Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the classic culinary mint — sweeter and milder than peppermint, with little menthol. It is extremely easy, very hardy and fast-growing. Beware: it spreads by underground runners, so always grow it in a pot or crate.

Güncellendi:
Fresh spearmint – dense foliage with serrated, fresh-green leaves

Important notes

ingestion of larger amounts by pets: Per ASPCA, toxic to cats, dogs and horses — the essential oils can cause vomiting and diarrhea in larger amounts. Safe for humans.

planted in open ground / beds: Spearmint spreads by underground runners (rhizomes) and quickly takes over whole beds. Always keep it in a pot or crate — or sink the pot as a root barrier.

Işık

Part shade to full sun; most aromatic in sun. Indoors a bright spot; avoid harsh midday sun behind glass.

Sulama

Likes evenly moist soil but no waterlogging. Water more in summer and in pots — let the surface dry, then water thoroughly.

Sıcaklık

Grows best at 15–26 °C; very hardy (survives hard frost and re-sprouts in spring).

Nem

Normal room/outdoor humidity (50–65%) is fine. Very dry air invites spider mites.

Yönteme ve evreye göre hedef değerler

Toprak
Evre pH EC (mS/cm) Su °C Hava °C Nem % Işık s Süre (gün)
Çimlenme 6–7 18–24 60–70 14 14
Vejetatif 6–7 15–26 50–65 14 60
DWC
Evre pH EC (mS/cm) Su °C Hava °C Nem % Işık s Süre (gün)
Vejetatif 5.8–6.2 1.6–2.4 18–22 18–24 50–65 14 50
NFT
Evre pH EC (mS/cm) Su °C Hava °C Nem % Işık s Süre (gün)
Vejetatif 5.8–6.2 1.6–2.2 18–22 18–24 50–65 14 50

Sık görülen sorunlar

Spreads and crowds out neighbours (keep in pots). Mint rust (orange pustules) and mildew in crowded, damp conditions. Spider mites in dry indoor air. Leggy growth in too little light.

Space & Size

Final height
60 cm
Final width
60 cm
Spacing
30 cm
Root depth
20 cm
Min. container (Toprak)
≥ 5 L
Min. container (DWC)
≥ 4 L

Pests & diseases

Pest / Disease Symptom Organic treatment
Aphids sticky, curled shoot tips rinse off, beneficials, neem
Spider mites fine webbing, speckled leaves (in dry air) raise humidity, hose off, predatory mites
Mint leaf/flea beetle shot-hole feeding on leaves hand-pick, insect netting
Mint rust orange-brown pustules on leaf undersides remove infected shoots, improve airflow, cut back hard in spring
Powdery mildew white, powdery coating on leaves space out for airflow, avoid overhead watering

Edible parts

  • Leaves · edible from Vejetatif — main harvest — tea, cooking, cocktails
  • Flowers · edible from Çiçeklenme — edible as garnish; leaves get milder at flowering

Verim teknikleri

Harvest/pinch the shoot tips regularly — keeps the plant bushy and delays flowering. Leaves get milder at flowering; harvest before for strong flavour. Cut back hard in spring for fresh, healthy regrowth.

Propagation & pollination

Method
cutting
Germination time
14 days
Germination temp
18-24 °C
Sowing depth
0 cm
Pollination
cross
Hand pollination needed
no

Very easy: cut a stem below a node, strip lower leaves, root in water in 1–2 weeks. Also by rhizome division. Seed is slow and not true to type.

Companion planting

🟢 Good neighbours: Tomato

🔴 Bad neighbours: Parsley

Not yet linked: Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Pisum sativum, Matricaria chamomilla

Flavor

sweet and fresh, grassy, clearly milder than peppermint (low menthol)

Storage

In the fridge: stems in a glass of water or wrapped in damp paper. Dries and freezes well.

History

Mint is ancient: Greeks and Romans already used it to flavour and cleanse. The genus name traces back to the nymph Minthe. Spearmint is the classic mint for mint sauce, tea and mojitos.

Nutrition

Low in calories, provides some vitamin A and C plus minerals; traditionally aids digestion.

Sources

Florabase

Florabase ile pH, EC ve tüm ölçümleri kaydedebilirsiniz — sonsuza kadar ücretsiz.

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