Corsican Mint Is Not Only A Plant For Cooking And Medicine

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In some regions of Corsica, France, Sardinia, and Italy grows an amazing plant, very small and fragrant – Corsican mint. It loves the rocks, or rather, the gaps in them, from where it looks carefully to admire the world with its timid beauty. In many countries, the plant is used in cooking, medicine, it is planted in gardens as a decorative. Corsican mint is rightly considered the smallest of the cultural representatives, reaching a height of only ten centimeters. It refers to the soil protectors and grows in width, forming a green carpet with small purple flowers that bloom during the summer.

Care For Corsican Mint

This plant is very fond of the sun, but a little shading will not hurt it. In full shade, the Corsican mint will lose its scent. The culture is unpretentious to the soil. It feels equally good in loam and black soil, the main thing is that the soil is drained. The level of acidity and alkalinity also does not matter.

corsican mintCorsican mint is a frost-resistant perennial that can withstand temperatures down to -23 degrees. At lower temperatures, the plant may die, but with the arrival of spring, new shoots will give its seeds. If possible, cover the bed with such mint leaves, straw, or sawdust.

Owners of sites where Corsican mint grows know that it is very demanding to water. The plant likes water, but if water stagnates in the ground, the leaves begin to rot. This happens especially often if the mint is planted in the shade. The crop can’t stand dryness, make sure that the soil is always moderately moist. Apply balanced liquid formulas, but know the measure, because if you over-fed mint will grow throughout your area.

corsican mint bushesThe smallest of all known mint plants are intolerant of weeds. Such an undesirable neighborhood leads to the appearance of fungal diseases, so remove the weeds in time and try to ensure good air circulation. With the onset of autumn, it is recommended that you loosen the ground thoroughly but gently.

Growing Of Corsican Mint From Seeds

To grow a strong plant, gardeners with experience advise beginners to sow seeds indoors. Do this at the beginning of spring, because the seedlings do not appear too quickly. As the soil, choose a flower mixture to be sown. You can buy such a mixture in a specialized store. The seedling tank should have a large drainage hole. Some flower growers shortly before planting mix the seeds with coffee grounds and sand.

Pour the seeds with the substrate is not necessary. They are fairly evenly distributed on the surface of the pre-humid soil. To speed up seed germination, choose a place for the container where it will be well lit, but only in the morning hours. During the daytime it is better to keep the seedlings away from the intense sun, otherwise, they will get burnt.corsican-mint-seeds

The temperature in the room should not fall below +20 degrees. In a week you will see the first shoots. Do not forget to water them in time, because the soil needs to be moderately humid. In cloudy weather, reduce the watering.

Reproduction By Drawing

To reproduce the plant by drawing, separate the sprouts and put a small amount of fertilizer to soak the seeds in water, which can be added to speed up the process. You can replant the cuttings after ten days because by this time they have enough strong roots. You may be interested in how to cut mint.

Please note: once in a few years, Corsican mint should be transplanted, as this procedure can prevent disease and thickening. Adult plants are carefully removed from the ground with a scoop, the bushes are divided into parts. Choose specimens with a well-developed root system and ten or more buds. Immerse in the holes immediately, the soil thickens and makes irrigation. If you want the plant to turn branched, pinch the tops.

Diseases Of Corsican Mint

Like other plants, Corsican mint is subject to many diseases. Let’s figure out how to solve the problems that arise.

  • If there are spots of brown on the backside of leaves, the bushes are likely to be affected by rust. The disease occurs due to excess moisture, especially in cooler weather. Heavily affected plants have to be removed, and those that can still be saved, spray with insecticides.
  • The white plaque on the leaf plates, eventually turning into black spots, indicates the appearance of powdery mildew. Sulfur will come to the aid. Spray the bushes with powder or spray with a solution of this substance. To prevent the disease, in autumn, loosen the ground in the beds.
  • When spots appear on the leaves with no clear outlines, painted brown, the plants will dry up. Septoriosis makes itself felt in cool seasons with high air humidity. Be vigilant in spring and autumn. Dig out sick specimens and burn them, and treat healthy ones with Fundazole solution or one percent Bordeaux liquid.
  • Anthracnose is a small dark spot on the leaves that spreads over time across all the bushes and grows in size. The plant slows down growth and its leaves fall off abundantly. In this case, use a Bordeaux liquid. Treat before and after flowering. Colloidal sulfur also helps: use it in the right proportions.

corsican mint blowsoming

Pests Of Corsican Mint

If you use mint for cooking, do not fight pests with chemicals. If the plant is badly damaged, it is better to mow, and the soil on which they grew, treat with insecticides. So that after a while new plants appear on the same bed, continue to water the bed in moderation.

pests corsican mint

  1. One of the fiercest enemies of Corsican mint is aphids. In case of defeat, sprinkle the plants with ash. If you have time, you can wipe all the leaves with a solution of laundry soap: prepare it thick and saturated. The day after such treatment, pour plenty of planting with a hose.
  2. Slugs can destroy mint, as they eat leaves without leaving anything. These pests appear in places where weeds grow. Remove them from the root or put extinguished lime under the roots in a two-millimeter layer.
  3. A spider mite is dangerous because it is quite difficult to notice its appearance. This insect is too small, covered with small white bristles. Its food is made up of plant juice, which it sucks out without residue, leaving the green areas to die. Larvae appear on the backside of the leaf plates. You can prevent this attack by keeping the right distance between plantings and from time to time loosened earth. You can also disinfect the ground with insecticides.

Using Corsican Mint

This culture has found wide application, which is not a secret for anyone. On sites, it is grown for the sake of flavor, used in medicine and cooking.

Corsican mint carries full sun or partial shadingYou can feel the flavor of mint if you put it in motion. This is what attracts gardeners and gardeners. Plant it near the entrance to the house, near the garden paths. As a lawn, it is not suitable at all, because it is trampled quickly. In cold regions, the Corsican mint is grown as an annual or indoor plant.

Infertile soil, Corsican mint feels great, so if properly insulated for the winter can grow even in cold climates for several years in a row.

In medicine, mint serves as an antiseptic, saves from fevers, gastrointestinal disorders, migraines. It perfectly calms the nervous system, so it is recommended to make tea from it. For this purpose, it is harvested before flowering: in this case, the oil concentration in the leaves will be high.

In cooking, Corsican mint is added to salads, meat and vegetable dishes, and drinks. It gives them freshness and amazing flavor, improves the taste. Plants’ leaves serve as culinary masterpieces’ decoration.

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