Harvest peppermint when it blooms?

Peppermint is widespread and has established itself as a popular medicinal herb in the preparation of drinks and food. In addition to the diverse uses, the plant is also extremely easy to care for. The plant can be cultivated both in the garden bed and in a flower pot on the balcony or terrace. However, the rumor persists in popular belief that peppermint becomes poisonous after flowering.

Harvest right

Peppermint has the botanical name Mentha piperita and belongs to the mint family. The herbal plant can be brewed as a tea or used to refine salads. In addition, the spicy leaves serve as a component of delicious cocktails. As soon as the plant has developed enough leaves in spring, you can pick off a few of them at a time. However, too many should never be removed at once, so as not to unnecessarily weaken the growth. At the end of autumn, the plants should be cut down completely to increase their winter hardiness. However, the stems that are harvested late are only suitable for consumption when the summer months have been very warm and dry. As a result of a cool and rainy summer, peppermint leaves can develop only a slight flavor aroma.

• Picking the leaves early in the morning is ideal
• Pluck carefully from the plant
• Alternatively, cut off whole stems
• Cut back the desired stem as far as possible
• Stems sprout again after harvesting
• In general, peppermint can be harvested until the first frost
• Tastes equally good fresh or dried
• Leaves can be frozen for long shelf life

time of harvest

During the flowering period, the peppermint leaves lose their intensity in taste, as the herbal plant invests all its energy in the development of the flowers. The seeds then form from the flowers, which are used for propagation. This is a crucial process in the life cycle of the plant, more important than the continuous sprouting of new leaves. Therefore, during the flowering phase, the leaves contain far fewer essential oils and lose their distinctive mint taste. If the growth becomes too large, then it should be pruned back generously at several points in time. However, the leaves should not be consumed if they are infected with diseases or pests. In this case, appropriate control measures must first be taken before the plant is suitable for consumption again.

• Small amounts can be harvested continuously
• Remove more leaves in spring
• Harvest a large portion of the leaves before flowering
• Individual leaves can also be harvested during the flowering period
• Then the leaves are less intense in taste
• Plant never becomes poisonous
• After the flowers have faded, the taste of the leaves becomes tart
• Even then, they can still be harvested
• Prune vigorously when growth is vigorous
• Severe pruning possible until September or October, depending on the weather

heyday

The flowering time can differ depending on the sowing and the weather. A rumor has spread among hobby gardeners that the leaves of peppermint can no longer be harvested at this point, as the plant then becomes poisonous. However, this rumor is definitely not true. After flowering, seeds can be collected from the flowers, but only if the plant has been fertilized beforehand. Then the completely dried flowers should be picked very carefully from the plant and shaken out lightly. The seeds contained in it then fall out all by themselves.

• Usually flowers between June and August
• May flower until September during warm weather
• Forms small, white-pink flowers
• Leaves are then less aromatic, but not poisonous
• Taste a bit bitter during and after flowering
• Seeds are formed in the flowers for reproduction

Edible flowers

In addition to the leaves of peppermint, the flowers can also be eaten. However, the flowers lack the spicy aromas, so they are not particularly suitable for brewing peppermint tea. In addition, the flowers are also not suitable for the production of peppermint oil, as they contain almost no essential oils.

• Flowers are suitable as an ingredient for desserts
• Can be processed into jam and syrup
• Give the summer punch a fresh taste
• Nice to look at as a spicy garnish on the salad

Learn more about garden herbs