How to cultivate mint? Mint cultivation techniques and processing methods!

Mint is a common plant with both medicinal and food uses, so it has become an economic crop with good planting prospects.

The following editor will introduce to you the cultivation techniques and processing methods of mint!

1. Ecological Habits

Mint is a shallow-rooted plant. Most of the rhizomes are concentrated within about 15cm of the soil surface and are distributed horizontally about 30cm.

Both rhizomes and above-ground stems have strong germination ability and are used as vegetative propagation materials in production.

Mint has strong adaptability to environmental conditions and can grow in areas below an altitude of 2100m.

It is relatively shade-tolerant and can be intercropped with other crops. It grows vigorously and has excellent quality, but it likes a sunny, warm and humid environment.

Rhizomes germinate at 5-6℃, and the suitable temperature for plant growth is 20-30℃. Underground rhizomes can still survive the winter safely at -30~-20℃.

2. Cultivation skills

1. Land selection and land preparation

Choose sunny, flat, fertile, sandy loam soil with easy drainage and irrigation for planting.

Apply 4,000kg of farmyard manure per mu, and 60kg of compound fertilizer as base fertilizer.

Plow, trim and harrow to make a 1-1.2m wide border.

2. Propagation method

In production, rhizomes are mainly used for propagation, and seedlings can also be used for propagation.

Mint is mostly cultivated in the open field. In northern areas, protected field cultivation or both open field and protected field cultivation can be adopted.

The cultivation season depends on the climate of each place. Generally, it can be cultivated in the frost-free season.

It can be produced in protected areas all year round; in northern areas, it can be cultivated in open fields from April to October.

Rhizome propagation: From late October to early November, dig up the rhizomes from the planting site, select the ones that are white, strong, and have short internodes, cut them into 10cm segments, and then plant them into the pre-dug 10cm In the deep trench, the row spacing is 25-30cm, and the plant spacing is 15cm.

After planting, cover with fine soil and rake it flat and compact it.

Seedling propagation: Select fields with strong plants, consistent growth, and no pests and diseases as reserved planting land.

After harvesting in autumn, immediately carry out cultivating, weeding and top dressing once.

In early April of the following year, when the seedlings are 15cm tall, pull them out and transplant them.

Dig holes in the transplanting site with row spacing of 20cm and plant-to-plant spacing of 15cm, and plant 2 seedlings in each hole.

After planting, cover with soil and compact it, and then water with thin manure.

3. Field management

After the seedlings emerge, keep the field moist and weed-free. Water regularly with small amounts of water. If there is stagnant water, drain it in time.

In order to prevent the branches and leaves from blocking each other, it is necessary to guide the growth direction of the above-ground stems and underground stems in time so that they will not be crowded.

The seedlings should be about 15cm high and should be topdressed in time after each picking to promote the emergence of new shoots. Generally, 1500kg of dilute human feces or urea solution is applied per mu.

Water in time after each application of fertilizer.

4. Prevention and control of diseases and insect pests

Rust disease: damages leaves and stems, and is more common in rainy seasons.

In addition to strengthening field management and improving ventilation and light transmission conditions, the prevention and control methods can be sprayed with leaves with 1000-1500 times of 25% fentanin.

Spot blight (also known as white star disease): damages the leaves and occurs from May to October.

In the early stage of the disease, promptly remove and burn it or spray it with 75% chlorothalonil 500-700 times.

The main pests include cutworms and Spodoptera exigua.

For small cutworms, you can spray the rhizosphere with 40% Chrysanthemum EC and Chrysanthemum EC 2000-3000 times, or irrigate the roots with 40% 1000-fold solution of Isosophos-methyl.

Spodoptera exigua can be treated by spraying 30-60ml of 50% Isotoprol EC per mu with water or 50% fenitrothion 1000 times.

3. Harvesting and processing

1. Harvesting

In areas with suitable conditions, it can be planted once and harvested for 2-3 consecutive years.

Generally when the main stem is about 20cm high, you can start to harvest the young stems and leaves for consumption.

The southern region can be harvested all year round, but the yield is higher and the quality is better from April to August when the climate is suitable, and the harvesting interval is 15-20 days; in the northern region, protected land facilities are used for cultivation in winter. It can also achieve the purpose of annual supply.

For medicinal purposes, it is often harvested twice during the growth period. The first time (first cut) is 5-6 days before the Xiaoshu Festival, when the leaves are lush and the flowers have not yet opened. The above-ground parts are cut; The second time is between the autumnal equinox and the cold dew, when the flowers are in full bloom and the leaves have not fallen.

For medicinal purposes, the second harvest is the best.

2. Processing

After harvesting fresh mint, cut off the leaves and dry them in the sun immediately. Be careful not to be exposed to rain or night dew to prevent deterioration and mold.