Composting made easy…. And cheap!

I use a lot of vegetables, herbs and fruits on a regular basis. I have always felt horrible about dumping the peelings, stems, leaves, cores and what have you. I really did not want to spend a lot of money on a compost tumbler, or a kitchen compost bin and I didn’t have a good spot for a series of bins in my yard (you know the kind, make three bins, fill one, transfer to the next, fill the first one again and so on.) so I looked for a better alternative for my yard. And I found a great idea which I’ll give you that uses a two part system; one for my kitchen and one for my back yard.

Kitchen compost bin: Most of these retail for $50.00 or more not including odor filter replacement pads; I made mine for less than $15.00  overall including the odor filter!First you’ll need a small 2 gallon bucket with a lid; I bought mine at a home improvement store for about $2.89, including lid. Then you’ll need an odor filtering material, which I found at the same home improvement store for about $10.00 which will give me about 5 filters. You’ll need a drill with about a 5/8” drill bit. The filter comes with plastic ties to attach it to your lid. The instructions are below:

 

Remove the lid and drill a series of holes around the top. I recommend at least 10. Too few and you run the risk of anaerobic rotting, which is a nice way of saying your compost will stink, even with the filter!

  

       

Next, take your filter and remove it from the packaging. Using the lid as a template cut a piece fit INSIDE the lid. Using the plastic ties that came with your filter, attach it to the lid.

Last, place it in a convenient spot. Mine works under the sink and is easily accessible. I use a 2 gallon and empty it, depending on usage, every couple of days. A one gallon may require more emptying. If you get a white cottony growth in your compost bucket, either you are not emptying it enough. If this happens, empty it and wash it with soap and water. Allow to dry and use again. If it continues, you may not have enough brown material in it to balance the environment.

Now to part 2 of our composting duo:

This is the one for the back yard which I used a 32 gallon trash can for, complete with lid. You can use a smaller one, but I don’t recommend going too large as you will need to roll this one around every week at least to mix the contents. You’ll need your drill again and two 2’ long bungee type cords. This unit can be made for under $15.00. I used a can we already had.

            

In the first picture, I have drilled some holes in the lid. I used an older can so my lid was a bit degraded and it cracked. A new one shouldn’t do this.

 Next I drilled holes in the can itself in rows along the side of the can. I ended up with four vertical rows. Next I drilled a few holes in the base of the can to help with drainage as you’ll be adding a bit of water occasionally.

Once your back yard compost bin has been completed, set it where it will get some sun. I don’t recommend all day sun, but most of the day is okay. Set it up on bricks so the drain holes will not be blocked. Once it is in place, place a layer of brown material in the bottom, about 2-3” worth. This can be comprised of dried leaves, dried lawn clippings and some dirt. Once a week at least roll the can to mix contents and help things break down. At this time you can even add a bit of water if your compost is composed of a lot of brown material. Try to keep an even balance by alternating brown and green layers. I also keep a stick nearby to stir it occasionally just to help the process in between rollings.

Now, depending on which school of thought you belong to what you can compost is open to opinion. Some believe you can compost a small amount of meat, dairy, urine, cooked foods along with the usual grass clippings, dried leaves, veggie, fruit and herb cuttings without detriment to the quality of your compost. I personally don’t believe in composting meats, dairy (butter, milk, etc.) in with my yard debris and leftovers from fruits, veggies and herbs. My concern is bacteria that are created when meat and dairy decompose; I’m not all that sure it won’t be transmitted to my edible plants and the smell of them decomposing may be unpleasant to say the least! I feel also that using meats / dairy is also asking for critters to investigate your compost bin and deciding they like the contents. Using cooked vegetables/fruits is okay just making sure there aren’t any sauces on them to avoid a smelly compost heap.

Using paper in your compost pile is okay too. I just don’t recommend using anything that is slick, glossy, printed with a variety of colors unless you know what the ink is comprised of. I do know that the black and white newsprint is printed with a soy based ink, which is harmless. However, with magazines, boxes, letters, sales receipts, etc. I’m not sure. If you choose to use paper in your bin, make sure you shred it up or tear it into small pieces to help decomposition.

As to adding weeds, entirely up to you. I don't recommend adding them when they have the flower heads on them as you may be adding seeds to your compost which will sprout up later unless your compost gets "hot" enough to destroy the weeds. If you feel your compost is doing well and heating up, go ahead. 

