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Review rated by 15 Ciao members on average: very helpful
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Mint is one of those herbs that grows very well in this country, perhaps a little too well in some cases. It does not seem to be that fussy about soil quality, it can cope in dry sumers and as far as I can tell, it is unkillable. (Getting rid of it is like trying to kill a hydra - cut down one plant and another two spring up somewhere else.)
Mint can be bought easily from plant shops, herb farms and the like. If you keep it in a small pot in your kitchen, it may well get pot bound and wither - mints like to have big root systems.
If you plant mint outside, you will have problems. Mint spreads by putting out roots and then shooting up plants. If it does this in a border, you will never be able to control it without damaging your other plants. It is far better to grow it in a container - get a nice big pot for it so that it can spread out a bit. It is better to have numerous mint plants in a controlled environment like a pot, because the best leaves to eat are the new growth at the top of the plant. With only a few mint plants, you will run out quickly, or be forced to move on to less flavoursome leaves.
Mint dies back in the winter, and if you haven't got it under control by then, you won't stand a chance of finding those errant roots. In the spring it will be sprouting up all over the place again.
Catmint is an interesting varient to grow, although I must warn you that the whole cat business is not a myth. For some reason, cats are driven crazy by this plant and will either try to eat it or roll in it. Catmints cannot survive much of this abuse and I have been obliged to move mine into the greenhouse - it doesn't like the humidity much, but at least it isn't being eaten!If you want to grow catmint, put it in a hanging basket window box, greenhouse or similar place of safety. Water frequently durning hot weather. I have not yet tried eating catmint.
I love the taste of mint especially when I've cooked new potatoes with mint in the water. The smell is lovely too, but I know what you mean about getting rid!! I put an ornamental one in my new rockery last year - bad move!!! Susan
I remember the shock on people's faces when I added "a little" mint sauce to my lamb roast at the University eatery. Well, it was "a little" mint sauce by my standards! Boy, I love the stuff! Unhumanly so (Still can't be bothered to grow it though - since it comes in little glass pots).
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24.05.2001 12:02
I tried my kitten with catmint and he ran away from the plant - however he is now 18 months old and loves the stuff - weird!!!!!
24.05.2001 11:52
I love the taste of mint especially when I've cooked new potatoes with mint in the water. The smell is lovely too, but I know what you mean about getting rid!! I put an ornamental one in my new rockery last year - bad move!!! Susan
24.05.2001 11:23
I remember the shock on people's faces when I added "a little" mint sauce to my lamb roast at the University eatery. Well, it was "a little" mint sauce by my standards! Boy, I love the stuff! Unhumanly so (Still can't be bothered to grow it though - since it comes in little glass pots).