Mint Farming (Pudina) in India - Planting to Harvest Process

Mint is scientifically known as “Mentha” and popularly called the “Pudina” in India, and it belongs to the “Labiates” family. It is an aromatic perennial and energising herb that can add flavouring to various dishes. Mint is used in cooking as a flavouring agent and is also used for toothpaste and flavouring mouthwashes. Mint plants are an easy-to-grow and core part of any herb garden, ranging from well-known types such as peppermint and spearmint to features such as Chocolate Mint, Pineapple Mint, or Apple Mint.

Mint Farming requires the most prominent equipment, which plays a major role in agriculture processing. Tools, harvesters and tractors are the main ones in cultivating mini; Hence, we recommend the Massey Ferguson tractor, which is better for increasing efficiency in the field.

Mint Farming - Agro-Climatic Condition Requirement

For mint cultivation, the tropical climate is not favourable. However, you can cultivate the Japanese mint in subtropical and tropical areas. The optimistic temperature for mint cultivation is between 20°C to 40°C, and rainfall should be between 100-110cm. Mint requires light irrigation at planting time and good sunny days at the harvesting stage are optics for its good quality of leaves and the highest yield.

Mint Farming - Soil Requirement

You can cultivate the mint in a wide range of soils. However, sandy or deep soils rich in organic matter are favourable for its cultivation. For better growth of mint leaves, make sure the soil is loose textured and well-drained. Mint leaves grow in fertile soil with a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0 and as it does not thrive in clay soils, avoid these soils for mint farming. In addition, you should avoid water stagnation in the field. You can also cultivate the mint on both red and black soils. In the case of acidic soil that contains a pH value of less than 5.5, it then requires the liming.

Mint Farming - Land Preparation

You should plough and give two cross harrows to bring the soil to a fine tilth. As part of land preparation, apply about 50 to 60 cartloads of farmyard manure per hectare.

Mint Farming - Planting Method

Before sowing the mint, you should cut the suckers into 10 to 14cm lengths. About 450 - 500 kg of suckers is required per hectare of land. You should set suckers in the groove and plant the suckers at a distance of 40 cm from end to end in rows 60 cm apart.

Mint Farming - weed control/Intercultural operations

The period of 4 to 14 weeks after planting is the critical stage for controlling weeds. You should consider intensive weeding with a mechanical spade (or) hand in the mint crop. Since controlling weeds in mint crops is a very costly process, using a hand-driven or bullock driven wheel will reduce the cost. Several weedicides are recommended, but these may not control monocot weeds after the monsoon (rainy) season. Combine mechanical, manual and chemical methods to effectively control weeds. When mulching is also to be done, first use weedicide by mechanical or manual methods at 8 to 10 weeks. Here are some herbicides:

• Atrazine and simazine (1 kg a.i. per ha)
• Pendimethalin (0.75 a.i. per ha)
• Oxyfluorfen (0.5 kg a.i. per ha)
• Fertilisers and Manures in Mint Farming

You should apply about 25 tonnes per hectare of well-rotted manure (FMY) at planting. In addition, 125 kg nitrogen, 45 kg potassium, and 65 kg phosphorus per hectare is recommended. At planting, mix the soil with the full amount of P and K with 1/5 of N. The remaining 4/5 N is given twice as top-dressing in divided doses available for each crop.

Crop rotation in Mint Farming

Follow crop rotation to control weeds along with other food crops. It is not advisable to plant a mint crop continuously in the same field. The best rotation is Mint: Potato, Mint: Rice and Mint: Vegetables: Peas, depending on the cropping system adopted in the area.

Irrigation in Mint Farming

The Mentha crop demands a good amount of moisture which is well distributed throughout the growing time. In summer, You should give 10-12 irrigations at an interval of 10-12 days. Avoid water stagnation during the rainy season by providing good soil drainage.

Harvesting of Mint

Generally, you should do the harvesting in mini cultivation 2 to 3 times a year.

• You should harvest the 1st crop from May to June ( Before the rainy season starts).
• The 2nd crop must be harvested from September to October (after the monsoon).
• You must harvest the 3rd crop from November to December.

Yield of Mint

During the 1st year, yield depends on farm management practices and variety. You can expect about 150 to 160 kg of oil per hectare. Thereafter, you can obtain 2250 Kg to 250 kg per hectare.

Mint Farming - Equipment Requirement

When you want to grow mint, you need equipment to get a better yield because today, equipment plays a major role in farming. However, the cultivation process requires different tools like rotavators, cultivators, tractors and many other types of equipment. Therefore, tractor equipment is important, and you can use the Trakstar tractor or any other brand tractor in mint farming. However, you can opt for economical and reasonable price tractors in mint farming or any other farming method. You can also find Trakstar tractor price or any other tractor price online with complete information.

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