The Strawberry mint plant brings me back to memory lane when my grandmother used to give me mojito containing strawberry mint after a long day playing outside on a hot summer day. This drink was so refreshing that after drinking it, I would be as fresh as a daisy. The main reason that the mojito was so refreshing was due to the mere fact that my grandmother used freshly plucked mentha strawberry from her garden. This added to the flavor of her world-class mojito.
Let’s dive into the details of this amazing plant, how to grow it, its uses, benefits, and much more.
How to Grow Strawberry Mint Plant
It should be planted in a container of at least 6cm-7cm that’s due to the mere fact that these mint strawberry plants are invasive and can easily take over all the area they are planted in thus hanging baskets and containers are an ideal option to plant them. Moreover, one thing should be kept in mind that these plants should be trimmed regularly.
The seed pods and flowers mainly should be plucked at early convenience as this would cause the aggressive growth of mint in an unwanted area if they have contact with the ground. Flowers are one of the beautiful features of these plants and attract bees and butterflies too but they would cause extra work for you in terms of stopping an aggressive growth if you could do that then I would suggest you have flowers too in your beautiful mint strawberry plant.
There should a distance of at least 20 inches from one plant to another. The best time to plant it is in spring after fog is passed and unlike other plants, it can grow fairly well in slightly shaded areas. They grow ell in moist soils.
Soil, Fertilizer, and Watering of The Plant
An acidic PH of about 6.4 to 7.0 is required for the growth of the plant. A moderate amount of water is required for this type of plant to strive. Soggy soil is not preferable for them. they should be watered in c if the soil is dry. plenty of humidity is also required for them. during the period of new growth which is about early spring liquid all-purpose fertilizer should be used after that, there should be a gap of four to six weeks to use the fertilizer again.it should not be watered frequently as this would cause a loss in the nutrients of the soil.
Grow a Strawberry Mint Plant From a Seed or Pre-existing Plant
It’s challenging to grow a strawberry mint plant from seed, and a pre-existing plant could save you a lot of time and energy. so the best way to grow them is by the pre-existing plant you just need a 4 to 5-inch sprig from your nearest garden and place it in a jug or any container of water put three forth of the plant in it and remove any leaves from the part in the water within a week new roots could be seen in the plant. leave the plant for about two weeks like this before placing it in a container of mud. the water in the glass must be removed every four to five days as this could lead to rot.
Harvestation of Strawberry Mint Plant
This mint plant should be cut at least an inch from the ground. spring is the best time for the harvest action of this plant. their leaves and flowers should be used immediately after being cut or stored in an airtight container or a freezer so that the plant’s leave would retain its bright color for a long amount of time. They should be harvested frequently as new leaves would always be far more flavorful than the old ones.
Splitting of Mint Strawberry Plant
If you are growing your plant in the container it is very crucial to split it every three to four years this is since it is invasive. This causes the plant to be cramped to stop that from happening the gardener should take the plat out of the pot and divide it equally among three to four equal parts. By doing that one could assure that the scent and delightful flavor of the plant are prolonged.
Pests
These plants are more prone to get rust, which can be seen in the undersides of the leaves of a plant in the form of an orange spot. A fungicide can be used to prevent this problem. Insects like spiders, mealy bugs, etc. can also problems in the growth of a plant. So guarders should also vary of them and undersides of leaves should also be watered so that these insects could not reside in them. Air circulation to plant can prevent many diseases.
Companion planting could also be used to prevent a plant from pest problems. As planting it with crops like tomatoes, onion, carrots, radishes, etc there is less probability that they would be affected by pests.
The Look of Mentha Strawberry Plant
These plants have small bright green leaves with purple lilac flowers that blossom in the summers. They are at least 59-61cm tall. One of the best features is the fruity fragrance of the plant that freshens your soul. You could lay in the garden for hours at a time just smelling and enjoying this enticing smell.
Strawberry Mint for Culinary Purposes
This multi-purpose plant has many culinary uses. It is best for making various types of teas, both hot and cold. For hot tea put 5-9 leaves in boiling water with tea, it will give you a marvelous minty tea. It can be added to a fruity salad to add flavor to it. Plus as I mentioned before, it can be used to make excellent and refreshing mojitos and Pimm’s as its flowers are edible and safe for consumption.
Another best culinary use of menta strawberry is for making strawberry mint syrup which you can make in a day or two. You would need:
- One cup of water.
- Half a cup of sugar.
- One tablespoon lemon juice
- About 10-13 strawberry mint leaves.
Mix sugar and water, boil it for 5 minutes on low heat after that put chopped strawberry mint leaves and close the stove for a minute and leave the mixture for a day. Then drain the mixture and your very flavorful syrup is ready. You can use it on your steak dinner and many other appetizers.
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Medicinal Uses of Strawberry Mint Herb
This miraculous herb is not only good for adding an extra flavor to your food but also has many medicinal uses too. It could be used by people who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome as it relieves the symptoms. People who are more prone to get this disease can consume it daily and save themselves from its adverse symptoms. This natural remedy is far more effective with no side effects.
Moreover, it prevents the propagation of certain bacteria’s that can cause harm to the human body. In case of excruciating headache’s this medicinal herb could give you relief if you rub its crushed leaves on your forehead and temples.
Bad breath is also an issue faced by many people on many occasions this could also be cured by these leave and it is far better than any of the chemicals available in the market nowadays for bad breath.
Another use of it could be released from stress and anxiety as many cases have been found where an individual became less stressed after the consumption of this plant.
Final Thoughts
This plant with these many qualities uses, and benefits are rarely found. It is easy to plant and is planted by both amateur and professional gardeners because everyone nowadays wants everything fresh and of the best quality. Rather than spending £2.75 on a bunch of old plant leaves of the mint strawberry plant, it is far more cost-effective to grow this plant in your backyard and avail its benefits.