Another nice aspect of creating your own compost is that you can make 'compost tea.' This is when you take your compost, add a cup or two to a bucket of water and let it 'steep' for a day or so. Take the resulting water and pour on your plants, indoors and out. The sludge can be incorporated back into your compost heap.

Remember that the larger items you may want to add to your bin should be reduced for easier decomposition. Once your compost gets to the point you want to use it, you can sift out the pieces that haven't decomposed yet and place them back in your compost bin.

Happy composting!

Mary

SOME SAGE ADVICE

Sage - Salvia officinalis

Fevers, chills, memory, sore throat, infertility oh my!! Once upon a time, this herb was considered invaluable in curing many ills and issues. It still is, but we are a bit more… discerning about what it can and cannot do.

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the herb Sage (Salvia officinalis) could cure all sorts of ailments from sore throat to infertility. They believed it strengthened the mind, providing a long memory, hence the name ‘Sage’ given to people with knowledge that spanned many years.

Sage flowers, can be purple, pink or white

The ancient Greeks and Romans also had contradictory associations of sage to Jupiter; on one hand they said it represented domestic virtue; on the other hand they stated that it represented the mythological beast known as the Satyr (half goat, half man) who enjoyed drinking and debauchery. It could be considered the best of both worlds I guess!

It was first noted as a medicinal herb in China in 206 B.C. where it was so prized that they were willing to trade 3 chests of tea leaves for one chest of sage leaves to the Dutch, an unheard of transaction as tea leaves are prized as well in China.

Sage tea for coughs

As a medicinal it has been noted to be useful as an antiseptic and an astringent. It can reduce fever and nasal congestion, calm coughs and sore throats. It helps with digestive complaints and also as an appetite stimulant, relieves mouth inflammation and is used as a wound dressing. It is also said to be effective in reducing the severity of menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.

There are those that believe that a broom made of sage leaves helped clear negative space and warded off evil.  Since it has a nice smell, I don’t suppose it could hurt to use a sage leaf broom occasionally…. Just to be sure!

There are a variety of sages to chose from; there are green leafed, purple-

Salvia tri-color

leafed, leaves with yellow margins, leaves with pink, white and green in them to name a few. Most can be used in cooking and you can get a variety of flavor variances depending on cultivar that is used. Grow a few in your garden and experiment. They are not only useful, but they do make a nice addition to your landscape. Their look can be low and mounding to taller and a bit more open, again depending on cultivar and of course, sun conditions.

Which brings me to growing needs; they need full sun, good drainage and an amended soil (compost would be good) to grow well. Their water needs lessen once established but be cautious of over-watering while you are trying to establish them as they are susceptible to root & crown rot. They don’t grow very well from seed but since they germinate fairly quickly you’ll know soon if you have viable plants coming up. You can take cuttings to start in fall for spring transplanting. It is recommended you use cuttings from the outer portion of the shrub.

To dry sage, cut some branches, snip the leaves off and spread out in a

Dried sage leaves

shady area (indoors is okay provided it is not in or near a humid area) on cloth or paper and allow to dry out. Store the leaves in an airtight, colored container to avoid the leaves losing their strength.

Sage is good in soups, stews and salads. It brings a wonderful flavor to chicken, veal, pork and liver (I haven't tried that one… and probably never will!) eggs and a flavoring for cream cheese on your bagels. Sage is a healing tea and easy to make: pour boiling water over fresh sage leaves (8-10) and steep for five minutes. If you are using dried sage, use a heaping teaspoonful and steep for five minutes.

Enjoy your sage in all its many varieties and uses. They are lovely plants with texture, beautiful flowers and a wonderful aroma!

Happy Gardening !

Mary

Purple Sage

A SPICE TO REMEMBER…….

Upright rosemary

Rosemary, she’s a great old gal!! She not only spices up lamb, pork and olive oil, but she was also used to remember, invigorate, memorialize and decorate! 

The name is from the Latin “Ros” for dew and “Marinus” for sea, so essentially “Dew of the Sea.” It is believed that because this lovely herb grew especially well near the sea and thus benefitted from the moisture in the sea air, it “was of the sea.”

Another fable about how rosemary got its name is that the Virgin Mary laid her cloak across a white flowered rosemary bush while resting. Upon removing her cloak, it was seen that the flowers had turned blue (most rosemary shrubs have blue-ish flowers). It then became known as the “Rose of Mary.”

