How to properly grow and care for mint in a greenhouse
Mint is appreciated not only for its aroma, but also for the beneficial properties that nature has put into it. To get fresh plants all year round, gardeners grow mint in greenhouses. The main advantages of this method are year-round harvest and the ability to not depend on weather conditions.
How to properly grow mint in greenhouse conditions?
Mint is an unpretentious plant. With proper care, the crop will yield a good harvest even in winter. It is important that the temperature regime is observed in the greenhouse and that ventilation is present.
Preparing cuttings
There are two ways to plant mint: cuttings and seeds.
When preparing the cuttings for planting, they are cut from the bush. Saplings should not be less than 10 cm in height. They can be immediately planted in the ground, but in order to increase the chances of engraftment, it is recommended to put the seedlings in water to release roots. It is important to control the germination of the root system. To speed up the process, the cuttings should be provided with an optimal temperature regime and irrigated regularly with water.
Cuttings are planted immediately after the first roots appear.
It is recommended to pre-treat mint seeds with an aquarium compressor before planting. This will allow for optimal germination. The bottom line is placing seeds in water and saturating them with oxygen. Seed material should be dried in fresh air before planting.
If there is no opportunity to plant seeds directly into the ground, then the seedling method of planting is used. Initially, the seeds are germinated at home in boxes, and after 1.5-2 weeks they are planted in a greenhouse. It is important to moisturize the planting regularly. The humidity level should not be less than 60%.
Preparing the soil for the grass
Spicy herbs are planted in a previously prepared soil. It is dug up, cleared of weeds, fertilized with mineral and organic compounds. It is important to avoid souring. This requires good drainage of the site using crushed bricks or small gravel.
Note! If soil acidification is allowed, there is a high probability of root rot and loss of yield.
Thus, drained soil is essential when planting mint. The quality of the soil plays an equally important role. Spicy grass loves slightly acidic and sandy loam neutral soil. Sour soils for growing mint in a greenhouse are categorically not suitable.
Planting mint
It is best to plant mint in the ground in spring, but planting in summer and autumn will also give good results.After the roots of the cuttings develop, they are planted in the soil. The optimum planting depth is 5 cm. The distance between the seedlings should be at least 15 cm. This will give the plants enough space and nothing will hinder their growth.
It is important to provide the plant with the required amount of light and the optimum temperature. For this, lamps and electric ovens are installed in greenhouses.
Growing mint through planting is more difficult, especially for novice gardeners. If this method is chosen, then the seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of 0.5 cm. For seedlings to emerge, the temperature in the greenhouse should not be less than 20 degrees. From above, the planted area is covered with a film until the seeds are pecked.
For the winter harvest, mint is planted in late August - early September. It is important to provide the culture with natural light as much as possible. If this is not possible, then you need to use additional lighting.
Basic principles of crop care
To get a good result, it is important to properly care for the crop: water it on time, feed it, and prevent diseases and pests. Those who grow mint for industrial purposes can use coconut substrate for planting.
Watering
Drying out of the soil when growing mint must not be allowed. Watering is carried out as soon as the soil begins to dry out. This is about 3 times in 10 days. In greenhouses, it is optimal to use a drip irrigation system. In order for the root system to better absorb moisture, the soil should be periodically loosened. It is also important to kill weeds in a timely manner, so the plants will receive more nutrients.
In summer, watering is done more often, in summer they are reduced. It is also important not to allow moisture to stagnate in the soil. Despite the fact that mint is a moisture-loving plant, an excessive amount of water will lead to disease and plant death.
Top dressing
Regular feeding of mint will have a good effect on its development. As a rule, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers are used for these purposes. Top dressing is carried out during the growing season. Some gardeners prefer to fertilize mint with compost and manure.
Diseases and pests
The most dangerous disease for a culture is powdery mildew. As a rule, the disease occurs due to sudden changes in temperature. As for pests, mint is susceptible to attack:
- aphids;
- whitefly;
- spider mite.
You can get rid of pests by spraying plants with industrial compounds. But it is safest to use folk remedies.
Collection and storage
The crop is harvested in the first year of planting. For drying, the leaves are plucked before flowering, during this period they are most saturated with useful trace elements. Mint is dried in the shade, after tying the plants into bunches. Thus, the plant will retain its aroma and beneficial properties throughout the long winter.
You can also freeze mint, but this will last no more than two months. The cut leaves are washed in cool water and placed on a damp thin cloth. Mint is stored in the refrigerator in a tightly closed container. The optimum storage temperature is 0 degrees.
For fresh consumption, mint leaves are plucked as needed.
