Content
Peppermint Chill is one of the varieties of peppermint, of the Labiate or Lamiaceae family. Contains substances with medicinal action, due to which it is widely used in medicine. The pronounced taste and aroma made this spice indispensable in the preparation of culinary dishes, as well as in the field of perfumery.
Description of mint Chill
A perennial herb, resembling a nettle, reaches a height of 50-70 cm. Branched flexible stems are densely covered with bright green foliage with jagged edges. Small flowers with purple-violet or dark red corollas are collected in inflorescences.
Peppermint Chill is unpretentious and quickly adapts to various environmental conditions. It grows equally well in the sun and in the shade, giving preference to soils with moderate moisture.
The creeping roots of the mint variety Holodok can grow over considerable distances from the main bush, and therefore, it is recommended to protect the planting area with a sheet of roofing material, plastic or slate.
The flowering period is long and lasts all summer, from June to August. Mint foliage Chill can be harvested in the first year of plant life, starting from the first summer month. But the maximum content of essential oils in the green part of mint Chill reaches the end of flowering.
Application of mint Chill
Mint leaves Chill can be added to fruit drinks, cocktails and other soft drinks. They are used as a decoration for various dessert dishes and as a basis for creating syrups, marinades and tinctures.
Relaxing baths are taken with mint Chill. She is an excellent assistant in carrying out procedures that help maintain beauty and health.
What is the scent of mint Chill
Peppermint Chill has a pronounced menthol odor. This fragrance is obtained from the leaves of the plant due to the content of essential oil, which is a mixture of menthol and its derivatives.
Where can you add mint Chill
In cosmetology, mint Chill is included in the composition of ointments and creams designed for skin and hair care, for relaxation and rejuvenating procedures. The presence of menthol endows mint Chill with bactericidal properties. Lotions from her infusion will remove irritation from any, even sensitive skin. Applying green mint leaves Chill to boils and burns will reduce soreness and speed up the healing process. Mint baths relieve fatigue, irritation and calm the nervous system.
Peppermint Oil Chill is an integral component of peppermint drops, ointments for the common cold and stomach tablets. Such well-known drugs as Corvalol, Validol and Valocordin, containing mint, have an effective effect on the work of the heart. The characteristic mint flavor of toothpaste and breath-freshening gum is also a credit to this plant.
Adding mint Chill to food stimulates appetite and improves digestion. Fruit drinks and juices containing this aromatic ingredient are better than other products capable of bringing a feeling of coolness on a hot summer day.
Useful properties of mint Chill
Peppermint Chill is an excellent sedative for the nervous system.This variety has a choleretic and diuretic effect. The use of mint in the composition of medicines relieves the body of excess fluid and helps maintain water-salt metabolism. Herbal tea with the addition of mint Chill tones up and adds strength.
Peppermint Chill has analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is recommended to take it for infectious and colds, to get rid of headaches and nausea. Mint broth will help with asthma, bronchitis, flatulence, heartburn, colic and stomach pains. Leaves and petioles of mint Chill have an antiseptic, antispasmodic and vasodilating effect. An infusion of green parts of the plant disinfects the oral cavity for diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Medicines with the addition of peppermint Chill can help treat migraines and insomnia.
Landing rules
Depending on the region, Chill mint is planted in April-May or August. It can be grown both on the balcony and on the site using seeds or seedlings.
When choosing a soil, one should take into account its compliance with several basic conditions:
- sufficient moisture content;
- loamy or sandy loam structure;
- ease;
- porosity, allowing air and moisture to freely pass to the roots;
- saturation with humus.
The increased lime content on the site will cause the Chill mint leaves to lose their rich aroma.
Before planting, the soil is cleaned of weeds, dug up, enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers. Depending on the type of soil, the height of future beds is determined. If water stagnates on the site and the soil is damp, the planting level is made high to protect the mint roots Chill from decay. If the soil dries out quickly, the beds are kept low to keep moisture in the ground longer.
The distance between the beds should be at least 40 cm. The interval between the mint bushes The chill is kept in the range of 30-50 cm. The seedlings are placed in holes to a depth of 5 cm. The procedure is completed with abundant watering.
If the planting of mint Chill was carried out using seeds, the furrow prepared for them is preliminarily well watered, and after sowing it is sprinkled with dry soil for the purpose of mulching.
For Chill mint to grow green and fragrant, you need to plant it away from vegetables such as beets, cabbage and cucumbers. This neighborhood negatively affects the appearance of its leaves, the surface of which can become covered with dark spots.
Growing features
Chill mint care is quite simple and includes the following basic procedures:
- Timely watering. The soil under young seedlings is moistened more often. The frequency of watering adult bushes during the dry season is once every 1.5-2 weeks. During the precipitation season, the natural moisture level of the soil will be optimal for a plant such as mint Chill.
