a day in the life of a latvian mom

Since we bought our house, I planted a small patch of mojito mint next to the greenhouse. It’s been a constant struggle, with the surrounding plants overtaking its space and the soil not being ideal for mint. Adding to the challenge, I didn’t have a reliable water source for it. Despite these difficulties, I managed to harvest enough leaves for tea and the occasional rum cocktail, though the mint never truly thrived.

This summer, I decided it was time for a change with my mojito mint. I replanted it into a newly built raised bed, layering it with compost and branches to create a more nourishing environment. I carefully dug out the mint, trimmed off all the leaves, and left only the roots and stems. I then planted six of these trimmed plants in the raised bed as an experiment. Given how exhausted the mint was, I hoped that even just a good supply of water would help it recover.

And I was right! The transformation has been incredible. The leaves are now huge and incredibly fragrant—something I’ve never seen from these plants before. I gave them a bit of extra water during the summer heat, but it’s astonishing to think that these vibrant, healthy plants started from just six weak, struggling stems. The mint has not only produced an abundance of new shoots on the stems but has also sent out new runners. Now, my entire raised bed is completely filled with mint!

Now, the real test is coming: will this mint survive the winter? Since it’s in a raised bed, I’m not sure how it will fare through the harsh Latvian winters. I’m hoping the compost and better soil will give it a fighting chance. If not, I still have some of the struggling mojito mint left next to the green house.

For now, I’m just enjoying this little gardening win and hoping the mint soldiers on through the cold months!

Ilze