When is the best time to sow mint?

Mint is not only a refreshing vegetable on the table, but also plays multiple roles in daily life due to its unique aroma and taste. It can be used in cooking, mixing drinks and desserts to add flavor. In the industrial field, mint is also used to extract spices and flavors, and its application range is very wide. Let’s take a look at when is the best time to sow mint?

When is the best time to sow mint?

Mint is known for its strong ability to adapt to the environment and usually grows in moist soil near water. As a perennial herb, mint has an upright stem ranging from 30 to 60 cm in height, with slender fibrous roots and horizontally growing rhizomes at the bottom. The stem is sharply quadrangular with four grooves. The upper part is covered with inverted fine hairs, while the lower part has fine hairs only on the ridges and has many branches. Mint has a strong adaptability to temperature, its rhizomes can survive the winter and can withstand temperatures below 10°C. The most suitable growth temperature range is 20℃ to 30℃. Below 10℃, the growth of mint will become slow; above 20℃, the growth rate will accelerate. Under suitable temperature, water and fertilizer conditions, the higher the temperature, the faster the mint grows.

The sowing time of mint is usually chosen in spring or autumn, because the climatic conditions in these two seasons are conducive to its rooting and germination. The high temperature and humidity in summer can easily cause pests and diseases, which is not conducive to the growth of seedlings. Although mint is hardy in winter, it grows slowly and usually needs to wait until spring to grow rapidly.

The time for planting mint also needs to be adjusted according to local climatic conditions. In places with warm climates such as Guangdong and Hainan, mint can be grown all year round. In Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, people usually plant around Qingming Festival because the climate is warm, there is plenty of rain and the humidity is suitable at this time. In the southwest, it is planted after the rainy season begins. In North China and Northeast China, a combination of open field and protected land cultivation methods can be adopted for continuous planting for 2 to 3 years.

Tips for growing mint

Variety selection: Choose high-quality varieties with vigorous growth, strong disease and pest resistance, and rich aroma for planting, such as Asia No. 39 and Fuyou No. 1.

Reproduction: Reproduction is carried out when the first crop of mint enters the bud stage, usually in June in the south and in July in the north.

Land preparation and fertilization: Choose land with high terrain, good drainage, deep, fertile and loose soil, preferably sandy loam. Apply base fertilizer adequately during land preparation, applying 3,000 to 5,000 kg of soil and fertilizer and 50 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer per 667 square meters.

Reproduction techniques:

Cutting method: Use the stems of the first crop of mint, cut 30 cm long stem segments, and plant them at a spacing of 30 cm x 5 cm.

Rhizome method: After the first crop of mint is harvested, dig out the underground rhizomes and plant them at a spacing of 30 cm x 5 cm.

Field management: After planting, keep the soil moist and water regularly to promote rooting and emergence. To control weed growth, you can use herbicides or remove them manually. Use mint yield increaser, spray once every 10 days, for three consecutive times. At the same time, apply fertilizers such as urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate in a timely manner.

Pest and disease control: The main diseases of mint include leaf spot and rust, and conventional prevention and control measures should be taken in the early stages of the disease.

Harvest: Mint is ready for harvest in late October when it matures. First cut off the above-ground part, then dig out the underground seed stems for subsequent reproduction.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and key points of mint. You also need to consider the specific environment. It is difficult to grow mint without suitable temperature.