Mentha suaveolens
look for a plant that combines ornamental beauty with a novel , fruity taste ? Then have yourself a gander at the plant known as apple mint .
As an esurient , approximate - morbid gingiva chewer , I personally get word this herbaceous plant with the exuberance of a child on Christmas . Menthol - season , with a fragrance of Malus pumila , AND it ’s a plant I can grow right at home ? Sign me up !
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With one- to two - column inch - long fuzzy fleeceable leaf , a two- to three - ft height , and white , pinkish , or purple flowers , this plant has the flavor to check the substance .
M. suaveolensserves as a gorgeous flat coat screen , a delicious compliment to many cuisines , and it even attracts many good pollinators . It ’s easy to mature , wide-eyed to care for , and pays scrumptious dividend year after year .
There ’s no question – this mintage ofMenthadefinitely merit a spot in your herb garden .
Behold what awaits , herbaceous plant enthusiasts :
What You’ll Learn
I ’m middling certain that ’s everything we ’ll cover . promise I did n’t forget to mint - ion anything …
Cultivation and History
Apple mint , despite sound like something Johnny Appleseed might have get along up with , really has a European lineage . hail from the southern and westerly portion of Europe , this plant has been enjoy by humankind for millennium .
Dating back to Ancient Greece , it was used as an herbaceous plant for baths and for clean spread Radclyffe Hall tables .
It ’s been used as a strewing herb throughout account , or in other Scripture , an herb that was “ strewn ” in of import structures such as synagogue .
When people would take the air through these buildings , they would maltreat on and crush the strew foliation , releasing a fragrance that repelled pests and made the air smell all sweet and apple - y.
Historically , it was also used as a medicinal herb in monasteries . The monks who dwelled there believe it provided sculptural relief from post - seizure fatigue . I suppose it was used enough to grant it the cognomen “ monk ’s herb . ”
In the modern day , Malus pumila mint is used for both comestible and cosmetic design .
Edibility - wise , it goes well with many food and is used medicinally today in alternative health circles to handle inflammation , GI problems , and fevers .
Ornamentally , it ’s a heavy land book binding and accent planting for other metal money with differently - textured foliage .
Propagation
One thing to screw aboutMenthaseeds : they ’re perfectly puny . At 14,000 come per gm , they are very unmanageable to develop . And given their propensity to traverse - breed , the ejaculate you bourgeon might not attend and taste like theM. suaveolensyou were going for .
When it come toM. suaveolens , vegetational multiplication is the elbow room to go . However , if the difficulty of growing apple mint from seminal fluid is a challenge that you ’re up for , palpate free to gird yourself with someseed - specific know - how here .
works sow a fourth part - inch deep , and be sure to thin seedlings to cater one to two foot of space between each .
When it come to vegetative propagation , the two good method are via root division and stem cut .
These are the techniques used by commercial-grade raiser , and they ’ll definitely puzzle out for the home plate gardener . For a thoroughgoing breakdown of how to spread this plant , check out our hatful develop guidebook .
How to Grow
All in good order , it ’s time to raise !
Apple Mint Live works
If you have n’t propagated vegetatively or via germ , but want to get some apple mint in the solid ground ASAP , Clovers Garden has live plantsavailable for leverage from Amazon .
Climate and Soil
First , you want to see to it that you ’re implant in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9 . Next , you must ensure that yourM. suaveolenswill meet full sun or partial shade wherever they ’re planted .
A territory pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal , along with a well - draining , loamy grease . overly rich dirt can promote rusting , interfere with great deal oil output , and shrink leaf pleasingness , so a exceedingly prolific soil is far from necessary here .
If your soil is particularly lean in nutrients , sum up one to two inches ofcompost , manure , orpeat mossto the soil before planting will be all you require .
Planting
Since it grow smartly and oftentimes invasively , quarantining your Malus pumila mint from your other planting will be a necessary .
This can be done by allot them their own game , or by growing them in containers sink into the flat coat , with holes in the bottom for drain .
If you go with containers , they should extend three to four inches above the soil line and 10 to 15 inch below , to keep the plants turn back .
Simply bury the root just below the airfoil is all that ’s needed when you ’re graft , with a invertebrate foot or two of quad in between each works .
Water and Fertilizer
Apple mint needs its stain kept constantly moist . Not soggy – that could cause disease . cogitate Aster linosyris : not too small , not too much , just right .
Starting the day with hydration by watering in the first light is ideal . If the foliage wilt or the top in of filth feels dry , more water is needed .
A regular , bordering - on - neurotic routine of checking for sobriety will ensure that your plants will never stay wry for unhealthful stretches of time . Mulching lightly around plant can also aid to hold moisture .
For aweary gardener seem for a complete suspension from fertilize , I have some bad news program . Mint does involve a small fertilizer , but a once - a - year fertilization in the springtime should be all that ’s needed .
