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Mints belong to the genus Mentha, in the family Labiatae (Lamiaceae) which includes other commonly grown essential oil-yielding plants such as basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, lavender, pennyroyal and thyme. Within the genus Mentha there are several commercially grown species, varying in their major chemical content, aroma and end use. Their oils and derived aroma compounds are traded world-wide.
The four most commonly cultivated species are:
Ø Japanese Mint/Menthol Mint (M.arvensis)
Ø Peppermint (M.piperita)
Ø Spearmint (M. spicata)
Ø Bergamot mint (M. citrata)
[video=youtube_share;9lppD3H9Xwg]http://youtu.be/9lppD3H9Xwg[/video]
All are herbaceous plants, readily sending out runners (rainy season) and stolons (winter), which develop new roots and shoots at the nodes and form plants. The entire aerial shoots together with foliage is a source of essential oil rich in menthol, carvone, linalool and linanyl acetate having use in pharmaceutical preparations and flavour industry.
For the past four decades, mints are commercially cultivated in India. Of these, the Japanese Mint, yielding menthol is grown extensively in northern India. Other major producing countries are China and Brazil and to a smaller extent Thailand and Vietnam.
Soils:
Deep soils, loam to sandy loam well drained, well aerated and loose textured soil. Clay soils are not suitable.
Climate:
Temperate climatic condition, Tropical climate is not suitable, plentiful rainfall during growth and good sunshine during harvest is best suitable during crop growth.
Tillage:
Bring the soil to fine tilth by ploughing and 2 cross harrowing. FYM 50 cart loads of compost per hectare while preparing the land.
Propagation: Suckers, (runners or Rhizomes).
Planting Season: Jan, Feb in Tarsi areas or before the start of rainy season
Planting:
Approximately 500 kg suckers are required to plant one ha area. Suckers should be set in furrows 5-1 cm deep with a spacing of 60-75. Plant the suckers end to end. Cut the suckers into 10-12 cm length before sowing. Plants should be spaced 30 cm apart in rows 60 cm apart.
Inter-culture:
In order to keep the top soil loose for better penetration of water, air, sun light and weed free Mentha needs frequent inter culturing weeding and hoeing.
Irrigation:
Mentha crop requires considerable moisture well distributed through out the entire growing season. As roots do not penetrate deep in the soil, light and frequent irrigations are recommended. During summer irrigate the crop weekly.
Harvesting:
Normally 2-3 times in a year (120 days)
1. First crop should be harvested before the onset on monsoon (May-June).
2. Second harvesting well after monsoon is oyer (September - October).
3. Third harvesting (November - December)