Your local cash and carry upon which you used to rely to source exotic Asian fruits and vegetables have either shut down or hiked up their prices amidst stock shortages and import surcharges. Although you may still be able to venture out, whilst maintaining social distancing measures there is always that fear at the back of your mind about contracting the infection through food supplies even if the virus so far is not airborne or waterborne. It is time you revisit the Neolithic ages and get your hands and knees dirty.
Mint is regarded with high esteem in Asian households for its dual medicinal and culinary purposes. Often the pricier and leafier of the other vegetables, just 30gm of these leaves are available at the Sainsbury’s for 75p. What if you can cultivate your own organic farm at your backyard? Growing mint does not require any past gardening expertise and is the easiest vegetable to begin tending with.
Potting it right
Mint roots are advised to be planted in a pot of any size- not necessarily deep- as the roots tend to grow closer to the surface. If you don’t have an earthen pot, do not use a glass jar, the leaves will perish and the roots never grow. Instead, if you are privileged to have a lawn or a back garden you can shave off the turf to create your own vegetable bed. The excess cut turf can be piled into black plastic bags which over time would decompose into compost or soil. You can even use makeshift recyclable containers as pots by drawing holes at the bottom surfaces of these containers so that it allows air and water to seep in and out of the soil. Mint does not require any specific soil component and grows well using multi-purpose compost easily available at DIY click and collect sheds.
Planting mint is quite simple, you need to collect a few mint stem cuttings. You can easily get them from a local farmers market or Sainsbury or any other local cash carry. After shedding the leaves, you can plant the cuttings in your pot or veg bed. Keep out of direct sunlight for about a week to allow it to root and adjust to its new environment. The soil should be moist but do not waterlog the pot. Moderate watering is the only requirement. In three weeks, the roots will become solid and the leaves will be bunching up in abundance.
Mint and lime mojito for summery afternoons
Summer is at our doorstep. Instead of venturing out for a summery Aperol spritz to your next-door beer garden pub, you can crush 10 homegrown mint leaves, 2 lemon wedges, one tumbler of soda, some old rum from your grandfather’s cellar and voila! shake up a fresh mojito of your own with a couple of ice cubes!