One teaspoonful of tiresome - expiration 16 - 16 - 16 fertilizer per plant should do the thaumaturgy , work into the top six inch of soil .
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Growing Tips
Maintenance and Pruning
The maintenance you give your apple mint plants depends on what you ’re growing them for .
If you care them for their blooms and need them to draw in beneficial pollinators , praise ! You ’re on Easy Street . Just kick back , relax , and get them flower .
However , florescence deoxidise flavorful crude substance and makes the leaves less tasty .
If delectable leaves and stems are the finish , pinch the blooming or cut back the works an in above the soil two to three times a twelvemonth to keep your orchard apple tree mint shaggy-haired and tasty . Have no fearfulness : they can take all that pruning .
Remember that this is a creeping , rhizomatous plant . If you have n’t taken steps already to control its spreading , like planting in containers sunk into the ground , you may find yourself labour it out of unwanted domain of the garden regularly .
Regardless of your mature objectives , cut them down to primer coat stratum before the first knockout freeze each winter , so as to monish pathogen and pests .
Cultivars to Select
There are n’t as many notable cultivars ofM. suaveolensas there are for other species ofMentha . scarcely any , in fact .
Other than your standard apple peck , there is a specific variety worth mentioning : M. suaveolens‘Variegata , ’ aka ‘ Pineapple ’ or ananas mint .
The unique name comes with a unique facial expression . alternatively of the solid unripened foliage you ’ve come to sleep with and love , the median ‘ Variegata ’ leafage has variegated , creamy white edges .
I say “ average ” here because a few leaves may be all white-hot , a few all green , and the rest will have mixtures of blank and green in varying proportion .
A curious thing about variegation , though , is that motley sections of plant tissue contain less chlorophyll than non - variegated section . This means variegated tissue develop less than their all - green counterparts .
If you need to prevent your pineapple mint candy from looking like plain ol’ apple mint candy , ignore back the green - leave stanch to keep them from smartly outgrowing and snuffing out the variegated foliage .
Variegated tissues are also very sensitive to sunlight and susceptible to sunburn , so give ‘ Variegata ’ fond refinement . If full sun is all you ’ve got to do work with , this can work in a cool climate . Full sun + hot climate = leaf burn .
‘ Variegata ’
Interested in get variegated pineapple mint?Burpee has the source for you .
Managing Pests and Disease
Thankfully , herbivores do n’t pose a menace for this herbaceous plant , although it is vulnerable to some dirt ball and diseases .
Because this is a species of mint , it does share standardized pest and pathogen vulnerabilities with the rest of theMenthagenus .
Be sure togive our stack article a flavor - seefor a more in - depth test of the plague and diseases that plagueM. suaveolens , such asaphids , anthracnose , and the corresponding .
Harvesting and Preservation
Apple plenty can be harvest all season long , as shortly as the plant start to leaf out . The leave and sprigs are what you ’re glean here . younker and smallness make for the tasty leaves .
idealistic crop time is just before efflorescence , late in the morning , and on days when it ’s sunny and ironical . This is when the oils that give the works its deliciousness are at their peak , and it ’s your meter to strickle !
Remove the leaves with your finger – i.e. digitally – or en masse with a shearing implement for afterward plucking from the stems , if you so desire .
After harvest , rinse what you ’ve picked and pat dry , or await to moisten until just before using . Submerge the cut ends in water and place in the fridge , where they ’ll last for up to a week to be used fresh .
For recollective - term storage , you have some options .
To melodic phrase - dry , bind the theme in a bundle and leave them in a chocolate-brown newspaper handbag . Keep the suitcase in a cool , dark place for about 14 days . After that , remove the dried folio from the shank and keep them in a sealed container in cool , dark conditions .
you could dry them in an oven or solid food dehydrator , too . Place the herbs on top of a lambskin newspaper - incubate baking sheet or dry rack and broil at 100 ° F , or the depressed usable setting . Bake until the plant life gets brittle and set off to dilapidate with ease .
Learn herb in our guide .
freeze is another valid pick . disperse the harvested , washed , and dried leaves on a baking canvas and immobilize for half an hour . After that , put the frozen leaves in atmosphere - sloshed and dated freezer bags for retentive - term freezer reposition .
Cooking Ideas
This plant is a very versatile herbaceous plant and can be enjoyed in many delicious foods and drink .
It ’s wonderful with freshly cooked meats and vegetable . Lemonades and teas get a courteous zing from the addition of orchard apple tree mint . And it ’s a great compliment to potatoes , fruits , and salads , as well !
Want some formula to try?Check them out on our sis situation , Foodal .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
I Mint To Write A Better Pun Than This
Hopefully , I ’ve in effect express the unbridled awesomeness of apple spate .
Whether it ’s planted for dish , taste , or fragrance , this plant will make any herb garden or container a focal point of appetizing aesthetics .
If you enjoyed study up onM. suaveolens , here aresome other pile template to peruseat your leisure :
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About
Joe Butler
