Grow Mint Indoors: Spearmint and Peppermint Plant Varieties! Foodie Gardener, Shirley Bovshow

Learn how to grow mint indoors! Firstly, you will learn the difference between Spearmint and Peppermint plant varieties. There are three main differences.
Spearmint and peppermint are different species within the mint or mentha family.
1. Spearmint is from the Mentha spicata and Peppermint is from the Mentha piperita species
2. Spearmint and Peppermint have distinctive organic compounds found in certain plants, especially the mint family!
-Spearmint has "Carvone" which imparts a fresh aroma and flavor used in foods.
-Peppermint has "Menthol" which is known for its cooling minty flavor and a sensation of coolness.
3. Spearmint and Peppermint have different uses. Spearmint is used more to flavor foods while peppermint is used more for its cooling effect in products such as muscle rubs, foot powder, toothpaste, and chewing gum!
There are over 600 varieties of mint!
Some spearmint varieties in this video include:
"Apple mint" is used in mint juleps, pastries, and candies
"Curly mint" is mostly decorative in drinks
"Mint cordifolia" used in kabob, tabouli, and Mediterranean foods
Peppermint varieties:
"Orange mint" similar to bergamot mint
"Chocolate mint"
Caution:
"Pennyroyal" is a mint that is rarely used in culinary applications because of its toxic! properties.
Mentha pulegium is used as a medicinal herb as well as insect repellent (anti-flea) and should be kept away from pets-dogs, cats, and children!
GROW MINT INDOORS!
Keep in mind that mint is one of the most invasive plants in existence so grow mint plants in a container indoors year-round!
The roots spread and the mint plants can end up in your neighbor's yard!
Select a container that is wider than it is deeper to accommodate the spreading roots.
-Place your indoor mint plant in a very bright room with temperatures over 65 degrees. It can take the heat but does not like to dry out completely!
-Water as needed to keep the soil moist but not saturated.
-Trim your mint plant periodically or harvest the leaves regularly for your cooking needs. Trimming encourages more tender leaf growth!
-Trim the leaves from the top of the plant to encourage more growth.
Enjoy your indoor mint plants! For more detailed information with photos, visit my blog:
"Foodie Gardener by Shirley Bovshow" at FoodieGardener.com
Do you have a question for me about growing food or herbs or eating low carb to reverse type 2 diabetes?
Ask Shirley, The Foodie Gardener, I have a 100% reply rate!

[@littlepinecones9855]

Thank you, Shirley! I miss watching you regularly on home and family. Hope you are doing well.❤

[@FoodieGardenerDiabetes]

My pleasure and thanks for watching! Thank you for your longtime support! I am doing great! Hope you are too.

[@abigailgraystonbrown7814]

Brilliant my 7 year old asked me the difference between peppermint and spearmint. Thank you so much for sharing and all the information much appreciated. Thank you x

[@FoodieGardenerDiabetes]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!