Useful information

Mint varieties

It should be said right away that there are a huge number of varieties of mint, both domestic and foreign. Considering that chromosome numbers vary (66, 72, 84 and 120), it is not necessary to expect that all varieties will be of the same type. However, if you open the State Register of Breeding Achievements, then the species belonging of mint varieties is coquettishly silent. Only the genus of mint is indicated and the varieties are located in two sections - essential oil plants and vegetables, where they are positioned as vegetable mint (Vorozheya, Maryinskaya Semko, Menthol). Actually, there is no such taxon, and therefore not only representatives of peppermint will clearly join the varieties. In general, with botany firms-manufacturers of planting material are rather loose.

Peppermint Mentha x piperita var. citrata

It would be natural to start with Soviet varieties, which have not lost their importance until now due to the very high content of essential oil and high yield. Not all of them can be found in the State Register, but they are found on the sites of amateurs and there is a chance that you will meet them either from friends or on sale.

Mint Krasnodar-2
  • Prilukskaya 6 Is a rather old variety, created at the Prilukskaya Experimental Station. The plant is large, up to 1 m tall, with good foliage. The growing season lasts 90-100 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 3%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 50%. The disadvantage is the strong susceptibility to rust and low winter hardiness. But the presence of a stable snow cover allows it to winter quite successfully in most cases in the Non-Black Earth Zone. When preparing for winter, it makes sense to sprinkle the plants with a layer of compost and ensure the safety of the snow throughout the winter.
  • Krasnodarskaya 2 - the duration of the growing season is 100-110 days. The variety was also created at the Prilukskaya experimental station. The plant is large, with good nutrition, more than 1 m, with good foliage. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 4%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 40-45%. The disadvantages are the same as in the previous variety, which can be overcome as described above.
  • Kubanskaya 6 - a variety created at the North Caucasian experimental station VILAR. The plant is large, up to 1 m tall, with good foliage. The growing season lasts 100-110 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 4%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 55%. The disadvantage is the strong susceptibility to rust and relatively low winter hardiness.
  • Medicinal 4 - bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. The plant is large, with good nutrition, more than 1 m, with good foliage and pronounced anthocyanin coloration of the leaves. The growing season lasts 110-115 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 4%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 60%. Winters well in the suburbs, but is affected by rust. It is this variety that has been growing in my dacha in the Yaroslavl Region for many years and there have been no problems with it yet. The main thing is to have good snow cover.
  • Mystery - launched at the Ukrainian zonal station VILAR. The growing season is about 110 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 3.5%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 65%. Anthocyanin coloration of the leaves is practically absent. Compared to previous grades, rust resistance is higher. The variety winters well in the Moscow region.
  • Muscovite - the variety was bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. The plant, like the previous varieties, is large and well leafy, with a pronounced anthocyanin coloration of the leaves. The duration of the growing season is 110-115 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 4%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 60%. Winters well in the suburbs, but is affected by rust.
  • Medica - bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Plant with good foliage and pronounced anthocyanin coloration of the leaves. The growing season lasts 110 days. The content of essential oil in the leaves reaches 4%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 67%.Winters well in the suburbs, but is affected by rust.
  • Silvery - the variety was bred at the North Caucasian zonal experimental station VILAR. With an average winter hardiness, it has good resistance to rust and a fairly high content of essential oil, 75% of which is menthol.
  • Amber - the variety is pubescent, without anthocyanin coloration, large leaves with a pleasant smell. The disadvantage of this variety is its strong pubescence. Therefore, if the site is in a dusty place or near the road, then it is better to choose a variety with smoother leaves so that dust does not crunch on the teeth.
  • Vysokomentolnaya - bred in Moldova, the duration of the growing season is about 110 days. With a high content of essential oil (up to 4%) and menthol content up to 80%, it has low winter hardiness and is strongly affected by rust.
  • Zarya - bred in the Crimea at the Institute of Essential Oil Cultures. The growing season lasts 110 days. The content of essential oil is about 3.5%, and the proportion of menthol in it is about 50%. The plant is hardy and rust resistant.
Mint Persephone

In Ukraine, after the collapse of the USSR, selection did not stand still and the following varieties appeared:

  • Zagrava - a high-yielding, winter-hardy, rust-resistant variety of mint. The yield of whole withered plants at 55% humidity is 131 c / ha, the collection of essential oil is 79.6 kg / ha; the content of menthol in essential oil is 78%.
  • Simferopol-200 - a high-yielding, winter-hardy, rust-resistant variety of mint. The yield of whole withered plants at 55% humidity is 132 c / ha, the collection of essential oil is 80-126 kg / ha; the content of menthol in essential oil is 64.3%.
  • Ukrainian pepper - a high-yielding, drought-resistant, rust-resistant variety. The yield of whole withered plants at 55% humidity is 114 c / ha, the collection of essential oil is 61.5%; the content of menthol in essential oil is 52.5%.
  • Udaichan - a high-yielding, winter-hardy, lodging-resistant variety of mint. The yield of whole withered plants at 55% humidity is 135 c / ha, the collection of essential oil is 65-86 kg / ha; the content of menthol in essential oil is 47-52%.
  • the charm - an interesting variety from Belarus. The plant is rather loose, about 70 cm high, with anthocyanin coloration in the lower part. The branches are straight, directed upwards. The height of attachment of the lower branches is up to 10 cm. The average number of branches of the 1st order is up to 22 pcs. Leaves with a pointed tip and serrated edges, glabrous, slightly pubescent along the veins, with a slightly wrinkled surface. Interestingly, this variety has been reported to have seeds, raising doubts about its belonging to peppermint.
Mint Agnes

Now a little about the far abroad. Almost all countries in Central and Eastern Europe have their own varieties.

There are quite a few Bulgarian varieties: Kliment, Tundzha, Lina, varieties of the early 19th century - Mesten, Metschta, Nana, varieties Proslav, Sofia 36, ​​Zefir bred immediately after World War II.

The varieties Mentola, Perpeta, Agnes are registered in the Czech Republic. There are varieties in Romania, Austria and Germany, but not as numerous as in Bulgaria.

It should be noted that in foreign varieties, in most cases, the menthol content is not as high as in ours.

Read also The value of various species and hybrids of mint as medicinal plants

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