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Best time to plant mint seeds12/5/2023 Most diseases can be minimized or eliminated by appropriate watering and ensuring proper sunlight to plants. Once established it is very hard to eradicate. Mint spreads quickly in open garden areas and will out-compete most garden plants. Mint is best planted in containers or where roots are confined. Problems with Growing Mint Aggressive Growth Over watering and fertilizing promotes rust and diminishes mint oil production. Use one teaspoon of a 16-16-16 fertilizer per plant as growth resumes in the spring. One early spring application of a slow release, complete fertilizer incorporated into the soil will supply adequate nutrients for mint. Avoid overwatering as it leads to disease. Water regularly during the growing season, supplying up to 1 to 2 inches per week, depending on temperatures, exposure and soil conditions. Row spacing should be at least 2 feet apart to allow for growth. Transplants should be planted with roots just beneath the soil surface. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep and then thin seedlings once they emerge. Divide and replant established plants in the spring before growth starts or early in the fall. For specific cultivars or varieties, buy established plants from reputable sources, take cuttings from known plants, or divide an established plant. Since mints readily hybridize between different types, plants grown from seed often fail to be true to type. Mint can be grown from seed or transplants. If you fertilize with compost, apply no more than 1 inch of well-composted organic matter per 100 square feet of garden area. If fertilizer are needed, work the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil. Soil Preparationīefore planting, determine fertilizer needs with a soil test and then follow the fertilization recommendations given. If growing a variegated variety (pineapple mint), full sun may scorch the leaves. Most soils in Utah are suited to mint provided they are amended with compost. Mint prefers rich, moist and slightly acidic soils and grows best in full sun or partial shade. Mints widely used in teas and medicinal preparations include watermint, corn or field mint, and pennyroyal. Culinary varieties include those listed above and those with mint-like flavors including red raripila mint, ginger mint (redmint), horsemint, and pineapple mint. All varieties are well suited to areas of Utah with more mild winters. For cold areas of Utah, peppermint, spearmint, and woolly mints are very hardy. The taste and smell varies greatly between varieties. Harvest leaves and stems throughout the season, or cut back within an inch of the ground about three times a season, just before the plant blooms. Mint prefers moist soil conditions, but excess water will promote root and leaf diseases. Mint grows best in full sun to partial shade, should be planted early in the growing season and is generally hardy to -20° F. Mint is a rapid growing perennial herb with many varieties that grow up to 3 feet tall and are quite invasive.
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