Trailing rosemary

It is truly a Mediterranean herb, enjoying sun, difficult soil situation (usually rocky, dry or a combination of both) it is truly a hard worker. Not a friend of wet 'feet' this herb can be grown in full sun or part sun and in drier soil and good drainage. Don't fertilize too often, maybe once a year unless it is in a pot, then twice a year with a good liquid fertilizer. This is a good herb for those difficult places that won't grow pretty flowers but you need something for the spot. Rosemary blooms throughout spring and summer, in blue, pink or white. All three types of rosemary (upright, trailing & ground cover) are hardy; meaning drought tolerant and pretty forgiving. They do well in pots and have been used in both the kitchen and in the landscape as a decorative addition. They can be susceptible to cold (after all, they are Mediterranean) and you should give them protection by either placing them in a garage or covering with a light sheet or blanket for the nights that are below 45 degrees.

The evergreen needle-type leaves are used in cooking; making herbal teas, poultice, as an aid to preventing nightmares and in soap; while the hardy wood has been used for constructing furniture, fires and various containers. The planting of rosemary around the house was said to repel witches. Scholars wore it around their heads when studying in the belief that it helps with memory. It really is a handy little plant to have around!

It has also been associated with both weddings and funerals. In weddings it was often worn in a headpiece by the bride and the groom & wedding guests often wore a sprig of rosemary. This eventually evolved into a love charm. If the couple planted the sprig and it grew, it foretold a good union and family.  However   if the rosemary grew too well and was prolific in the garden, then it was considered that the woman ran the household!  By the 16^th century many men were known to rip out much of the rosemary in their home gardens in an effort to show they were in control.

Rosemary sprig

 For funerals, they often laid a sprig of rosemary in the casket to help mask the smell of the body. Each mourner carried one to inhale as often as necessary to protect their sensitive noses. So glad things have changed since then! I love rosemary but to be reliant upon it as an air freshener might be pushing it!

 Upright rosemary can be grown as hedges, trimmed into topiaries, and as focal points. The standard shrub grows typically 3-5 feet, depending on your area. The deep green leaves and blue, white or pink flowers are very prolific in the spring and summer.  I do want to warn you though, bees like them too so be alert if you have allergies. (Refer to my earlier blog about bees and their importance in our gardens.)

Prostrate rosemary

There is also a trailing variety (rosmarinus procumbens) and a ground cover variety (rosmarinus prostrate) that work well on hillsides, over rocks and walls, around roses and in pots. They are edible as well; however I don’t personally feel that the ground cover variety has as good a flavor as the upright or trailing. It may just be a personal choice though so check it out for yourself.

Australian rosemary - non-edible

Word of caution:There is a variety of plant called Australian Rosemary that is NOT edible. It is not actually rosemary, but resembles it in coloring and growth habit. This one is called Westringia fruticosa. It is a gorgeous and hardy ornamental plant, but not a culinary plant!

So, ‘remember’ to plant rosemary, enjoy the scent, the taste and the sight of this beautiful shrub for many years to come!

Happy gardening!

Mary

Money CAN grow on trees!! 

Anna apple

As well as on bushes, vines and in pots! While it may not be the kind of money you wish grew on trees, growing your own fruit and vegetables is a way to save money and get a healthier lifestyle going. They not only provide food but they add beauty when they flower! You can incorporate them into your landscape to add texture, variety and drama. Even using fruiting shrubs as a hedge can have a dramatic impact. But be careful! Some fruiting plants may drop their leaves in winter so make sure you aren't using the plant for privacy!

Peach 

Even now, in late winter / early spring, you can plant for the future.  I’m talking fruit trees, fruit bushes and vines. Right now you can plant apple, peach, apricot, plum, citrus and a variety of other fruit trees. The first crop may be a bit less than what you’d like, but you are on the way to not purchasing your favorite fruits again, unless you want it out of season. If you live in an area where you have early frost and snow, you will have to wait to place them in the ground. Check with your local nursery (not a "box" store) and see what is available for planting now. Depending on the area you are in, you can start in late summer, early fall. Much of it depends on what you want to grow and what your frost times are.

