Mint: it just keeps growing

Whenever I hear someone speak of mint, it’s immediately followed by something like, “it spreads like crazy.” It does, which bodes well for the survival DNA of the plant. But we count on mint for so many things in our lives and in our gardens.

In our foods, peppermint adds a boost the flavor of salads. Mint can be combined with other herbs like basil to make a mint pesto. Add a bit of mint to sparking drinks or tea to lift the flavor and refreshment.

For self-care, mint can be combined with other ingredients to create a refreshing facial astringent, relaxing bath, or a homemade mouthwash.

As a gardener who focuses on pollinators, I let some of my mint go to flower for the sake of our friends, the bees and butterflies.

Inside our home, it’s not uncommon for lemon mint to be treated like a cut flower in a vase with it’s friend, basil, where we can enjoy it as an aromatic. And it keeps ants where they best belong, out of the kitchen.

It is said that the best time to harvest mint is in the morning after dew has evaporated and while it’s essential oils are most potent. For optimal flavor, harvest before the plant goes to flower. And regular harvesting is best to maintain the health of the plant and the flavor. Keep it fresh.

Because mint can be so prolific, you may need to harvest faster than you can use the mint. If need be, harvest, keep leaves loose, and store in a cool place – including refrigerating. Do not seal them in a plastic bag. If you need to use a baggie, perforate the bag for plenty of airflow.

One way to tame your mint is to grow it in containers versus in the garden. While it takes some discipling to keep mint in its allotted space in our gardens, it’s simply a refreshing herb.

Karen H. Richardson