- Top dressing is carried out in the spring 1 time for the entire season. To do this, the site is covered with a layer of mulch prepared from the combination of peat or compost with wood ash.
- Weeding is very important for mint Chill because its roots are close to the surface of the soil and weeds interfere with their growth.
- Loosening the surface of the site enriches the soil with oxygen. Experienced gardeners recommend digging the soil deeper in the autumn, introducing semi-rotted manure into it at the rate of 2 kg per 1 square meter. m.
- Pruning. Avoid thickening of mint bushes Chill, as this can lead to the appearance of such an unpleasant disease as powdery mildew.
Pests and diseases
Peppermint Chill is very attractive to many insects. A large number of various pests settle on its green plant part:
- Meadow moth. It is even capable of destroying a whole plant alone.
- Cicadca. Transfers various viral diseases and damages young shoots of mint Chill, laying eggs.
- Mint flea. In warm, dry weather, small round holes may appear on the leaves of the plant in spring. They are made by small yellow beetles, the length of which does not exceed 1.5 mm.
- Aphid. It settles in whole colonies on the reverse side of the leaf surface of mint Chill. In such bushes, the growth and development process slows down.
- Weevil beetles. The larvae of the pests gnaw at the roots of the mint Chill, and the adults - the edges of the leaves.
- Green shield beetle. Gnaws the edges of the leaf plates and makes holes in them.
- Green mint leaf beetle. The pest beetle eats up all the foliage entirely.
- Slobbering penny. Insects deform mint stems Chill, leaving behind foamy lumps.
- Wireworm. May erode shoots if mint is planted in an area where potatoes were previously grown.
To prevent insect pests from settling on mint bushes Chill, experienced gardeners recommend preventive treatment of the site. To do this, the mint planting site is changed once every 2 years. After each harvest, the soil is deeply dug. All plant residues must be destroyed.
Insect pests and fungi are the cause of various diseases of the Chill mint variety:
- Rust. It affects the seamy surface of the leaf plates, forming dark red tubercles on them.
- Verticellosis wilting. Fungal infection causes the upper pairs of leaves to turn black. After a short time, the entire plant dies.
- Septoria (spotting). The leaf plates are covered with black spots less than 1 cm in size with dark rims.
- Powdery mildew covers the plant with a white bloom.
- Anthracnose. Leads to the appearance of dark spots on the entire surface of the leaf plates.
The affected bushes stop developing and acquire an unusual color of the leaves. The root system stops growing. Sick bushes are dug up and burned, the rest must be transplanted to another site.
When and how to collect mint Chill
The yield of the variety is 1.5-2 kg per 1 sq. m. You can collect mint in different ways:
- break off;
- cut with scissors;
- pinch.
If you remove some of the shoots, new ones will begin to appear vigorously on the chill mint bushes. Leaves are cut in the morning or evening hours. The leaves should be free of dew or raindrops.
No more than 2 hours should pass between the time of cutting and the beginning of drying, otherwise the plant will lose its green color. The stock will have healing properties only if the mint has not been treated with chemicals and the area on which it grows is located away from busy highways and industrial enterprises.
How to properly dry mint Chill
The collected mint is sorted out, removing dried parts, washed and dried.
There are several main methods:
- Dry twigs are divided into small bunches. The tops are placed in large paper bags, which are tied at the base and hung in a dry, ventilated area away from sunlight.
This will protect the mint from dust, wind, UV rays and insects. If the room is humid, the Chill mint should be moved to another location, as it may grow mold. - At home, you can dry mint by spreading it out in an even layer on pallets or white sheets of paper.
- You can dry mint in the microwave. The leaves, laid out in 1 layer, dry out within 15-45 seconds. If the plant is properly dried, its color will remain green.
- When using the oven, turn it on to the minimum temperature in ventilation mode. To prevent the mint from drying out, the process should take no more than 20 minutes.In case of overheating, the leaves begin to deform, the edges rise, changing color and losing aroma.
- A household dehydrator can also only be used at the lowest temperature setting. If you do not fill all trays at the same time, the mint will dry in 5 minutes.
- Electric dryers will help you quickly prepare mint for the winter, but it is possible to ensure the safety of its beneficial properties only when using the most gentle mode.
Fresh mint greens lose moisture quickly. It is not recommended to expose plants to high temperatures. The optimum level is 20-35 ° C.
Dried greens are crushed or left intact, laid out in containers, closed and stored in a dark, cool place.
You can use ceramic or glassware with tight lids to keep out moisture, odors and pests. This method will preserve the aroma and flavor of the mint for 2 years.
Conclusion
Peppermint Chill is a versatile plant. Due to its aroma and useful properties, it is widely used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, and cooking. The culture is undemanding to breeding conditions, and caring for seedlings will not take much time even for novice gardeners.