Blueberry shrub

There are shrub berries that you can grow, blueberries, raspberry & blackberry (bramble variety), cranberries, currants (black, white & red) and gooseberries. All of these are easy care, but you may need more than one to help feed your family. You might also get some bird netting (or even tulle) to help prevent the birds from harvesting your crop before you do!  While bird netting is good, I feel that they aren’t large enough and the birds get underneath, or the openings are still large enough for some of the smaller birds in the neighborhood. Tulle is the material they use for tutus and bridal veils. It comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses and is fairly inexpensive.

Kiwis on the vine

Some of the vining types of fruit you can grow are grapes, kiwi, melons, some strawberries as well as raspberries, blackberries, Loganberries and passion fruit. These types of fruits will need more area to grow, most will need staking, and the canes on some of these will need to be pruned every year for optimum growth and production. I grow a variety of thornless berry called a Youngberry. It is kind of a cross between boysenberry and a light fruity perfume. It is a good producer and can be made into a sauce for ice cream or incorporated into vinaigrette. I usually just eat if right off the vine!

Orange in a pot

Of course, you know all the veggies & herbs you can grow to supplement or even eliminate the supermarket produce. There are a variety of vegetables that you can plant, especially here in So Cal. We have great growing conditions year round for many seasonal favorites. You can grow indoors as well, just about anywhere. The only caution I have is that it may take a couple of tries before you get the hang of where your plants like it best. Over watering is the major killer of indoor plants (whether herbs, fruiting or decorative) and can cause an irritating cloud of soil gnats that will get into ALL your plants. The best way to avoid that problem is to monitor how much water your plant needs. Indoors plants don’t take up as much water since they usually aren’t fighting the elements as much. You may only need to water every few days or just once a week. This is definitely something that takes practice and a watchful eye! Make sure they aren’t in line with a draft from the a/c or heater, since this can speed up moisture loss and cause leaf burn. Don’t water with water straight out of the tap; it has chlorine which can cause root burn. Instead fill a container, allow the water to sit, uncovered, several hours to allow chemicals to “burn” off

So… still think money doesn’t grow on trees..... bushes or vines?  Our forefathers knew the value of planting a garden, even if it is just a small one. You don’t need a home orchard to enjoy the fruits you love. Check out your local nursery (NOT home improvement or "box" stores) and ask questions. That’s part of their job and if they are like me, their passion. Helping someone find the joy of gardening, whether it is edible or not is as much fun as teaching someone to read. You open a whole new world to them that they can use the rest of their life!

Enjoy and eat well!                              

Mary

&!#@ Basil!        

Ocimum basilicum

Apparently the early Roman & Greek physicians believed to grow a good crop of basil, you had to shout and curse as you sowed the seeds!¹ While I think it might be fun to try out their philosophy, my neighbors might not appreciate it as much! No one wants a ticket for public vulgarity, do they?  The ancient people had a lot of interesting ideas and beliefs about day to day living and growing plants is apparently no exception.

In Italy basil has been and is still considered a sign of love!

 A pot of basil on a young lady’s balcony outside her room is a sign she’s ready to receive her suitor. However nowadays, that is not a sure sign since many people grow basil in pots on balconies and windowsills!  Another practice was for the young man to give a young lady a sprig of basil in the hope that the young lady would return his affection and never leave!  I think now ladies would prefer a man who cooks with basil. A man like that would be quite a catch!

One theory about the origin herb’s name is a derivative from basileus, Greek for king. In India basil is worshipped more highly than kings. It is a sacred herb dedicated to Vishnu & Krishna and laid upon the chest of the dead to protect from evil in the next world and to give them entrance to paradise (Oh! If it were only that easy!)

Basil seeds

As a medicinal, it is used for digestive complaints. Used instead of an after dinner mint as a tea, it helps aid in digestion and expel gas. It can be used for vomiting, cramps and constipation. A teaspoon of dried basil in a cup of boiled water is supposed to be effective. I am not a physician or a naturopath so I am relating only what I have researched. As always, check with your physician or naturopath prior to using any medicinal herb. Using the seeds in a poultice externally has shown antibacterial properties.

basil mint hair oil

It is used in shampoos, hair color and rinses, perfumes and herbal bath preparations. You can even make your own herbal bath perfume by mixing herbs that you like together to make a scent you like and add it to the water. Then climb in, and depending on the mixture, relax or get invigorated!

