How and when to pick potted mint?

1. MINT VARIETIES
2. WHERE TO PLACE YOUR POT OF MINT?
3. HOW TO PLANT MINT?
4. HOW TO GROW YOUR PLANT?
5. HOW TO HARVEST MINT?

Did you know that it is very easy to grow mint indoors and more precisely, in pots?

If you had to choose where to start gardening and which variety of aromatic plant to start planting directly in your house or apartment, we would recommend mint without hesitation! This is, in our opinion, one of the most enjoyable and easy to grow strains! Indeed, mint requires even less maintenance than basil , chives or thyme for example and adapts to many climates!

Discover our tips on caring for the mint plant and start growing your mint in a pot at home, directly indoors, in your kitchen or living room, without a balcony or garden, even if you don't have a green thumb.

Your organic mint crop will spend both spring and winter in your indoor vegetable garden !

Mint varieties

There are over 70 different varieties of mint, or mentha in Latin.

Each has fragrant foliage, and the different species are distinguished mainly by their shapes and their aroma contents.

• The best known varieties are:
• spearmint (oval, green, smooth and toothed leaves);
• peppermint (oval, green leaves that turn purple in the sun);
• Moroccan mint (oval, green, toothed and embossed leaves);
• chocolate mint (oval and green leaves);
• lemon mint (oval leaves, green and variegated with yellow);
• bergamot mint (oval and green leaves).

It's up to you to choose which variety to plant, according to your tastes and desires!

Our advice applies to all varieties because their needs vary very little and you will therefore be able to take care of your plantation, whatever subspecies is selected!

Where should you place your mint jar?

The great advantage of having your organic mint plant in a pot directly in your house or apartment is that you won't have to worry about the season in which to grow your mint , you can do it throughout the season. 'year !

Indeed, unlike some aromatic herbs , mint does not require exposure to direct sunlight. Such exposure could even cause your mint leaves to turn yellow, so prefer exposure between sun and partial shade.

If the plant has direct sun exposure, it is important to water it enough to keep the soil moist. Place the pot near a window to give your plant the best development possible.

Mint develops very well from 17-18°C. You should therefore be able to enjoy it all year round, and keep your footing from one year to the next!

How to plant mint?

Get mint seeds that you know where they come from. You can go to a garden center or on the internet to select from the varieties of mint seeds, those you want to plant. If you decide to go online, make sure you get the best seeds.

Mint needs nutrient-rich soil to grow in the best conditions. Remember to plant your seeds well in thick soil . Again, you can find this soil in garden centers or on the internet. Choose between using a universal soil or a soil specific to aromatic plants which will be more optimized in nutrients.

Before filling your pot three-quarters full of soil, moisten the soil with water. Once you have your moist potting soil, fill the pot three-quarters full with it. If you are using a pot with a hole in the bottom to drain water, consider placing a saucer under your pot to prevent water from escaping. You can also turn to a simpler pot without a hole perfect for indoors and grow an aromatic plant in it. You just have to be careful not to water it too much! If you buy mint in pots , we advise you to repot in a larger pot to leave space for the plant. Of course, the larger the pot, the more the plant will be able to develop and the more you will be able to have a substantial harvest.

Arrange about 3 seeds in a hole you make with your finger. It is important to plant several seeds in a single pot, to ensure that there is germination. You won't need to push the seeds too deep, on the contrary! Do not bury them under more than an inch of soil. Once you have your seeds placed in your hole, cover them with a little soil, 5 mm will be more than enough to protect the seeds and promote their germination. Then spray the soil with water to slightly moisten the surface of the pot.

You can also directly acquire a mint ball with the seeds and nutrients optimized for the growth of the plant. It's a solution that will make your life easier, especially if you're just starting out and don't have a green thumb.

How to grow your plant?

It is important to water your plants well to maintain fresh soil, so water as soon as the soil is dry . When the plant is still at the beginning of its growth, it will be necessary to give water to the plant more regularly, without either drowning it because the plants are not fish! Thereafter, a moderate watering every couple of days should be enough to keep your plant hydrated . Every year, you will have to repot your mint and at the same time check the good health of the roots. It will be necessary either to repot in a larger pot or to cut the roots of 5 cm and each time to replace the compost well.

As a general rule, water your mint plant as soon as the soil is dry to keep it moist. Water it about twice a week. The water must pour at the foot of the plant and not the leaves or the stem. By aiming directly at the soil, the roots will be able to properly absorb the water.

If you're growing multiple plants in a single pot , be sure to let your plants breathe well when they're at about two pairs of leaves. This means spacing the mint plants at least 15cm apart to allow them enough room to grow properly. To space the plants, you will have to uproot one very carefully and decide whether to replant it further in the pot if space permits or place it in another pot directly.

Once your mint plant has three pairs of leaves and is about 6 inches tall, you can start pruning it . To do this, aim for the top of the plant with sharp scissors. Pruning the plant helps promote the growth of mint leaves . It is an action that you can repeat every two weeks.

If your mint plant is wilting and seems to have a little softness, it is often because the plant lacks water and needs to be watered. Do not water too much at once, it should not be drowned in addition. Wait until the water you just poured is absorbed before watering more. Place the plant in the shade for a while and remove the dead leaves to allow the plant to start on a healthy footing.

How to harvest mint?

You can pick mint leaves throughout spring and summer as needed. 

Preferably choose the most important leaves by cutting the complete stem to promote the birth of new shoots. 

1. It is best to pick mint in the morning before the sun alters the aromatic quality of the leaves.
2. Prune the plant regularly. Mint matures when it flowers (after about 90 days), but you can harvest it anytime as long as it's at least 8-10cm tall. If you prune it regularly, it will grow bushier and more vigorous. In addition, it will allow you to use the fresh leaves after each small harvest.
3. Trim the foot carefully whenever you need to reduce its mass. Remember to prune it to suit the shape of the pot in which it grows. If you prune a plant that grows in the ground, make sure it doesn't invade your garden.

You can do the job with pruners , but it's just as easy to use your fingers to prune a small plant.

You can either cut the stems or pick the leaves directly. We advise you not to pick more than a third of the mint leaves at one time. If you decide to cut the stems, it is also advisable not to cut the plant too short so as not to slow down regrowth.

If you want more mint plants, you can plant cuttings . You can get it from stems taken from the plant you already have. Cut a 15 cm stem and put it in a pot filled with potting soil. Give it plenty of water and sun to grow into a full-fledged plant.

Fill a pot with potting soil mixed with a generous amount of compost. Push the stem you took from the parent plant into the mix.

You can also put the stems in a glass of water. Remove any submerged leaves to prevent them from rotting. The cuttings will eventually produce roots.

It is best to harvest according to your needs, aromatic herbs grow quickly, which should allow you to always have some available. Harvesting the sprouts as you go also helps lock in all the flavor and fragrance, which isn't always the case when storing them.