SAFLAX - Peppermint - 300 seeds - Mentha piperita
For healing and seasoning health and taste!
Peppermint is a flat rooted, frost-hard shrub plant that grows 30 to 90 cm tall and produces between July and September pink or purple coloured blossoms. The leaves have a pleasant aromatic taste, initially warming and then noticeable cooling. The Peppermint mainly differs from other mint varieties in its higher menthol and lower carvone content, as well as in a stronger taste. The Peppermint is only known since the late 17th century and cant be found in the herbal books of the ancient times or the Middle Ages. Active agents: Peppermint has a digestive, anticonvulsive and slightly calming effect. Tea: Dash two heaped teaspoonsful of dried Peppermint with 250 ml hot water and let it simmer under a cover for about eight minutes, so you can see the essential oils on the surface. Cold tea has an antiseptic effect and can be used as mouthwash, either precautionary, or with inflammations of the mouth and throat. Peppermint oil: Mix a handful of chopped fresh leaves with half a litre of cold-pressed olive oil in a screw top jar and allow it to stand for about six weeks. After that, you can strain the oil, fill it up preferably in small brown glass bottles, and store it somewhere dark. In outwardly appliances the oil has a cooling and relaxing effect.
Natural location: Peppermint always comes from cultures of temperate climate regions.
Cultivation: The best time for seeding outdoors would be in March and April. Seed propagation indoors, however, is possible throughout the year. Peppermint is a light germinator, and the seeds should only be covered with very little compost earth after gently pressing them onto the potting compost or special herbal soil. Cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out, but dont forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20°C and 25°Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. Outdoor plants should be planted with a breathing space of at least 25 to 30 cm, to avoid nutrient competition and plant diseases. Usually, the first seedlings already come up after 10 to 20 days.
Place: Peppermint prefers a half-shaded place.
Care: The best time for harvesting the leaves and shoot tips would be shortly before blossoming, which usually occurs between June and August. The Peppermint multiplies itself through the stolons that always develop new plants.
During winter: The plant dies during autumn and sprouts anew in spring.
Bonsai ability: No
Picture credits :
Due to technical restrictions, the links to the image rights cannot be specified here.
15216-mentha-piperita-seed-package-front-german.jpg - © Sten Porse - CC-BY-SA-3.0
saflax-multipicture-german.jpg - Frank Laue - © Saflax
15216-mentha-piperita-cultivation-instruction-german.jpg - Frank Laue - © Saflax
15216-04-Mentha-piperita.jpg - Sten Porse - CC-BY-SA-3.0
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -