How to intercrop mint

How to intercrop mint

Mint is a plant (Mentha L., 1753) whose genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family.
Among these, one of the best known is peppermint (Mentha × piperita) which is a perennial, stoloniferous herbaceous plant.
Peppermint is a hybrid between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata (also called Mentha viridis).
This pint is native to Europe and its cultivation is widespread throughout the world.
Its large-scale cultivation began in the Mitcham area (England), around the mid-18th century, and has since spread across the globe.
Mint finds considerable advantages in intercropping but it is above all the plants associated with it that derive notable benefits.
In fact, we can safely say that mint (regardless of the species we plant) is a beneficial plant to grow in the garden because it gives off a fresh scent and has various useful properties.
It can be combined with various other plants to make the most of its benefits and promote healthier growth for both. Among the plants with which it can be used we remember tomatoes, cabbages, aubergines, peppers, lettuces, strawberries, carrots and many others.
Let’s see the main positive interactions in the intercropping of mint with other plants.
Tomatoes: Mint can repel some pests that attack tomatoes, and its smell can confuse insects that try to attack tomatoes.
Cabbage: Mint can be planted near cabbage to keep away pests such as grasshoppers and cabbage butterflies.
Eggplants and peppers: these plants can also benefit from the proximity of mint to repel some parasites.
Lettuce: Mint can help keep away aphids, which can damage lettuces.
Strawberries: Mint can help repel slugs, which often damage strawberries.
Carrots: Mint can help keep carrot flies away, which can damage the roots.
When choosing the plants to be associated, always take into account their mutual affinities to the pedoclimatic characteristics where they are to be grown.