Organic Mentha rotundifolia

Mentha rotundifolia is a variety with pretty round, woolly, beautiful medium green leaves. They give off a fresh, pleasant scent with notes of apple. This hardy and perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in open 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 and harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with very fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. It is best planted it in a semi-shaded place, although mint can settle almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that should be grown for two or three years, after that it tends to exhaust itself and become less productive. Choose where you plant it carefully because mint spreads very fast thanks to its creeping roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to grow in the vegetable garden because mint is reputed to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as certain rodents. Harvest the leaves throughout the year, mainly from March to October.

There are many varieties of mint, the most well-known being spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal mint, and lemon mint. Depending on the varieties, the leaves will offer you a whole range of fragrances. In cooking, use them in any dish from starter to dessert, to flavour salads, summer grills, yoghurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusion, in tea or hot chocolate.

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

Storage: It is best to use the leaves fresh. If you don't use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and then store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, away 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.