Organic Curly or Crinkled Mint - Mentha spicata Crispa

The Curly Mint (Mentha spicata crispa) is a variety with curled leaves that are highly aromatic. This hardy and perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in the ground or in a pot. It will reach a height of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). Its leaves will flavour your salads, grilled dishes, sauces, desserts, or infusions. Plant in spring or autumn, harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly aromatic foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Preferably, plant it in a semi-shaded area, although mint can thrive 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. Carefully choose the location where you want to plant it: Mint spreads very quickly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to plant it in the vegetable garden as Mint is reputed to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids, ants, and certain rodents. As for leaf harvest, 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 range of aromas. 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: Harvest the leaves as you need them. Choose the largest leaves and cut the entire stem to encourage regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to fully enjoy the aromatic qualities of mint. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume freshly cut leaves. If you are not using the fresh leaves, dry the stems and 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.