Can any gardeners help me?

[Gary Rose]

It is definitely mint. I raise it to use in some Portuguese cooking. It also makes good herbal tea. Spreads like wildfire so you'd better eradicate it ASAP where it's not wanted. I keep it contained by sinking a large flower pot in the ground or use an old concrete wash tub, concrete irrigation pipe or etc.

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
There's a saying about catnip: "If you set it, they will eat it. If you sow it, they won't know it" lol Some cat's don't care for it too.. I had no idea.

I grew some and the neighbor cats ate it all. I've also heard kittens are "immune" to it until they're about 6 months old. Not sure about that.
I've got spearmint that grew roots out of the drainage hole in its container. I'm constantly ripping it out of one area of the garden. More than I could possibly use!

 

[SterlingAcres]

Quote:

 

[Reinbeau]

You want to dry it in an airy, dark area. Hold bunches together with elastics and hang them from clothes hangers. Once they're very dry, strip the leaves into brown jars - don't use clear, you want to block sunlight from the leaves as much as possible. I guess you could use clear as long as the jars are kept in a cupboard.

 

[conradpdx]

I got it growing into my yard from under the fence from my neighbors yard (spearmint that is). I manage to keep it at bay for the most part, but there is almost always a few sprigs popping up from under the fence.

I just find it funny that some people would love to have my weed problems (The other, but much worse- is the wild black berries).

 

[Chicken Salad]

You can also make mint jelly.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Definitley mint, I brought some of mine in for comparison. I love it and let it go wild. Same with catnip- my toaster oven has a dehydrate setting, so I dry it, stuff it into infant socks with wads of wax paper and "sew" it shut with Liquid Stitch. Catnip socks for Xmas!

Boy, can I relate to the blackberries! We didn't even know we had them, DH has a tendency to mow everything in sight. But I spotted them one day and we had fresh, sweet blackberries all last summer! Luckily, they are in a place where we don't often go, or they'd be a thorn in my side- and hands, ankles, feet, etc...........Blackberry jam!

And mint jelly sounds great as a gift!

 

[congdon476]

Mint. I have some growing right now in the back that is the twin to your photo. I admit that the previous owner planted it and it's starting to run a bit wild. How do you kill this stuff? I tried round up last fall to no avail. I was reduced to digging out the roots, but I have the feeling it's only a matter of time before it creeps back out this spring.

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Cat nip and mint are in the same familie. Both have square stems. There are many varieties of mint. Some experienced gardeners plant it in an area where it wont take over. A small 2' by 2' patch will provide plenty. cut half of it to the ground a couple times a year to invite new fresh growth. spray the rest and grow other cool things.