As with most types of mint, the care of spearmint is easy. Mint in the garden should be mulched annually to keep the roots cool and moist. Potted mint does best when fertilized monthly during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer. Once the seedlings have grown into young plants, pot them on using a richer soil such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost. When the risk of frost has passed, you can move them outdoors. Spearmint can readily adapt to grow in various types of soil. Spearmint tends to thrive with plenty of organic material in full sun to part shade. The plant is also known to be found in moist habitats such as swamps or creeks, where the soil is sand or clay. [26]

Akdoğan M, Tamer MN, Cüre E, Cüre MC, Köroğlu BK, Delibaş N. Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):444-7. doi:10.1002/ptr.2074 Mint growing". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. 2007-10-23. Archived from the original on 2018-12-05 . Retrieved 2018-12-05. Buy a peppermint plant in a nursery as this herb is not normally sold as a potted plant in supermarkets Mint is native to the Mediterranean, but spread into Britain and eventually to America. The Pilgrims brought mint with them on their first journey overseas. One of the most favored of the mint plants is spearmint ( Mentha spicata). This highly aromatic plant is valued for its culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic use. Mentha spicata, spearmint". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12 . Retrieved 2017-06-19.

Care of Spearmint

Now that we’ve discussed the typical taste descriptors used to differentiate peppermint from spearmint, why don’t we take it a step further?

a b c Vokou, D.; Kokkini, S. (1989-04-01). " Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae) chemotypes growing wild in Greece". Economic Botany. 43 (2): 192–202. doi: 10.1007/BF02859860. ISSN 1874-9364. S2CID 32109061. Kanatt, S. R., Chander, R., & Sharma, A. (2007). Antioxidant potential of mint (Mentha spicata L.) in radiation-processed lamb meat [abstract]. Food Chemistry, 100(2)Used as a fumigant, spearmint essential oil is an effective insecticide against adult moths. [35] Antimicrobial research [ edit ] Mentha is a genus, not an herb! Without getting into boring details, a genus is a massive group of different herbs that share a very close origin.

Mentha spicata (spearmint): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-18 . Retrieved 2018-12-10. Also, the taste is the easiest way to identify them. Indeed, a peppermint leaf will taste way stronger than its spearmint counterpart. The species and its subspecies have many synonyms, including Mentha crispa, Mentha crispata, and Mentha viridis.

How to Grow Spearmint

Spearmint may help to relieve symptoms of digestive problems, by relaxing the stomach muscles, reducing symptoms of nausea, and other digestive problems.

Mentha spicata subsp. condensata (Briq.) Greuter & Burdet – eastern Mediterranean, from Italy to Egypt The next four types of mint have a long tradition in countries where tea drinking plays an important role. No wonder, then, that these mints are all particularly good for making tea. Moroccan mint (Mentha spicata var. crispa Morocco)Interestingly, though, experts say that peppermint is a bit more effective in medical applications than spearmint. Nevertheless, they are generally used similarly. Related Questions Spearmint vs Peppermint gum? Spearmint has a milder taste than peppermint and it is the favorite by the majority of people as not many might find pleasant such strong (slightly more sugary) and bold flavor. Summary of Differences Between Spearmint and Peppermint Mints belong to the Labiatae family ( Lamiaceae) and are popular in herb beds or in pots on balconies, windowsills and terraces. This is no wonder because mints not only smell wonderful, they can also be creatively processed in the kitchen. The healing properties of mint have been known for a long time and are said to help with ailments such as gastrointestinal pain, colds, headaches and muscle aches. Richardson, Lisa Boalt (2014). Modern Tea: A Fresh Look at an Ancient Beverage. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p.104. ISBN 978-1-4521-3021-7. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11 . Retrieved 2016-10-13. Many health benefits have been attributed to spearmint, whether consumed fresh or used as an essential oil.