With Multiple Uses, Mint Is A Great Addition To Any Garden
Deciding to grow mint this year means I’ll be enjoying mint tea all winter long. I truly enjoy waking up on a cold day and enjoying a cup of tea. Recently I had a cup of mint tea and thought, I bet I could grow my own!
Today, I will share how to grow mint and harvest it for tea.
How To Grow Mint
First, you will want to decide where you’d like to grow your mint – inside or outside? If planting inside, I recommend a kit from Back To The Roots. Their kits are easy to use, contain detailed instructions, and this kit in particular you’ll get other herbs to grow as well. If you want to grow outside, keep reading.
Mint is a vigorous grower, and is a perennial in some locations. I prefer to plant my mint in a planter so it won’t take over too much space. You can certainly place mint in the ground, but it will quickly take over if you allow.
When planting, plat outdoors after your last frost. Space seeds or plants 18″-24″ apart. Soil should be kept moist, and harvest often. It’s important to realize the more often you harvest, the bushier and more leaves you will get.
That’s it, mint is pretty easy! Next I will discuss how to harvest mint for tea.
Harvesting Mint For Tea
When the time comes to harvest, choose the leaves you’d like. Simply pinch the stems off the plant and put in a basket or bag for safe keeping. Wash & dry the mint before using or drying.
Dry mint in a dehydrator set at 105 degrees for 2-5 hours. Alternatively, you can use an oven at 200 degrees (or as low as it goes) for a few hours. If your oven doesn’t go as low as 200, you may need to prop the door open slightly.
After drying, the mint should be vibrant green, if it’s more brown you may have cooked the mint vs dried the mint. Store mint in a cool, dry place in a jar. I prefer to let my dried leaves sit out a few hours after drying to completely cool prior to placing in a jar.
When you are ready for your cup of tea, you can slightly grind the leaves into a tea ball or into a tea bag. Steep for a few minutes and then try the tea. If you want a stronger flavor, allow to steep longer, or add more leaves.
Catch up on all my blog series until your mint grows!
Check Out All The Posts In This Series:
- Grow Your Own Tea Series Announcement
- Complete Your Garden By Adding Chamomile
- Reward Yourself By Growing Beautiful Butterfly Pea Flower
- Grow Mint For A Guaranteed Fresh Cup Of Tea
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