The rapid growth of mint cannot be controlled solely by harvesting. Only repeated cutting back prevents the mint family from becoming wild. We explain the best cut, peppered with useful tips.
How do I cut mint correctly?
Mint should be cut back before the first flowering in June/July, leaving at least one pair of leaves. A second cut is made before flowering in August/September, in which all branches are shortened close to the ground.
Professional pruning requires courageous action
Mint is rightly considered an invasive plant. The blatant growth rate inevitably results in the herb plants becoming wild if you do not cut them back regularly. How to do it right:
- cut back the shoots shortly before the first flowering in June/July
- As long as at least one pair of leaves remains on the mint, it will sprout again
- This is followed by a second, weaker flowering in August/September
- before the flowers unfold, cut all branches back to the ground
If you want to harvest the seeds for sowing yourself, the mint can wither completely. In this case, wait until the small fruits containing the seeds are ripe before pruning. This process is at the expense of the aroma; in return you receive an abundance of seeds for the next season.
Cuttings are too good to be disposed of
If you choose a time to prune mint shortly before the flowering period, you will have a particularly aromatic yield in your hands with the cuttings. The leaves are now full of essential oils and are therefore too good to end up in the compost. Instead, we recommend preserving using one of the following methods:
- Freeze mint sprigs or individual leaves
- Cut the leaves into small pieces, fill them into ice cube trays, add water and freeze
- tie the most beautiful shoots into bouquets and dry them upside down
If you like to snack on sweets, candied the freshly harvested mint in sugar syrup. In this way it can be kept for at least 2 weeks to serve as a tempting decoration on cakes, in ice cream sundaes or similar treats.
Tips & Tricks
Mint grows just as vigorously underground as it does above ground. So that the roots don't take over the entire garden, experienced hobby gardeners repeatedly cut them off with a spade (€29.00 on Amazon). You can save yourself this strenuous work by planting mint outdoors with a root barrier.
