Mentha L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-09-10. Archived from the original on 2009-05-06 . Retrieved 2010-01-30.

Spearmint seeds require a temperature of 21 to 24°C to germinate. You can either use a propagator or place the seed tray on a sunny window sill enclosed in a clear plastic bag. Keep the soil moist throughout. Spearmint seeds usually take one to three weeks to germinate, after which you can grow them on until they can be planted out.Once the seedlings have grown into young plants, pot them on using a richer soil such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost. When the risk of frost has passed, you can move them outdoors. Mentha spicata was first described scientifically by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. [2] The epithet spicata means 'bearing a spike'. [17] The species has two accepted subspecies, each of which has acquired a large number of synonyms: [2] [4] [5] In reality, fresh spearmint has about 13% carvone and 0% menthol, whereas peppermint has about 0% carvone and 12% menthol. Of course, a single bottle of their essential oils will have substantially more as a single bottle has the concentrated oil of numerous dried mint leaves. 3. Nutritional Value: Spearmint vs Peppermint Spearmint and rosemary extracts have recently been found to improve memory. Prof. Susan Farr, from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, has suggested that if antioxidants from spearmint and rosemary are made into an enhanced extract, they may help to improve learning and memory. This could help with age-related cognitive decline. L-theanine: L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea and other foods. It has been studied for its potential role in memory enhancement, especially in older adults.

The estimation above is according to the University of California. However, the growing conditions they require are generally the same. Methods for propagation and preservation for these different mints are also highly similar.Also, the taste is the easiest way to identify them. Indeed, a peppermint leaf will taste way stronger than its spearmint counterpart. Although there are more than 30 species of mint with different properties and flavours, the different species have a lot in common: first of all, their appearance. Of course, individual species and varieties differ in appearance, but many mints look very similar. So you don’t have to be an expert to spot a member of the mint genus. Usually mint does not need fertilizer. It is a strong herb that evolved to withstand a large variety of soil conditions. However, if you still want the best out of it, some minerals will be always welcome to your favorite herb As with most types of mint, the care of spearmint is easy. Mint in the garden should be mulched annually to keep the roots cool and moist. Potted mint does best when fertilized monthly during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer. Used as a fumigant, spearmint essential oil is an effective insecticide against adult moths. [35] Antimicrobial research [ edit ]

Spearmint grows well in nearly all temperate climates. [29] Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive, spreading rhizomes. [30] The following seven types of mint all have one thing in common: they not only smell and taste like mint, but also have a completely different aroma. Lemon mint (Mentha gentilis var. citrata) Mint is native to the Mediterranean, but spread into Britain and eventually to America. The Pilgrims brought mint with them on their first journey overseas. One of the most favored of the mint plants is spearmint ( Mentha spicata). This highly aromatic plant is valued for its culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic use. Spearmint can readily adapt to grow in various types of soil. Spearmint tends to thrive with plenty of organic material in full sun to part shade. The plant is also known to be found in moist habitats such as swamps or creeks, where the soil is sand or clay. [26]Do you know that one of the two is way better for producing essential oils than the other, and although they look similar, there is still a way to differentiate them? Let’s dive in! 1. Appearance: Spearmint vs Peppermint Hussain, Abdullah I.; Anwar, Farooq; Nigam, Poonam S.; Ashraf, Muhammad; Gilani, Anwarul H. (2010). "Seasonal variation in content, chemical composition and antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of essential oils from four Mentha species". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 90 (11): 1827–1836. Bibcode: 2010JSFA...90.1827H. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4021. PMID 20602517. S2CID 22702699.