Menta Marocchina Mojito

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Order

Lamiales

Genus

Mentha

Species

piperita

Description

Aromatic herbaceous perennial plant with an erect habit and determined growth. Widely used in a variety of fields, from agri-food to medicinal and cosmetic, thanks to its typical fresh-tasting, intensely flavoured edible leaves. Flowering occurs during the summer period, showing us flowers grouped in a showy spike-like inflorescence, also appreciable at an ornamental level.

Rustic and easy to grow, it prefers full sun or half shade in fresh, well-draining soil; extremely versatile, it can be grown in pots or in the ground.

Variety description

It is a mint variety with a strong aroma and ideal for certain preparations such as cocktails; in particular (as can be guessed from the varietal name) the mojito. The plant has a bushy habit with robust growth and no stolons. Particularly easy to grow and withstands low temperatures well. Very intense aroma emanates from the edible part, i.e. the leaves. It lends itself to cultivation not only in the open field but also in pots; ensure sun or at least half-shade exposure for the plant.

Curiosities and special features

The leaves of Mentha piperita are widely used both for the production of an essential oil containing menthol, an alcohol with antiseptic and anaesthetic properties, and for flavourings used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages, candies, ice cream, chewing gum and toothpastes; fresh or dried they are also used as a basic ingredient for mint tea or for herbal teas and infusions as well as in cosmetics for shampoos, soaps and skin care products.

Origin and distribution

Native to Europe and the Middle East, it is a hybrid species resulting, according to various scientific investigations, from a cross between Mentha aquatica and Mentha viridis, the latter also a hybrid between Mentha sylvestris and Mentha rotundifolis . During the 17th century it was first identified in England while in the 18th century Linnaeus gave it its current botanical name, Mentha piperita.

Today, it is cultivated and used in many areas of the world in the agri-food, pharmaceutical and herbal fields.

Flower size

The flower is individually medium to small, giving sinuosity to the spike-like inflorescence.

Leaf

The aromatic and fresh-tasting leaf has a lanceolate lamina.

Fruit

The leaf contains no seeds and is characterised by a tender texture. The ripening period extends throughout the year, with a uniform colouring. From a sensory point of view, it has a fresh and delicate taste, is very fragrant and develops a characteristic and intense flavour with a strong aroma. The skin is not edible. This variety is characterised by good organoleptic characteristics and is one of the main cultivated varieties, overall of good quality.

Flowering period

Flowering lasts from early to mid-summer for 25 to 30 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence spike.

Leaf colour

Unicolour shades.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.3 to 0.8 m.

Lifespan

A perennial plant, in geographic areas with harsh winters it may shed its aerial part only to reappear in early spring.

Where to plant

Extremely versatile, it can be used as a plant for flowerbeds, balconies, pots, outdoor tubs, large pots

Stem

The stem is herbaceous, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in form, medium to small, with a gamopetalous corolla and single-coloured petals. It is arranged in medium-sized spike-like inflorescences. It flowers from early to mid-summer, with a flowering period of between 25 and 30 days. It is attractive to bees and bumblebees.

Growth

The plant shows determined growth.

Plant habit

The bearing is erect.

Branching

The branching is medium with a dense and compact leaf apparatus.

PH

The ideal soil pH lies in a relatively wide range, between 5.8 and 7.2, i.e. sub-acidic to neutral.

Soil preparation

For spring transplanting, the soil must be properly prepared by digging the soil 20/30 cm deep, removing any weeds, bulky stones and residues from previous crops, then burying the organic substance, which will provide the nutrients needed in the plant's early stages of development, and then breaking up the most compact and coarse clods with a hoe, and finally carefully levelling the surface; In order to improve the drainage of excess water and thus prevent harmful water stagnation, it is advisable to create a raised flowerbed beforehand by slightly bouldering the soil.

During the vegetative period, remove weeds adjacent to the crop with a weeder or hoe.

Sun exposure

Suitable for full sun, afternoon sun, half shade; avoid windy areas.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 10 and 25 °C. Suitable for temperate climates, it tolerates the summer heat if well watered and the winter cold when sheltered from the wind.

Use

Appreciated in different areas of use, in particular:

Agribusiness Cosmetics Medicinal/phytotherapeutic field Profumeristic field Aromatics

Hardiness

The rusticity is medium to high, adding value to the plant.

Soil

Suitable for medium, light, fresh and well-draining soils with organic matter; for use in pots or tubs, a horticultural soil containing brown and blond peat is recommended.

Difficulty

Cultivation is extremely easy, the level of effort required to obtain a correct vegetative development is low overall; it is necessary to carry out cultivation care at the appropriate times to obtain suitable qualitative and productive results.

Growing tips

We suggest the following cultivation measures in order to achieve the best final production performance:

Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering

Combinations with other plants

Also suitable for ornamental compositions with other aromatic species.

Planting

At the time of transplanting ensure correct spacing between each individual specimen to allow for optimum growth vigour, to this end we recommend an average density of 9 plants per square metre. Before proceeding, make sure that you have carried out basic fertilisation, and we also recommend placing each seedling with the collar out of the soil, avoiding sinking the lump completely and watering immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours.

Pruning

For the harvesting action, it is advisable to cut the plants close to the ground, preferably in the early hours of the day, pre-flowering. If you want to obtain the essential oil, it is essential to bear in mind that the inflorescences have about twice as much oil as the leaves, while the stems are oil-free.

Propagation

Multiplication can be by spring sowing in the open field or in containers or from stolons, from cuttings or by division of the head.

Repotting

In mid-spring, repot the plant in larger containers to allow it to grow and ensure proper development of the root system.

Watering

The water requirements of mint are average and in line with those of other aromatic species. Use rainwater, alternatively from aqueducts or canals with an optimal pH of sub-acid, by sprinkling, drip-wing irrigation, sub-irrigation or the furrow method. Irrigate immediately after transplanting and assist the seedling to ensure that it takes root properly in the new site without, however, overdoing the water supply and maintaining constant humidity. Subsequently take care to allow the soil to dry slightly between one watering and the next, keeping it moist but free from harmful stagnation; it is advisable not to water the aerial part during the afternoon/evening and to irrigate after harvesting, also increase the frequency of watering during the summer period.

In the case of sowing, it is advisable, after completely burying the seed and covering it with substrate and non-woven fabric, to keep the soil wet until the sprout emerges.

Fertilising

In the pre-transplant soil preparation phase, use an organo-mineral fertiliser to provide the nutrients the seedling needs in the very early stages of growth.

During the spring-summer period, apply a specific water-soluble fertiliser for horticulture, to be diluted in the irrigation water according to the dosages and frequencies indicated on the label of the product to be used; in general, carry out constant fertilisation over time without exceeding quantities or causing possible deficiencies in the plant. It is possible to apply nitrogen in a fractionated manner or to use scheduled-release fertilisers.

Edibility for humans

Leafs are edible.

Toxicity for humans

Ingestion toxicity not known, avoid ingestion in excessively large quantities.

Consider possible allergies.

Tip

In the case of cultivation in flowerbeds, care must be taken when growing mint as it is quite invasive.