 |
Growing mint |
arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1122
From: Birdland - San Diego
|  Posted: 2009-06-08 1:41 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2009-06-08 04:39, Bongo Bungalow wrote:
Bongo's Mint Farm:
I don't really know what kind of mint I'm growing... but it works very well as a garnish for my drinks at home. Smells and looks great. I water it from a leilani tiki mug.
|
|
Hard to say from the photo, but the leaves look similar to the peppermint we have growing. I also have pineapple mint (which does OK) and just recently planted spearmint. So we should have mint covered.
|
CheekyGirl
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: 976
From: Like Oh My Gawd..San Fernando Valley
| Posted: 2009-06-16 12:04 am Permalink
The mint I had in the sunny spot in the ground -- died. The mint I put in a pot in a semi-sunny area -- died.
Because of my lack of success planting mint in the sun, I opted to plant it in two different spots on the east side of my house which gets morning sun and is pretty shady. The 1st spot gets partial sun the 2nd spot get almost all shade. The mint in the shade is throwing out runners and growing like crazy, it's more than doubled in size. The mint in the partial sun is thriving, but it's not as happy and only about 1/2 the size of the the mint in the shade.
|
Bongo Bungalow
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 1226
From: Indiana
| Posted: 2010-04-09 05:16 am Permalink
It's SPRING! and my mint garden has sprouted back! If only this climate would support a lime tree.
_________________
|
captnkirk
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 06, 2002
Posts: 319
From: Hockessin, Delaware
| Posted: 2010-04-09 06:59 am Permalink
WARNING WARNING WARNING
Just remember mint is an invasive plant. If you do not plant it in a separate pot or take measures to contain it it will spread every where. Short of killing the entire lawn with herbicide, nothing you do will stop it.
|
Johnny Dollar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2003
Posts: 2916
From: Baltimore, Maryland, PNG
| Posted: 2010-04-09 07:02 am Permalink
garden full of mint... where is the problem? 
|
Carpathia
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Posts: 21 | Posted: 2010-04-22 08:55 am Permalink
Here's my story with mint. I was unemployed last summer, mint seemed like a logical idea. I planted chocolate mint, spearmint, peppermint, pineapple mint, and orange mint. Most of these went in 6 inch bowls, though the pepper and spearment were put in a long planter. Both were placed in a planter that got decent nighttime shade, watered once with miracle gro, and then left to its own devices.
The chocolate mint took off. It overran its pot, sending feelers down to the ground pretty damn quick. This is a menthol-y mint. Biting the leaves numbed the tongue, but worked well in drinks. I hacked away at these to prevent them from getting to leggy.
Peppermint and spearmint did allright; could have been better, could have been worse. I remember these grew relatively slowly.
Orange mint tasted like basil, smelled like oranges. I didn't use this in drinks too much, but it was decent in cooking.
Pineapple mint did not smell like pineapple; it is apple mint that has a recessive albino gene that causes variegation. Again, didn't use in drinks all too often as it lacked a good minty punch, but it was otherwise allright.
I'd say chocolate mint was by far the most impressive, both in terms of sheer leaf size and taste.
|
Johnny Dollar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2003
Posts: 2916
From: Baltimore, Maryland, PNG
| Posted: 2010-04-22 11:33 am Permalink
acknowledging that mint does have weedlike properties, i do have to admit that where it has grown out into our grass, i love to mow in those locations coz the lawnmower produces a zone of MINT SMELL when you run over it.
|
Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4806
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2010-04-22 1:10 pm Permalink
I did not like Chocolate mint in drinks. It does grow vigorously. Better than spearmint, but the good smell of it quickly goes away and is rather bitter in a drink.
_________________
Mai-Kai Memories Series Custom ceramic mugs!
|
Tiki Pop
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 29, 2005
Posts: 56
From: So Orange County, CA
| Posted: 2010-07-04 6:01 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2009-05-12 10:27, Ojaitimo wrote:
Once mint gets going it tries to take over like you see here. This was a 4 " mint plant 3 years ago and its speading into this upper bed.
Here is my pineapple and spearmint in containers. Looks cool next to the door and smells good too.
|
|
I have the mint as in the bottom pic growing in my yard, the top of the sprigs are rounded. The underside of the leaves look kinda "hairy".What kind of mint is it? thanks.
[ This Message was edited by: Tiki pop 2010-07-05 08:39 ]
|
amybean
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Posts: 434
From: Alameda, CA
| Posted: 2010-07-04 6:42 pm Permalink
It might be peppermint. I have some too. Some of the leaves are solid color, and some are mottled white and green.
|
Kill Devil
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 16, 2011
Posts: 120
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2013-02-06 07:17 am Permalink
Thought I'd revive this thread, to ask for a recommendation for a big, leafy mint that will grow well indoors over a Midwest winter. I've been growing mint in pots indoors/out for a few seasons now, and the Spearmint I have doesn't grow as large as the sprigs I'd get in cocktails from a decent Tiki joint. Thoughts?
|
TropicDrinkBoy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Posts: 155 | Posted: 2013-02-06 09:34 am Permalink
I've tried growing mint both outdoors and indoors but the leaves were never very big. I've had very good luck buying a bunch at Safeway, wrapping the stalks in a wet paper towel, and storing it in a plastic produce bag in the refrigerator. For $2-$3 I get big beautiful leaf garnish more generous than any Tiki joint serves. It keeps around 3 weeks.
I considered buying a $30 herb saver but Amazon reviews stated that the paper towel method works just as well and I think they are right. you can store a lot more mint that way as well.
|
lunavideogames
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 353
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2013-02-06 2:27 pm Permalink
I put mint in my garden, not caring that it would take over, last season. This year I had more mint than I could ever use. It is still producing all winter and summer.
I have learned, just the generic mint from Home Depot is fine. The leaves on mine were baseball sized sometimes. It took over my garden in 1 year from one little plant.
I live in San Diego, so I think it might be an ideal climate for mint here. So, mint likes water, but it doesn't matter to it as much as sun. Sun will keep it going forever. If you were growing all winter in the midwest, I would suggest a small grow light. I would have it on for 8 hours a day. I think that this would produce the most mint for you.
I use mint in a lot of drinks and it is great to have everlasting mint. You can freeze it too and use it anytime. Also, if you do NOT wash it, it will last longer than washed mint. You can pluck it and throw it in the fridge for weeks, just wash it off when you plan to use it. Once mint gets going there is no stopping it.
|
Kill Devil
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 16, 2011
Posts: 120
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2013-02-07 06:48 am Permalink
In the name of Tiki, a grow light may be in order, and hope the ATF won't raid the house!
|
AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 301
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2013-02-07 10:46 am Permalink
If they do raid the house, make 'em a Mai Tai and everything will once again be right in the world! 
|
