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Herbs

Mint

Peppermint

This is a wonderfully aromatic mint for potpourri, as well as for drinks, salads and baking.

Peppermint is easy to grow and spreads quickly, so try it in a patio container or even a container “planted” in the garden. It prefers full sun and has square purple stems; the purplish leaves have pointed tips, making Peppermint a unique ornamental plant. It’s best as a dried herb with vegetables, as a garnish, in sauces and combined with other herbs to make tea.

Spacing: 12-18in (30-45cm)

Height: 4-6in (10-15cm)

Exposure: Full Sun - 6+ hours direct sun

• Choose a sunny location (6+ hours of sun) and dig a hole about two times as wide as your pot.

• Remove your plant from the pot by loosening the soil and tipping it out into your hand. Place your plant in the soil about as deep as it was in the pot.

• Refill the space around your plant with soil and press lightly to compact the dirt, keeping your plant firmly in the ground.

• Water immediately to settle the soil, and add more soil as needed, bringing it level to the rest of your garden.

Water as needed all season to keep soil evenly moist, keeping your eye out for the first sign of wilt. Wilting is a sure sign that your mint needs water. Feed with a vegetable fertilizer to ensure your bountiful harvest.
Harvest mint leaves before the plant flowers. Cut about half-way down the stalk, leaving smaller shoots in-tact to continue growing. Leaves can be chopped or muddled to release their aroma and oils.
Mint leaves can be used fresh, dried or frozen. You can also preserve them in salt, sugar, syrup or oil.
Mint is native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It has been used to treat digestive ailments, insomnia, and has some antifungal activity.