Mint requires a well-balanced nutrition program. As plantings develop, rows will become a continuous mass of mint. Using this system, three rows can be planted to a raised bed. A suitable row spacing is 50 cm with runners planted 10 cm apart within the rows. Planting distance will vary with the type of mechanical equipment used to cultivate and manage the crop. This will prevent the plants from becoming root-bound and prone to disease, ensuring strong, healthy plants for the new season.
Vegetative propagation is achieved by digging up plants in late winter–early spring and dividing them into runners with roots, then replanting. Mint can be propagated either vegetatively or by seed. A high water requirement means that soils must be deep and well drained while holding plenty of water. Mints do best in deep, rich soils of friable texture high in organic matter. This is why, in the hotter climates, mint generally grows better in the more shaded areas of the garden. Ideal growing temperatures for mint are warm sunny days (25☌) and cool nights (15☌). For this reason, the Australian mint industry has developed mostly in Tasmania, particularly for oil production. Ideally, they require plenty of sun, growing best in the long midsummer days of the higher latitudes. The mints will grow in a wide range of climates as shown by their popularity in home gardens all over Australia. If varietal purity is to be maintained, each one must be grown in isolation. When identifying mints, remember that all varieties will cross-pollinate, making sorting them out difficult. The leaves are light green, soft and downy, with a rounded shape. Not a commonly grown mint in New South Wales, it is very flavoursome and characterised by its strong apple taste and perfume. It has smooth green, oval-shaped leaves that are tinged with purple.Īpple mint ( M. This mint has a very strong, sharp perfume. Peppermint is the most commonly grown species for oil production.Įau-de-cologne ( M. This is a low-growing plant that has small, pointed, dark green leaves with a purplish tinge. Flowers are a pink to lilac colour and grow in clusters on the ends of the stems. Leaves are smooth, bright green and elongated with a pointed end. This is the most common mint grown commercially in New South Wales as well as in home gardens. Under good growing conditions, stems will generally reach 1 m in height. All are low-growing plants, readily sending out runners, or stolons, which develop new roots and shoots at the nodes. Within the genus Mentha there are several different species, varying in their appearance, aroma and end use. The mints belong to the genus Mentha in the family Labiatae ( Lamiaceae) which includes other commonly grown oil-yielding plants such as basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, lavender, pennyroyal and thyme.
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