Basil works well in Italian, African, Mediterranean, Thai, Greek and of course Indian cuisine to name just a few. It has a bit of a peppery taste which intensifies as it cooks. Fresh, it can be added to salads, made into a pesto or tossed into a veggie packet and grilled until the veggies are done (about 20 minutes or so in a foil packet on a grill).  If it is to be frozen it should be made into a paste or stored in oil or vinegar. If you are freezing a pesto sauce, leave out the garlic until you are actually going to cook it as it can turn bitter/rancid tasting after a few months in the freezer. Try drying it to savor it during the winter months when you may not have your plant to pluck from.

Basil flowers (can be pink as well)

Basil can be easy to grow. Good light, a soil that drains well but not fast and has the addition of compost to the mix, whether potted or in ground. By pruning (or pinching off) leaves, your plant should become bushy. It is recommended to cut back the main stem prior to the plant flowering for the first. If you aren’t using it very often, trim it back a bit every 2 weeks or so. This helps keep it from getting too woody and helps maintain a nice bushy shape. Try to harvest before the flowers open, this will give you a better flavor. The unopened flowers can be used as a garnish or addition to a salad as well.

Purple Ruffles basil

There are a variety of types of basil, some with flavors other than straight basil. There is lemon, anise, cinnamon even a camphor flavored basil.  The one called “Holy Basil” is actually more ornamental rather than culinary so I would avoid that one except as a decorative element.  I have heard that the “Purple Ruffles” one is good for flavoring vinegar, but haven’t tried it myself (yet!). If you are adventurous try growing a few and taste testing your own. I can guarantee that even if you don’t like them, they are a beautiful addition to any garden as an ornamental. I love having fragrant plants in my garden, whether they are “useful” or not. I am constantly touching leaves, smelling them and even sometimes tasting them just because I can. And yes, I do know what poison oak and ivy look like so I am safe!

Enjoy your basil be it in a pasta, perfume, tea or hair rinse!!

Happy gardening!

Mary

¹Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

Do you have THYME?

  

Thymus vulgaris "common thyme"

Thymus vulgaris or common thyme is usually the one you use for cooking. It has found a home in the medicinal world as well as a great garden companion. It has been considered an almost “perfect” herb because of its flexibility. It can mimic other herbs, fill in chinks in rock gardens (the creeping varieties) create a scented path in your yard or (one of my favorites) is to create a unique fairy garden setting for children.  

Its name ‘Thymus’ has been traced to the Greek word for ‘courage’ which is appropriate since the smell has been known to be invigorating to the senses, hence making you feel indomitable!  There is information that the word ‘Thymus’ is also Greek for ‘to fumigate.’ This was due to the herb’s use in helping chase stinging insects from homes by burning the herb and waving it around in the air. Gardeners also planted a patch of herb for the garden faeries, much like we would put out bird houses! ¹

Thyme has also been a symbol of courage when women would give knights their scarf that had a sprig of thyme placed over an embroidered bee. It has been used to flavor liqueurs and cheeses and it was one of the ingredients used to help preserve mummies in ancient Egypt!   It has been used as a tea to combat shyness or other nervous disorders including nightmares. When used as a companion plant for vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes and tomatoes it is thought to help repel cabbage worms and white fly. (I’m trying this one this spring, my neighbor has an awful white fly problem but I can't convince her to do anything about it. She calls them her 'night moths'. Not sure why...)

Thyme seeds

Thyme has also been used as an antiseptic and stimulating property in lotions and bath concoctions and is now widely used as an antifungal and antibacterial. As an aromatic you can use the dried flowers and leaves as an insect repellent in storing linens by incorporating them into sachets. The compound thymol which gives thyme its main odor is used in colognes and soaps.

Thyme is a perennial, loves the sun and heat and drier soil, but don’t allow it to bake dry. If your area is very hot, I’d recommend planting thyme in an area with afternoon shade. Thymus vulgaris is bushy, growing to about 2’ tall. The leaves are very small and as it ages it can become woody stemmed. Thyme needs a well drained soil or pot as they can be susceptible to fungal diseases if they get too wet.  They are also susceptible to spider mites, although I haven’t seen this problem as much. As with all plants avoid watering the leaves as this can create a fungal problem or if it is a hot day, can burn the leaves a bit. Also, watering the leaves can actually reduce their fragrance. I would plant a few starter plants together to create a larger plant much sooner or if you are sowing seeds, several seeds close to each other. This way if you wish to divide the plant to use elsewhere (or give as a gift) you just dig it up carefully, and divide the plant at the roots. Take care that you don’t manhandle the roots too much as you can shock them or break them and your plant will have trouble recovering. Fertilize sparingly and do so with an organic such as blood meal or seaweed extract.

