Grow Spearmint in Your Garden, Home

There's nothing quite like having spearmint in the garden. It makes a lovely single specimen plant to grow in a mound. You can allow it to spread into a wide row, or let it ramble to fill a bed. Any of the mints will become weedy problem plants if left alone, and I've found it best to control their existence somewhat. Some gardeners plant their mints in pots and then bury the pot and all in the garden. This helps control those crazy roots, but I've found that spearmint pretty much spreads where it wants to go anyway; the pot may slow it down a little, however.

Spearmint grows best in full sun, but it does well in partial sun, too. Spearmint grown in full sun tends to have higher oil content, which makes the herb more flavorful. Plenty of moisture and well-drained soil will create conditions for optimum plant growth. A rich nitrogen fertilizer such as composted green grass clippings helps the plants produce nice foliage. To delay flower formation, keep the plants trimmed. Save the trimmings and use them fresh or dried. Trimming is the best way to shape spearmint plants and keep them within their boundaries.

The flowers impart a sweet flavor to teas, and you'll want to include them with the leaves. Cut and use flowering stalks just before the flowers open; they will look like little catkins. Dry them right along with the leaves. I cut whole sprigs, swish them in water and remove any dull leaves, and place the whole sprigs in the dehydrator. I usually run the dehydrator with about 7 layers, changing the stack order every couple of hours by moving the lower two layers to the top. Drying mint this way makes the house smell fantastic!

Use spearmint flowers, stems and leaves fresh or dried to make delicious tea. The aroma alone is a treat that will brighten your spirits. Add a few leaves to tea blends; spearmint will freshen any boring beverage. Substitute spearmint for any mint in recipes. Spearmint tea is effective in treating many digestive problems, and will help settle an upset stomach. It is an old remedy for morning sickness. Spearmint also has antiseptic properties. The essential oil of spearmint is used as a rub for muscle spasms and rheumatoid arthritis. A poultice of crushed leaves and stems helps on bruises.

Spearmint has been used historically as a "strewing herb". It was grown near barns and granaries to repel mice, rats and insects. Cut sprigs were strewn about inside grain bins and homes for this purpose, too. I suspect that the pleasant fragrance popularized the in-house strewing as much as the rodent repellent properties.

Fresh spearmint makes Delicious Mint Jelly.

• Wash enough mint leaves to make a tightly packed cupful.
• In a saucepan, bring the mint leaves, 1 cup of water, and 1/2 cup organic cider vinegar to a boil. Stir in 3 cups of sugar and stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Remove from heat, add 3 ounces of liquid pectin and a few drops of green food coloring and return to heat.
• Stir until it returns to a rolling boil, then keep stirring at the rolling boil for 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth.
• Pour into jelly dishes or small jars and allow to cool.

This makes a small amount of jelly, about a pint, which is about right for a large family dinner. Mint jelly is usually served with lamb, but it is also excellent with pork.