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Mint in a Belfast sink

Discussion in 'Herbs and Wildflowers' started by Kon, Aug 30, 2019.

  1. Kon

    Kon Gardener

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    I have acquired a couple of Belfast sinks that I plan to use for herbs.

    The larger one will be on a south-facing wall for Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, marjoram)

    I'd like to use the smaller one for mint and plan to place it in semi-shade. I know that mint needs a container of its own, but I'm wondering it's possible to plant a few different mints together in one container? Should I perhaps keep each one its own plastic pot buried below the soil?
     

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    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      No Kon,keep mint varieties apart. :)
      I once did this, thinking it a great idea: I would then have a lovely mint concoction. In practice I lost the essential taste of each mint :)
      “Buried beneath the soil”? Make sure the rim of the pot is above soil level or the mint will escape. Also lift the pot now and then to check no roots have ventured into the soil:)
       
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      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        What is the difference between a Belfast sink and a Butlers sink?
        One of those questions which keep me awake until the small hours :biggrin:
         
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        • Sian in Belgium

          Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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          @HarryS :heehee:

          You had me wondering, so of course I had to google....

          Butler sinks then were made without a Weir overflow, unlike Belfast sinks which are built with an overflow, as at the time it didn’t matter if a little water got wasted.
          Whilst more modern designs have seen the addition of a small overflow at the back of a Butler sink, the difference in the overflows remains the primary difference between the two.

          Butler sinks were built slightly wider and shallower than Belfast models, to encourage the conservation of water while still fitting into large kitchen cabinets.

          It seems as if the main difference is due to the more readily-available water in Belfast, compared to the “Butler” sinks of London...

          ...So there you go!
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            And now, Harry, you can sleep more easily:snooze::snooze::love30::thumbsup:
             
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            • mazambo

              mazambo Forever Learning

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              Thanks for the information @Sian in Belgium it was mint:heehee:
               
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              • HarryS

                HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                Great detective work Sian :blue thumb: I can get a good nights sleep at last ! :biggrin:
                 
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                • luciusmaximus

                  luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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                  I've got 6 Belfast sinks, including 2 larger sinks. I love them :wub2:, but I have found that Herbs tend to get a bit cramped in the smaller sinks. I've not tried Mint in a sink. I planted Marjoram in a small sink and it quickly outgrew the space. It wasn't looking very happy and was quite difficult to remove. Eventually I had to tip sink on its side and drag out the Marjoram and compacted compost in one solid lump.
                   
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                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

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                    I have a few such sinks here too....5 of them :) I have had them for many years now and I gave them a coating of cement and peat mix. They now look like old stone troughs. They look good :)

                    I think it best to grow vigorous herbs for a couple of years in these sinks and then to lift and divide them thus keeping them young, productive and attractive :)
                     
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                    • Uztwo

                      Uztwo Gardener

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                      Part of neglected herb and flower patch. Clearing some of it, though does attract butterflies and birds. Just now includes Song Thrush, Black Cap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren and many of the Tit family. Photos soon, hopefully. :smile:
                      (Sized with MS Paint, copied to here with MS Snipping Tool. Easy but not ideal)!!
                       

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                      • Islander77

                        Islander77 Keen Gardener

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                        No spare sinks but thanks to kind folk here a blissfully aromatic old bucket spilling over with spearmint. I pinch out the tops and scatter them on the lino. Also another bucket with a different kind of mint. Planning to let some loose soon ..
                         
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                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                          I've got mint growing in an old cold water tank that came out of the loft.
                          Hardly any drainage and it loves it.
                           
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                          • Islander77

                            Islander77 Keen Gardener

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                            That reminds me of finding wild watermint when I was first in Ireland.
                             
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                            • pete

                              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                              Mint grows in the banks of the streams going through my local park in very boggy ground.
                              That is where I got the idea, my ground is mostly too dry for it, and if grown in the ground it is only available early spring.
                               
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