strong mint marigold tea to give them strength and stamina; the robust tea acting similar to the caffeine in strong coffee. Different mints grow at different rates, and they can crowd each other out. When growing in pots, rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container, removing the rootball and splitting it in half. Keep the temperature near 70-75 degrees F until germination. You want the plant to get some light without drying it out completely. Then, get a pot with holes on the bottom that is at least 12 inches in diameter and some nutrient-rich soil that your plant will thrive in. This very ancient herb goes by a variety of common, but somewhat confusing names. Did you know you can read premium answers for this article? Mexican mint marigold is sometimes marketed in the American South as French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. La Casa de Moneda de México is the national mint of Mexico and is the oldest mint in the Americas.. Spring is the ideal time to plant mint, or in the fall when there is no frost. Keep your potted mint from draping down into your garden or into other containers filled with other plants. If you're planting multiple seedlings, plant them 6 inches apart to give them plenty of growing space! The plant requires all-day sunshine and will grow anywhere tomatoes, peppers or basil will grow. Sow the Mexican mint marigold seed in early spring indoors and transplant into the garden after danger of frost, or direct-sow in the garden; you can also grow it in a patio container. How to Grow Mexican Mint from Seed. Now that I know it will spread, I just might find a nice spot for it in, "Everything given here was well understood and clear. The plant reaches 15 to 20 inches in height and about as broad. Very helpful indeed. Thank you. Don't confuse French tarragon, which is used for cooking, with false or Russian tarragon! The medicinal herb grows in other tropical parts of the world as well. Thank you very much. Otherwise it’s trouble-free. This prevents them from spreading too far. Cover the cup with a saucer to hold in the steam while the hot water extracts the flavor. You may be surprised how well the herb blends with chocolate (or maybe not, since the ancient Aztecs regularly used it with their chocolatl drink). Jim Long's recipes and garden stories can also be found on his gardening adventures blog: JimLongsGarden.BlogSpot.com. You should grow it. You won’t want to miss the stories about plants passed down from generation to generation. 5 Reasons to Grow Mexican Mint Marigold. It is easy and provides great fall colored yellow flowers. Sink a bottomless bucket into the soil and plant the roots inside. Mix the fertilizer granules into the top 3 inches of soil with a rake or garden fork. The plant is fairly invasive, however, and may compete with surrounding plants for resources if allowed to grow without restriction. It is an easy-growing plant with many uses, including being used in tea, in chocolate, or as a savory seasoning. Create a barrier if you want to plant your mint in your garden. This herb plant prefers full sun and well-draining soil, even sandy soils. Mexican (also called Texas) tarragon (Tagetes lucida) grows all spring and summer before it produces many yellow, single marigold-like blossoms, but that is just a bonus because the main reason to grow it is for the flavored leaves.In warm climates, its anise-like flavor makes it a substitute for French tarragon, which often withers in heat. • Special discounted prices on tools, kits, and hands-on resources in the Mother Earth Gardener Store You can also plant mint in its own raised bed container, on a bare spot in your garden that you would like to fill in, or section off part of your garden with bricks or timbers to create a barrier for the mint. It is somewhat drought tolerant, but you will get better growth and fuller plants by watering occasionally. Keep your mint potted or away from other plants. Very helpful! Mint is invasive, meaning that it will spread quickly if in the correct environment. ", article I can do it. Do I cut the old stems down to the ground now? For tips on harvesting your mint, read on! You need an actual cutting where roots can appear. In zones 7b through 8a, however, itâs only root hardy. Begin harvesting leaves when the plant has reached about 12 inches in height, clipping sprigs or individual leaves for tea or seasoning. ", "It helped me know more about the mint plant I bought. • Access to exclusive online content -- seasonal recipes, organic pest control & more. Use them in drinks such as iced tea, punch, or lemonade. Don’t miss a single issue of Mother Earth Gardener. For tips on harvesting your mint, read on! Fill the container with a 50/50 mix of ordinary multi-purpose compost and John Innes No. Try to plant mint away from other plants because it spreads easily and can quickly take over a small herb garden. . "It's an informative, to-the-point, and wholesome article. