If you are a mint lover, learning how to harvest mint is important!
The cool, aromatic and refreshing mint is one of the most popular herbs in the world. From delicious sauces to desserts, cocktails, curries and mint tea, mint can be used in many recipes. It can even be used outside the kitchen. For example, it's a common ingredient in beauty products. You can also find it in toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, etc.
There are currently over 30 types of mints that are indigenous to every continent except Antarctica. The most commonly used varieties are spearmint and peppermint, both of which are famous in the culinary world. Mint can be eaten fresh, dried, powdered, or frozen.
If you're a fan of cool and refreshing mint flavor, you can take your love of mint to the next level and grow mint in your garden. Growing mint is easy. It's important to note, however, that the mint plant can become invasive, which is why gardeners often grow mint in containers. Grow mint in a pot, make sure runners aren't spreading on nearby soil, and get ready to harvest your mint plant like a pro!
How you harvest your mint plants plays an important role in the growth and overall health of the plants. Hence, it is important to learn all about best practices for growing mint in the soil or container. Learning how to properly store mint is also important.
When should I harvest mint leaves?
If you know how to harvest mint, you'll always have fresh mint on hand. Source: Another pint please
The best time to harvest mint leaves is just before the flowers appear, usually in the middle of the growing season. However, you can start collecting individual leaves once the plants reach a height of at least 4 inches.
For fresh use, pluck green leaves from the plant as needed. If you want to collect mint in bulk, you should be able to harvest your mint plant three to four times throughout the growing season. The plant will usually start growing new leaves within two or three weeks. Keep the soil around your plant moist for quick recovery.
Those who grow mint in an outdoor garden may want to bring their mint inside to hibernate. Frost can damage the plant, although it often grows back in spring. Those who grow mint indoors can have a year-round growing cycle.
Harvesting the mint should be done in the morning, as the dew will begin to evaporate from the leaves. This is the time of day when the essential oils in the foliage are strongest. This gives the leaves an intense aroma and taste.
Another important factor to consider when harvesting mint is the lifespan of the plant. For most gardeners, it is best to stick to regular harvesting to keep the plant busy producing foliage rather than sowing. However, if your plant has already started sowing in the garden, you can harvest before the flowers appear for the best taste. Peppermints can pick up a slightly bitter note once the flowers bloom.
How to harvest mint
A close up of mint leaves. Source: Murugananth C.
Harvesting mint leaves couldn't be easier. When all you need is a few leaves for a recipe or tea, just pluck individual leaves straight from the stems. On the other hand, if you plan to harvest in large quantities for storage or need a lot of mint for cooking, cut the stems and leaves with secateurs or sharp scissors. Then remove the leaves from the stems for fresh use or tie the stem ends together to dry.
For large harvests, wait until just before flowering, when the flavor is most intense. Before harvesting, remove yellowed leaves from the plant, then cut each stem above the first or second set of leaves in the lower part of the stem. This ensures that your mint can continue to produce chlorophyll for its own needs while it recovers.
Remember that young leaves are tastier than older and larger ones. So make sure you pick the smaller leaves on top first. Not only will this help you enjoy more aromatic leaves, but it will also encourage new growth. Regular pruning will make your mint plants bushier and produce more aromatic foliage.
Avoid ingesting more than 2/3 of a particular plant if possible, as over-harvesting mint plants can be shocking, especially in the first harvest season.
One important tip is that you shouldn't harvest by breaking the stem. Instead, always use a sharp and sterile tool like cutting scissors to get clean cuts. A broken stem puts you at greater risk of disease that will crust over a clean cut and leave the mint less at risk.
How to store fresh mint
There are dozen of varieties of mint to choose from. Source: Andréia
Newly harvested mint is better stored at cooler temperatures. Storage in the refrigerator is ideal. You can loosely wrap harvested mint leaves in a damp paper towel and place in a perforated plastic bag. This storage allows the mint to be kept fresh for 7 to 10 days.
Alternatively, take your fresh stems and place them in a glass or glass with 1 to 1.5 inches of water. Place a plastic bag loosely over it to act as a dome and help maintain humidity. Change the water to clean, fresh water every day. Stored this way, your mint will last for 10 to 14 days.
How to dry mint
It is true that dried mint cannot rival its fresh counterpart in terms of aroma or taste. However, drying mint leaves is an excellent way to store mint for long-term use. Wash the stems with cold water before drying the mint. However, avoid using heat when drying for maximum flavors. While you can only choose a drying method with a dehumidifier or box fan, hanging drying is also possible.
Hang a few stalks of mint upside down in a dark and well-ventilated room. Cover the leaves in a brown paper bag and let the bundle dry. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks for the mint leaves to dry. As soon as the green leaves crumble slightly, carefully remove them from the paper bag and separate the leaves from the dry stem.
Once you've dried your garden mint, it's a good idea to cure it. Put it in a glass container like a mason jar. Every day, open the jar and mix thoroughly. This will allow the remaining moisture in the mint leaves to even out and reduce the risk of mold growth. You can also add a moisture wicking wrap to the jar to remove any remaining moisture if so desired.
Properly dried and stored mint can retain its smell and taste for about 1 to 3 years. Try to use mint within the first year for the best taste. If you want to share your herbs with friends, this is a great option!
How to Freeze Mint
Chop up mint leaves if you want to make mint ice cubes. Source: UnconventionalEmma
If dried mint isn't your thing, you can also freeze mint for later use. Still harvest your mint in the garden, then prepare it for freezing. There are two that are effective.
The first option is to cut the leaves into smaller sizes and then wrap them in ice cube trays. If desired, measure the amount in advance to make it easy to use the recipe later. Add just enough water to act as a binder between the leaves, then freeze. Once the solid is frozen, take the mint ice cubes out of the shell and place them in a freezer bag. The mint ice cubes can be used in iced teas, recipes and much more. They can be kept for at least three months.
A second option is to line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then place whole leaves of mint on top without overlapping. Freeze 2-3 hours until the leaves are completely frozen, then place in a freezer bag. This is an excellent option if you have a variety of peppermints, spearmint, or other peppermints that you need to freeze at once. While your leaves can be soft when thawed, they are very effective for later use in cocktails or salads.
The green fingers behind this article:
