Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => Topic started by: Shawn on April 09, 2009, 12:34:54 pm
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Last year I aquired some spearmint and got it planted ( I kind you not you can put a leaf in your mouth and think you have spearmint gum). I wanted to get more so I went back to the same greenhouse and asked for some more. I always just get clippings due to I go across the country (Indiana) to my favorite greenhouse where most everything is only a dollar but for me mostly free. Anyway, back to the story. This year she cut me off some stems but when I rubbed the leaves it did not smell like spearmint. It kind of had a "cat pee" mint smell to it. Could the smell be different because the cuttings are in a ziploc bag? Could this be a different type of mint? I really dont want to mix them so Im lost of what to do.
I also got 8 pineapple sage plants to put out this year. They smell great!
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The ziploc bag should not affect the smell if it is actual spearmint. I have the kind you are talking about as well, you can put a leaf in your mouth and it tastes like gum, and I've put it in a bag and it still smelled strongly like spearmint. There are many varieties of mint and the leaves all look similar, it is possible she gave you a different variety. I only grow spearmint and peppermint so I don't know anything about the other varieties, maybe someone who knows more will chime in. Is it possible that you could take them to a nursery and see if someone there could identify it?
~mary
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I grow spearmint and pineapple sage too!
But, if you want a real treat, Lick a spearmint leaf and dip it in sugar, then eat it!...Just like CANDY!
Not to mention Mojitos!
your friend,
john
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Ill have to try that!
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If you can stand the wait, in a year or two you will have plenty, if you take care of it.
doak :)
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Ok, my wife has been drinking peppermint water with peppermint oil. My son wants to drink spearmint water. Is there a way to get the full flavor from the leaf into the water? Do you boil it first?
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I suppose you could run it through a tea maker. My wife tossed in some speamint leaves with tea bags and make a spearmint tea.
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I planted beebalm with my mints this year too....What do I do with bee balm>?
your friend,
john
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I have beebalm and the bees sure do avoid it. I just let it grow because the smell is too strong for me.
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Thats funny!!!
I got the beebalm cuz I thot bees were gonna like it!
live and learn!
your friend,
john
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John bees love bee balm. Its well documented as a bee attractant. I planted a good amount of it myself and I see it on bee plant lists all the time.
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John bees love bee balm. Its well documented as a bee attractant. I planted a good amount of it myself and I see it on bee plant lists all the time.
That hasn't been my experience Natalie. My girls ignore the bee balm, but the bumbles attack it with gusto. I assumed it was one of those that require a longer tongue. hmmm....maybe my bees just haven't acquired a taste for it yet :-D.
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Do you know the latin name for spearmint and beebalm?
thanks
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I dont think the bees can get their tongues to the bottom of the flowers. Im guessing there is several types of bee balm, I have the one that has long small red flowers that are kind of look like little tubes. I have only seen the hummingbird moth at my bee balm.
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Ok, my wife has been drinking peppermint water with peppermint oil. My son wants to drink spearmint water. Is there a way to get the full flavor from the leaf into the water? Do you boil it first?
If you want to get concentrated peppermint oil, you have to distill it. probably easier done than discussed though really.
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Most bee balms have flowers that are just too deep for honeybees. You'll see them checking them out a bit, but they don't spend much time there, they just can't reach the nectar. More bumblebees on bee balm than anything else, but I grow it anyways, it's a nice plant to have around for the other pollinators.
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I grow red bee balm, honeybees are not overly attracted to red, the nectaries are too deep for the honeybee, now the hummingbirds!!! Wow!!! Beautiful days, to love and live, with great health. Cindi
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Shawn, I would "muddle" it like you do for mojitos, will taste fresher. JBF, I have chocolate mint, now that is good! The bees love it too and it is great on desserts and in chox milk! It makes weed whacking fun cause the whole yard smells like a peppermint pattie!
Jody
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Shawn, I would "muddle" it like you do for mojitos, will taste fresher. JBF, I have chocolate mint, now that is good! The bees love it too and it is great on desserts and in chox milk! It makes weed whacking fun cause the whole yard smells like a peppermint pattie!
Jody
Please, more info. can I grow it in north florida? it must be edible. can I look it up as chocolate mint, or is there another name that will save me from a ton of candy pages?
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I don't know why it wouldn't. I don't know the real name, I can send you a hunk if you want, I have tons!
Jody
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Chocolate Mint?!? Now that's something I would like to add to my garden. I'll have to add that to my list of must-have plants.