How to Harvest Mint to Promote More Growth

by Mike Lieberman on July 19, 2011 · 23 comments

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Your mint container is likely overflowing and ready to harvest. If not, it should be. There is a way that you can harvest it to encourage even more growth from the delicious herb.

What you are going to want to do is pinch it from the top. What the hell does that mean? It means that you are going to have to find the sprig that you want and pinch it as close to the next set of leaves as possible. This will help to encourage the plant to grow more.

If that doesn’t make any sense, check out this quick video. It makes more sense visually than written.

What’s your favorite way to use mint?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1408646956 Juanita Wright

    I’m growing spearmint, my favorite of the mints.  I am really fond of tea made with it, either hot or iced.  I have discovered that minted peas are sensational.  With this heat wave we’re having here, I ‘m tempted to put it in almost everything, just to get some cooling refreshment.  lol  But it is very cooling in a nice fruit salad.  How do like to use it the best, Mike?

  • Tris

    Oh, my mint is going crazy in this heat too!  I’ve already harvested sooooo much of it and it is still going strong!  I like to dry most of it and then grind it.  We mix it with oatmeal, powdered milk and epsom salts for foot soak tea.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    I like it in my smoothies or throwing it in some water for a hint of flavor. Def gonna be making some teas with it in the fall and winter.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Oh I like the foot soak idea…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rebecca-Stujenske/1420731494 Rebecca Stujenske

    Do you have any advice on drying and storing mint?

  • Tris

    I like to do the hang upside down with rubberbands method.  As for storing, we just use a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid.  Just make sure that mint is really crispy dry before sealing it in the jar.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Nice. Thanks for the tips.

  • Mamasimpson

    I like mint in water and smoothies on noodles and in baked goods. I’ve never dried it before but think I’m going to give it a try.

  • Sundownr

    I use chocolate mint in banana nut bread and other desserts as well as in coffee. I use peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, horehound, and catnip in mostly medicinal teas, but like them in desserts, smoothies, and various cold drink, too. Mints are very good for you and refreshing in summer!

  • http://www.seattleseedling.com Stacy

    Chocolate mint with homemade raspberry granita (basically delicious, frozen raspberry puree) is amazing! I am hooked!

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Always good to experiment with new things.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Sounds damned good!

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Absolutely. Do you mix them with anything else in your teas?

  • Ondine N

    thank you!  my mint just keeps trying to escape its container and sending out bunches of vines… hope this helps :)

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Eat more!

  • Dotnet

    Mojitos! :)

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Good call.

  • Pruandme

    excellent timing, thank you!

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    I’m good like that.

  • http://lettherebefood.wordpress.com/ Karen Gibson

    I frequently put mint in my large insulated glass of ice water that I carry around all day… viola! Minty fresh water which tastes delicious. I am also looking forward to making mojitos.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Sounds great to me!

  • Christine

    I have a confession. As much as I love eating mint right off the plant, and I do on a daily basis, I mostly planted it around my roses to keep the squirrels from eating the flower buds, lol. Though I have taken rooted cuttings and given them to friends and co-workers!

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    The honesty is appreciated. ;-)