Mentha espagnole

The Spanish Mint is a variety close to Moroccan mint, with wide, light green leaves that give off a fresh fragrance. This hardy, 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 flavor your salads, grills, sauces, desserts, or infusions. The plug plants of this variety are produced organically. They are planted in spring (from April to June) for a harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Preferably plant it in a semi-shaded location, although Mint can thrive almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years because beyond that, it tends to become less productive. Carefully choose the location where you want to plant it: Mint spreads very fast thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to install in the vegetable garden as Mint is reputed to repel unwanted garden insects such as aphids and ants, as well as some rodents. As for leaf harvesting, 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 whole range of flavors. 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 complete stem to promote regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to enjoy the mint's aromatic qualities to the fullest. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume the freshly cut leaves. If you don't use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and store the leaves in a closed jar, tightly sealed and 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 divide the clumps regularly, in autumn or spring.