Woolly thyme

The smaller creeping varieties such as woolly thyme, elfin thyme or the creeping thyme² grow to about 4 inches tall. The woolly thyme actually looks a bit fuzzy with silvery leaves and pink flowers. The creeping thyme is denser with dark green leaves and darker pink blooms. The elfin thyme is much more compact and a bright green. There are many variations on these as well as some that are scented a bit differently than your typical thyme, such as the caraway thyme or lemon thyme. They are both useful in cooking, have a wonderful smell and great for garden concepts. A word of warning though bees LOVE thyme and when they are blooming, you will have many bees. But, fear not, typically bees are interested in what they can harvest, not in going after your tender fingers! I have worked among flowering plants for many years and can truly say I’ve only been stung once in the garden and that was due to my leaning against a pot that had a bee on it which caused it to sting me. All you need do is wave your hand gently to move them away and you can pick what you need OR wait until either the cool of the morning or evening and see if they are gone then pick what you need. It won’t be as much of a problem when the plant isn’t in bloom, but here in So Cal, they bloom pretty much all year.

Rock wall with Thyme

When using thyme in the garden remember that it doesn’t like wet feet, so be aware of where you place it. If you are using common thyme, it has good effect in Mediterranean gardens. It will also do well as a bit of interest when bordering a dry creek bed, or as a loose hedge. The lower growing thyme are good as ground covers between roses, along pathways, between flagstones even growing over rocks and in crevices.  I have used it on the backside of a rock waterfall to fill in the gaps between rocks and soil. It covered it beautifully in about a year and a half. You can use the woolly thyme as a lawn substitute if you really want to conserve water. Once thyme has established itself, it is a low water plant. If you use it as a lawn substitute be aware that when it blooms, it will be attracting bees which don’t always mix well with kids and animals! You may mow it occasionally just to keep the woodiness of the stems at a minimum. You can purchase flats (18" x 18" square) of the low growing thyme at many nurseries or in single containers.  The common thyme may come in 4” pots, 1 gallon or 5 gallon containers. I personally won’t purchase any herbs in anything larger than a 1 gallon container because some of them don’t transplant well at that size and you want it to acclimate easily.

When using thyme as a spice remove the leaves from the stems by holding the very top of the stem in one hand and using your fingernails, run them down the stem lightly against the growth pattern squeezing lightly to dislodge the leaves from the stems. You can use the whole stem and leaves in cooking such as soups, but you definitely want to remove them prior to serving the soup! Make sure the stems aren’t woody if you choose to use thyme this way.

Thyme is just a fun herb to grow. It is easy, looks pretty, smells wonderful and isn’t invasive so you can throw it in the garden and not worry. Use creeping thyme in a pot or on the edge of a planting wall so that as it grows it drapes over the edge is pretty and adds a soft touch to the area.

Soon it will be ‘thyme’ to plant your herb garden…. Enjoy your garden and all the creative ways you can use this herb in it.

Happy gardening!

Mary

¹ Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

² Thymus praecox – Creeping thyme

  Thymus pseudolanuginosus – Woolly thyme

  Thymus herba-barona – Caraway-scented thyme

  Thymus x citriodorus – Lemon-scented thyme

Mint

Mint,

Not just for Mojitos!!  

Ahhh, mint!! It is a refreshing smell, a cooling taste on your tongue, a great addition to Mediterranean dishes, lemonade, tea and even ice cream!! The smell brings on memories of summer days, picnics and fun!

The legend goes that the name “mint” comes from a nymph in Greek mythology named Minthe.  *Persephone, Pluto’s wife, found out that Pluto was in love with beautiful Minthe. She became jealous and turned her into a lowly plant in retaliation. Pluto couldn’t undo the curse so he made it so that she had a sweet smell when walked upon which got sweeter the more it was walked on. (Even back then there was drama!) The name was then changed to Mentha and became the genus name of the herb, mint.

