help with mint plants

18 years ago

I have some mint growing in a window box, the leaves are cut and lots of holes on them. what should i do to prevent this. what kind of insects or worms does this. and how do i harvest the mint, just pluck the leaves or cut the stems itself?

Thanks

Nila

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Comments (8)

lorcalon
18 years ago
I cut the stems and then take the leaves off indivdually. I dry alot of them to make tea in the winter. Not sure what's eating them. Give it a good blast of water and see if you can rinse some of the bugs off. I try not to use any chemicals on plants I am going to eat. Cutting the tips of the stems will encourage new growth so you can get new leaves without the holes.

Kathleen
nilaa
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks a lot Kathleen. actually the rain must have given a good wash. even i am worried abt using chemicals on plants that we eat. i thought cutting the tips would affect the growth. i will try it and see.
Thankyou
Nila
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Herbalynn
18 years ago
"Cutting the tips" will make your plant bushier and increase grwoth. I have holes in some of my mints, i just clip off the holey part, and hope they go away. Of course chewing bugs usually don't. You can use safer insecticidal soap, or other such organic sprays. I usually just put orgainic dishsoap in a sprayer, or mix in garlic and cayenne (in a blender) if the chewing is severe.
Enjoy your mints! Lynn
nilaa
Original Author
18 years ago
I will try the garlic and cayenne, thankyou!
Nila
shortarse_hedgewitch
18 years ago
are the holes in the middle of the leaves (not conected to the edge)

or starting from the edges.

if they're from the edges exclusively i would guess caterpillars.

if they have some of the holes starting away from hte edge of the leave then its probably slugs or snails as only they can realy start in the middle of the leaf due to different feeding habits/different mouthparts
drsassafras
18 years ago
Instead of harvesting from the top of the plant, take it from the bottom! When you take a clipping from a plant it send shoots out from the leafs below the clipping. Taking a clipping from the top will cause the new shoots to come out of the top of the plant. Taking the plant from the bottom will cause the plant to transform into 2-3 times the plant by sending out 2-3 shoots. You will get TONS more from your plant taking it from the bottom. It will also have a tendency to NOT go into seed as much. Just make sure you take the clipping AVOVE the last leaf nodule or the plant will not have a place to branch out.
clairdo2
18 years ago
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TY
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granite
18 years ago
Just cut the stem 4" above the ground, wash the plant thoroughly and remove any brown or blemished leaves, shake the stems to partially dry (I also place mine on a clean towel to blot) and then rubberband them into bundles and hang in a dry place where sunlight will not touch them. They'll dry faster in a dry WARM place (closet, attic, etc) but they will dry anywhere fairly fast (1-2 weeks) then you can remove the leaves and place into jars, tins, or bags for storage. NOTE: if your leaves dry to a brown color rather than green, sunlight did get on the drying plant and you should locate your herb drying area elsewhere!