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If you intend to grow mint in a border, use an old, large pot (see above), with the bottom removed. I was looking for information on planting mint sprigs, and I got it here. Perfect for beginning gardeners, mint is the easiest of all herbs to grow, a perennial hardy in zones 4-9.In addition to flavoring food and drinks, it serves as a natural pest deterrent in the vegetable, herb, or flower garden, and chewing the leaves not only freshens the breath but is said to calm an upset stomach. This article has been viewed 619,609 times. • Organic gardening tips to improve your health and wellness Itâs also important to separate each variety as Mints are prone to cross pollination. % of people told us that this article helped them. The Mexican Mint was established in 1535 by the Spanish viceroy Antonio de Mendoza by a decree from the Spanish Crown to create the first mint in the Americas. How to grow Mexican Bush Marigold (Tagetes lemmonii). How to Grow Mexican Mint from Seed. Reapply the fertilizer every three months throughout the plant's active growing season. Can I plant different mints in the same pot? I love eating flowers. Mint comes in many different varieties, each of which is easy to maintain and lasts for many years if cared for properly. Mexican mint or Plectranthus amboinicus is a perennial plant belonging to Lamiaceae family. If the plant does flower, the small, bright yellow flowers are good additions to salads, as a garnish and for weavers; the flowers can produce a nice yellow dye. You can also wash your leaves with insecticidal soap. Hereâs why. Seed germination takes 5 to 15 days. Mexican bush oregano (sometimes referred to as rosemary mint) canât be grown everywhere. Winter Herbal Remedies from the Medicinal Garden, Fabled Heirloom Potatoes from the High Andes. Technically, yes, but you wouldn't get a very healthy or long-lasting plant. ", "Everything was simple for me to follow.". First time visiting and impressed with the way they guide you through the process. This fast grower quickly reaches a height of 6 to 18 inches and a width of three feet. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. instructions. Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost. a small seedling or rooted sprig in fertile soil where it can receive morning sun and partial afternoon shade. sativa).Southerners do not argue about this, because they know that true tarragon does not grow well in the heat and humidity of Southern summers. Common names: Mexican mint marigold, Mexican tarragon, Spanish tarragon, Texas tarragon Botanical names: Tagetes lucida General information: This compact perennial looks similar to marigolds, but is often listed as a substitute for French tarragon. Make sure you provide bright light but not direct sun. If you really canât stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. ", "I'm thinking about planting a mint plant. Unlike French tarragon, it doesn’t retain its best flavor when dried, ‘mint’ marigold dries quite well. Choose an area that receives morning sun and partial afternoon shade. Place your mint plant so it receives indirect sunlight. Plant your mint in the pot and insert several wooden dowels next to the plant to give it support as it grows. • Heirloom seed-saving techniques Use it to spice up veggies such as carrots, peas, and potatoes. If you leave the flowers, it will look pretty but take the plant's energy away from producing leaves. It is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. Add water to the glass as necessary. Mint. You can also use pearlite or vermiculite instead of a polymer. Serve it as a compliment to fish, chicken, lamb, or another protein dish. Sow the Mexican mint marigold seed in early spring indoors and transplant into the garden after danger of frost, or direct-sow in the garden; you can also grow it in a patio container. Traditionally, the leaves were an important flavoring for chocolatl, the foamy, stimulating cocoa drink of the ancient Aztecs. Herbs at my local grocery store are $1 or more per ounce. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Thanks so much! Spice up salads such as fruit salads, fig and radish salads, or walnut and goat cheese salads. However, its best flavor is from the fresh leaves, chopped and used in dishes such as chicken salad, tossed green salads and even fresh pesto sauces over tacos. Pinch back regularly- Pinch back your mint to keep it bushy and full. I kept a sprig of my mint in a small bottle, but it is rotting. The plant has no persistent insect pests (an occasional grasshopper will taste a leaf) and when in flower, butterflies visit. Already a Member but haven't activated your account. To grow mint in a pot, start by getting a mint seedling from your local nursery or garden store because it is difficult to grow mint from seed. For a more unique variety, consider white peppermint, chocolate mint, apple mint, bergamot mint, basil mint, lemon mint, lime mint, or curly mint, among others. Keep fairly moist - While it's best to keep your soil moist, mint will tolerate some dryness; Don't over-fertilize - Like most herbs, the potency of mint's flavor can be reduced by adding too much fertilizer. ", was looking for. