In June, spike-like panicles form on the peppermint in the garden, producing small, white-pink flowers. Until the flowers open, a lot of essential oil accumulates in the leaves. If you want to dry or freeze peppermint, you should harvest beforehand.
Can you harvest peppermint when it blooms?
Peppermint can also be harvested during the flowering period, which lasts from June to August. However, the leaves are most aromatic before flowering. During flowering, the flowers themselves contain hardly any aromatic substances and should not be used.
Peppermint blossom
- Flowering season begins in June
- Flowering can last until August
- Small white-pink flowers
- Most aromatic before flowering
Peppermint does not become poisonous after flowering
There is a persistent rumor that the leaves of peppermint can no longer be harvested when the plant flowers.
That's not right. You can also cut the leaves after the flowering period, which begins in June and can last until August.
However, they are no longer as aromatic as they were right before flowering and taste a bit more bitter.
Do not harvest directly during flowering
As long as the peppermint is in full bloom in the garden, you should not harvest the plant. The flowers contain hardly any aromatic substances and should therefore not be cooked in tea or preserved.
If you would like to harvest very aromatic mint, only cut it until the flowering period begins, i.e. shortly before the flowers open. When the plant has finished flowering, the leaves are still suitable for tea or as a spice in salads.
Collecting seeds from the flowers
Peppermint is usually propagated via runners or head cuttings. But you can also collect seeds from the flowers.
To do this, wait until the flowers have bloomed and dried. If fertilization has occurred, you can carefully pick the dry flowers from the plant and gently shake them out. The seed falls out on its own.
It is best to keep it dry in a paper bag until you want to sow new peppermint.
Tips & Tricks
Not only the well-known tea can be made from fresh peppermint. The plant is also popular in cocktails such as the Mojito or as a refreshing addition to desserts. To ensure that the aroma comes into its own, you should, if possible, use peppermint that was harvested shortly before flowering.
