If you are thinking of growing a mint plant on your balcony , you can sow it directly or buy a seedling. Opt for the second choice, if you are not patient enough and inclined to wait for it to grow. In this case, once you have purchased the plant, remove it from its pot: you will immediately notice that the pot contains a cluster of roots . You need to separate them gently to decant them correctly. Take one or more pots and first spread a layer of clay and then one of universal soil. Now everything is ready for decanting!

If you didn’t know, mint is a  perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the labiatae family , it is very widespread in the Mediterranean area and is very easy to grow. If you want to obtain excellent and fragrant mint leaves, plant this shrub in spring so that you can get the first results in summer.

How to grow mint

First of all, know that the mint you most commonly find on the market is peppermint, a variety with an intense aroma. Like many plants, it can be grown both from seed and from cuttings . Let’s see together how:

• from seed : if you have decided to use this method, know that, once sown, you will have to cover the seeds with a little soil . Not too much, a light state will suffice. Also, remember to keep the soil moist, do this until you see the first shoots grow.
• from cuttings : It is absolutely easy to propagate this plant from cuttings. As? First, cut a piece of stem approximately 5-10cm long from an existing mint. Remove the leaves and plant the cutting in a pot with moist soil, then keep the soil moist until roots develop.

Where to place the mint plant

Remember that mint prefers to grow in the shade , although a few rays of sunshine every now and then don’t hurt. To prune the plant correctly, you must regularly cut the upper part of the plant, thus preventing it from growing too tall. Water regularly and always leave the soil moist. A little advice: when it rains, snows or hails outside, it is a good idea to shelter this plant with a sheet that still allows the plant to breathe. In this case you will prevent the leaves from getting wet and, consequently, from being ruined.

How to care for the mint plant

In addition to the instructions to follow on the amount of light that this plant must receive, it is a good idea for you to water it regularly, avoiding flooding the soil. Then make sure that the pot or soil in the garden has good drainage to avoid water stagnation, which often damages the roots. Then remember to periodically remove dry leaves to allow the plant to grow without obstacles and, finally, fertilize it every 4-6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer .

When to harvest mint

In reality, mint leaves can be harvested from the plant at any time, the optimal one would be before flowering , when the leaves are at their maximum size , flavor and aroma . Remember that mint grows quickly, so you can harvest the leaves every 2-4 weeks .

How to use mint

From fresh drinks, to tea and infusions, up to essential oils for perfumes. There are many possible uses of the leaves of this plant, let’s look at some of them together.

• • fruit condiment, in many fruit salads mint is used to flavor the dish
  • essential oils
  • Sauces

• • ice creams
  • infusions and teas
  • drinks

•  dessert