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. ", "Explains in detail the process of growing garlic and other plants. Try your favorite brownie recipe and add 3 tablespoons of freshly chopped Mexican mint marigold leaves. Keeping the young plant's height and flowering are also helpful, "I have been searching for an article to tell me if I could take cuttings from mint and restart it. (In my own garden, where we sometimes don’t have a killing frost before the first of November, I have some early flowering). Instead, consider starting the mint in water, and then transplanting it to soil after the roots appear. References Make sure your pots don't have any cracks, as mint roots can spread through. Mexican mint marigold has a lot to offer. The Mexican Mint Marigold, aka Mexican tarragon, is an ancient herb. Even in the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks, ‘French’ tarragon suffers with the heat, but Mexican mint marigold thrives in hot climates. Mexican mint has many colloquial names including Spanish thyme, French thyme, Ajwain Patta, Karpooravalli, country borage, and so on. The leaves have a similar anise-like flavor and can be used in soups, or for fish, chicken salad, and other dishes calling for tarragon. Healthy shoots of mint can take root in soil, even if those shoots are still connected to a mother plant. Sweeten, or not, and enjoy the flavor of this ancient herb. In other climates, Mexican tarragon plants are often grown as annuals. Repeat pinching after two weeks. Mint is a tasty, versatile herb that can spice up a fruit salad, lamb or fish dish, or even a glass of iced tea or a cocktail. Mint can grow 12 to 18 inches in height once matured. Propagation Divide in spring or take stem-tip cuttings anytime. We know ads can be annoying, but theyâre what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Direct seed: After the last frost, sow 1/4" deep. While Mexican mint marigold is said to be hardy in Zones 8 to 11, from my own experience it will grow easily in Zones 6 and 7, if mulched well in the fall. Yes. You can grow Mexican mint marigold anywhere; especially in any average garden soil. ", "This story helped me. ", "You answered most of my questions. Submitted by Pablo on May 21, 2018 - 1:15pm. You should add a water-retaining polymer to the potting soil so that it stays moist and doesn't dry up. Can I grow mint in a shady part of the garden? In fact, Mexican oregano hardiness falls between USDA zones 7b and 11. Not recommended. Make sure to look for pests under the leaves of the plants, too. Mexican mint marigold does well in regions where French tarragon struggles. Mint marigold is a perennial, native to Central and South America and has been used as a seasoning herb, tea plant and medicinal in native cultures for more than a thousand years. The Latin name, Tagetes lucida, refers to its other Tagetes relatives, the marigolds. Do I need to keep the bottle in a sunny place or should the mint leaves stay out of the water? Become a Preferred Subscriber and start enjoying the benefits today! Grow it in containers, as a groundcover or in the herb or flower garden. This article is good, and I'm planning to try it. The plant requires all-day sunshine and will grow anywhere tomatoes, peppers or basil will grow. If you want to air-dry your mint, then you should hang the stems upside down. To grow mint, plant a small seedling or rooted sprig in fertile soil where it can receive morning sun and partial afternoon shade. The leaves have a fragrance similar to anise or licorice. Growing Mexican Oregano Plants. Consider planting spearmint or peppermint for a versatile, common variety suited for most culinary purposes. Try this Fresh Corn Pudding Recipe using Mexican mint marigold leaves. Also known as sweet mace or Mexican tarragon. To grow mint outdoors in containers, you might want to select a pot that is at least 8 inches wide and 10 to 12 inches deep. Harden off before planting outside, after the last frost. Already a Member but haven't activated your account? Hot sun me understand it, `` Excellent article a Mother plant garnish desserts and drinks with the way guide. 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In summer, give it support as it grows ) and when in flower, butterflies visit % of told... - 1:15pm an actual cutting where roots can spread through to separate each variety as mints are prone cross! 2018 - 1:15pm on your climate, you agree to our privacy policy me understand it, `` in...
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