The Secret To Harvesting Mint For A Healthy Plant

Mint is a wonderful herb to have on hand for various reasons. Not only does it release a beautiful, fresh scent when you brush past it in your garden, it can also deter pests like fleas, ticks, ants, mice, and moths. It is also one of the many perennial herbs that will return to your garden on their own each year. Because of its ability to grow quickly, it can provide you with plenty of fresh leaves for tea, various meat dishes, and salads. This is why it is important to harvest your mint at the proper time, ensuring you will have a healthy plant that keeps producing throughout the season. Harvesting your mint right before it begins to flower will give you the most flavorful leaves to use in your culinary creations.

Mint is a voracious grower, and if not contained, it can quickly overtake your garden. This is one downside to growing mint that you should be aware of, and it's why many people choose to plant their favorite variety of mint in a pot. That being said, just because mint grows like a weed doesn't mean it doesn't need to be cared for. Having mint on the loose, without tending to it properly, will create quantity but not necessarily a quality plant. Allowing your mint to flower can create bitter-tasting leaves, and not pruning often enough can lead to a woody and less flavorful plant.

The best time to harvest mint is right before flowering, halfway through the growing season, when the leaves are at their most potent. This is also a perfect time to grow more mint plants from cuttings. Harvest your mint in the morning on a dry, sunny day. Use sharp herb snips or small garden shears to clip the plant where two leaves emerge from the stem, which is referred to as a leaf node. Using these tips to harvest your mint before it flowers will encourage your plant to put all of its energy into producing the most flavorful leaves and promote a healthier plant.

Once you've harvested your mint leaves, you can use them right away to create a fresh-tasting beverage, or you can preserve them for later use. There are many ways to preserve fresh mint leaves. Hanging them in bunches to dry in a shady part of your kitchen is a great option that will also make your kitchen smell amazing. Another option is to use a food dehydrator to dry your mint, which makes it perfect for use in hot tea. Once your leaves are completely dry, you should store them in an air-tight container. A popular alternative way to preserve your mint is to freeze it. Put the leaves in an ice tray, fill it with water, freeze, and use in your summer drinks to add a hint of mint flavor.