Mint Growth, Propagation, Pruning and Harvest

Mint 

Mint (“Podina” in our language) one of the most popular Kitchen Garden herbal fragrant plant that can used in all types of recipes as well as herbal medical home plant. Mint is forever herbal plant that can grow from runners by proper care and maintenance.

Growing Mint

Its easily grow in small and large containers near to window or balcony of Kitchen or in any corner of raised bed. Mint is forever plant it grows by underground roots or nodes, spread easily and quickly by small care and propagation. I grow mint in different size of terracotta containers. Usually growing mint in containers easy way to change its position according to weather condition. Healthy growth of mint needs 5 to 6 hours sunlight. Soil PH level 6.0 to 7.0. Pruning and regular water according to become soil moist.  Four seasons exist in our country:-  Spring, Winter, Summer and Fall.  In hot summer weather transfer container under shade have at least 4 to 6 hours sunlight, winter cold weather transfer containers in full sun. In raining season save mint from heavy rains usually too much rains damage mint roots.

 

Harvesting of Mint

·         Usually harvesting mint 2 – 3 times in a year.

·         May – June (Before Rainy Season)

·         Sept – Oct (After monsoon)

·         Nov – Dec (Before Cold Winter)

Pests and Diseases of Mint

As herbal plant having fragrance mostly less attack of pest and diseases. Aphids and flying insects can troublesome

Propagation and Division

Propagation and division mostly in months of Feb and August when new roots comes out underneath. 

Health Benefits of Mint

Mint leaves can be used both fresh and dried. As herbal plant also home remedy of various health benefits of mint. Mint contains Vitamin C to control Cholesterol and Cancer treatment and also diabetic’s patient to maintain sugar level.

·         Nausea

·         Oral Health

·         Stress Depression

·         Skin Care,

·         Digestive System

·         Cough and Cold

·         Cholesterol and Cancer Control etc

Uses of Mint Recipes

Mint used in variety of home kitchen recipes for taste and flavor and variety of drinks, dessert and sauces.

·         Mint Tea        

·         Mint Chutney

·         Mint Salads

·         Mint Desserts

  

    Month of October suitable for Sowing Winter Vegetables and Flowering Seeds.

Save Okra's Seeds for Next Year

Okra's Seeds (Tips & Instruction)

Okra’s most favorite summer vegetable that can easily grow at home in all size of containers and raised beds. The germination of seeds depends upon fine quality of seeds, preparation of soil having PH 6.0-6.5, suitable month normally March – April having day temperature 18 to 22 centigrade and night temperature 12 to 16 centigrade. Within 7 to 10 days Okra Seeds germinate requires at least 5 to 6 hours sunlight.

Saving Okra’s Seeds

As above instructions I not only grow Okra’s at home but also save seeds for next year 2018 after successful harvest from month of June to September. At early stage tips after transplantation of Okra’s, flowering buds comes out. At this stage remove flowering buds for healthy growth of Okra’s. Next step pruning of Okra’s when plant size 4 to 5 ft high new stems and leaves comes out at the bottom of plant. Last & final step to save Okra’s seeds. Simple way, do not harvest Okra’s one of two plants. The Okra becomes hard and day by day changes its colors green to brown. Normally takes 10 to 15 days Okra outer skin layer totally brown and beginning to crack or split (Open). At that point, you can remove the dry Okra and split or twist them. The seeds will comes out easily and pour into plate or bowel. Seeds saving month of October and next harvest starts on March. During 5 months do not open split of dry Okra’s, seeds saved inside for any moisture damage or diseases.

Video of Okra’s Seeds Saving

Link my Blog & Facebook Page Veggies Home Kitchen Garden to Facebook Instant Articles

How to Connect Facebook Instant Articles with Blog

Face book provides new opportunity for mobile users to launch "Face book Instant Articles" for Blog and Website users that can easily publish their post in faster way. I connect my Face book Page "Veggies Home Kitchen Garden" with Face book Instant Articles.

Steps to link Face book Instant articles with Blog

. Having Face book Page

. Blog or Website having 5 articles to link with Instant Articles

. Pages Manger App on Android

According to the guideline of Face book help easy not only connect my blog link to Facebook Instant articles but also monetize my Face book Instant Articles post.

Here is video of “How to setup Face book Instant Articles with Blog in slideshow images.

Pruning of Okra Plants in different containers

Okra Pruning (Summer Vegetable):

Before and After View

Starts sowing Okra’s Seeds at end of March seeds germinates after 10 days than transplant into different containers to become healthy seedlings. By proper care and maintenance become Okra Plants. Okra flowers starts on month of May. Finally starts harvesting Okras in month of June.  Day by day harvest fresh Okras at home containers, the stems size increases, new leaves and flowers comes out and ripening fresh Okra's at home containers.    

Now End-of-September (85 days of harvest) my Okra size becomes 4 to 5 ft in different containers. At this stage Okra’s growth rate reduce and slow down. They needs more nutrients and fertilizer especially in different size of containers. Also at this particular stage New Leaves and Stems also comes out at the bottom of Okra plants so I think this the right time to prune out Okra plants in containers. After pruning of Okra Plants points to care.

• Check Soil PH Level
• Place in Sun Light at least 5 to 6 hours
• Balance the ratio of NPK
• Not to over water 

Video of Okra Pruning