Mint has long been used as both a culinary & medicinal treatment for many ages. At one time it was even used to pay taxes by the Pharisees. It is can be used to freshen your breath, treat stomach upset and an aid to digestion. It has been touted as an insect repellent and to whiten teeth! It can be used fresh or dried. I personally love the smell and taste of fresh mint. I use the back of a spoon to ‘muddle’ it when I put it in tea, lemonade or soups. Muddling it bruises it to release the oils that give mint its scent and flavor.

Mint plants have an interesting structure. Their stems are square instead of round and the leaf margins are jagged and a bit furry underneath in some instances. The leaves are alternate, meaning that two will grow opposite each other, the next two will grow opposite of those two and so on down the stem. Not all mint plants are mint scented, such as horehound although it is a member of the mint family.

Mint flower

They are considered a perennial; meaning they grow all year, flower usually in spring/summer time. They can tolerate part shade to full sun but in high heat areas they will do best in part shade.  They tolerate a variety of soils, but will try to find a richer soil if placed in a poor soil. They can be invasive!!!! That being said, they do very well on hillsides and can cover quite a large area. I prefer to plant them in pots, which they do quite well in. They do need a good soil in pots and prefer a loamy soil. (Loam is a type of soil. Usually a 40-40-20 concentration of sand, silt and clay respectively.) Make sure the pot has good drainage as they don’t do well sitting in a bog at the bottom of a non-draining pot! If you prefer to plant them in the ground, one way to slow their invasiveness is to plant them in a pot, in the ground. This means that you drop the pot into a hole in the ground with the plant already planted in it. This provides a root barrier but be aware, since the pot needs drainage holes, those same holes will eventually allow the mint roots to invade the soil around it. Also, the trailing stems can re-root where they touch the ground. The upside is that if you catch it early enough, you can just pull them right out of the ground and cut them off.

There are several of types of mint to plant; peppermint, lemon mint, apple mint, chocolate mint and orange mint to name a few of the more often used types. If you choose to grow a few types of mint, be aware that they can and most likely will cross pollinate so you may get another variety altogether!! If you can, separate them by quite a distance. This may lessen the chance of you ending up with an undesirable flavored mint. Also, don't confuse 'water mint' with mint grown in soil. While it is in the mint family, it doesn't have the same flavor or scent. There is also a compact ground hugging mint called Corsican mint. The leaves are very tiny and it forms a dense mat, which is great in between flagstone.

To harvest, cut the stems on a dry day and when the morning dew has evaporated from the plant. This will help reduce the possibility of the remaining leaves turning black. This is a fungus and if is shows up, I do recommend removal all black leaves and throwing them away. Wash your hands after removing them and make sure you don’t touch other healthy leaves as you may spread the fungus. You can then strip the leaves from the stem and use either fresh or dry them to use later. 

To increase your plant population you can cut stems, about 6-8 inches long, remove the lower leaves and set the stem in water, setting the container in an area that gets bright light and warmth. You don’t want to leave it outside in direct sun or in a windowsill in direct sun. Remember to change water every other day or so to avoid bacterial growth on the roots or stem. Once you have roots of a decent length (about 1 ½ - 2 inches long) and a good amount of them, you can transplant into a pot. I would still keep it inside or in a protected place outside until it has set more roots. To determine this, tug gently on the stem. If there is a slight resistance, it has started to set roots and can be placed in part shade. Make sure that you keep the soil slightly moist so that the plant doesn’t dry out unexpectedly. You can also put several starters in a single large pot to create a more full pot later.

Variegated Pineapple mint

Mint is a very easy plant to grow, one that is really good for kids to grow since it is fun to incorporate into a variety of foods, as well as chewing a whole leaf itself!!

One last caution: the herbs you get in the grocery store do not do well if they are planted. They are either hydroponically grown, so their root system won’t take the sudden soil or force grown in a greenhouse which means they aren’t that hardy to begin with but are acceptable for cooking.

Go forth and grow some mint!!! You won’t be sorry and you’ll have a plant that is scented and useful, who could ask for more?

Happy gardening!

Mary

* Myth info from Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Herbs - A very good herb info resource

Magazines devoted to or based on herbs & their use:

Herb Quarterly - has info on herbs & their uses, how to make lotions, lip balm, soaps and gift items as well as recipes.

Mother Earth Living (formerly Herb Companion) Now a bit more of a slick magazine, along the lines of Real Simple meets Herb Companion. I'm still checking it out. I really liked the old format, but wasn't consulted.... =)

I'm sure there are more out there, I just haven't really searched for them yet.