Organic Mentha piperita in Plants

Peppermint - Mentha piperata is a variety with pointed, dark-colored leaves that emit a pronounced fragrance. It is rich in menthol. This hardy, perennial herbaceous plant can be cultivated in open ground or in a pot. It will reach a height of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). Its leaves will flavor your salads, grilled dishes, sauces, desserts, or infusions. Plant in spring or autumn, harvest from March to October.

This plant is organic: it is from Organic Farming and carries the AB certification.

Peppermint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like melissa. Preferably install it in a semi-shaded place, although Peppermint can settle almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years as, beyond that, it tends to exhaust itself and become less productive. Choose carefully the place where you want to plant it: Peppermint spreads very fast thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to install in the vegetable garden because Peppermint is known to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as certain rodents. As for leaf harvesting, it can be done throughout the year, mainly from March to October.

There are many varieties of mint, the most well-known being spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and lemon mint. Depending on the variety, the leaves will offer you a whole range of fragrances. In cooking, use them from appetizers to desserts, to flavor salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yogurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusions, in tea or hot chocolate.

Harvest: The leaves are harvested as needed. Choose the largest leaves and cut the complete stem to promote regrowth. Harvest preferably in the morning to make the most of the aromatic qualities of mint. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume the freshly cut leaves. If you don't use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and then store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, protected from light.

Gardener's tip: If you want to plant mint in the vegetable garden while limiting its spread, plant it in a pot and bury the pot in the middle of your garden! Choose a large enough pot and regularly divide the clumps, in autumn or spring.