How to Harvest Mint to Promote More Growth

Posted on Jul 19 2011 - 2:55am by Mike Lieberman

Categorized as

How To
Tips

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Your mint container is likely overflowing and ready to harvest. If not, it should be. There is a way that you can harvest it to encourage even more growth from the delicious herb.

What you are going to want to do is pinch it from the top. What the hell does that mean? It means that you are going to have to find the sprig that you want and pinch it as close to the next set of leaves as possible. This will help to encourage the plant to grow more.

If that doesn’t make any sense, check out this quick video. It makes more sense visually than written.

What’s your favorite way to use mint?

Where to buy mint seeds? Get them here: http://www.seedsnow.com/collections/types?q=All+mint+seeds

31 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

Juanita Wright July 19, 2011 at 11:03 am -

I’m growing spearmint, my favorite of the mints. I am really fond of tea made with it, either hot or iced. I have discovered that minted peas are sensational. With this heat wave we’re having here, I ‘m tempted to put it in almost everything, just to get some cooling refreshment. lol But it is very cooling in a nice fruit salad. How do like to use it the best, Mike?
Tris July 19, 2011 at 1:13 pm -

Oh, my mint is going crazy in this heat too! I’ve already harvested sooooo much of it and it is still going strong! I like to dry most of it and then grind it. We mix it with oatmeal, powdered milk and epsom salts for foot soak tea.
Mike Lieberman July 19, 2011 at 1:15 pm -

I like it in my smoothies or throwing it in some water for a hint of flavor. Def gonna be making some teas with it in the fall and winter.
Mike Lieberman July 19, 2011 at 1:15 pm -

Oh I like the foot soak idea…
Rebecca Stujenske July 19, 2011 at 2:18 pm -

Do you have any advice on drying and storing mint?
Tris July 19, 2011 at 2:49 pm -

I like to do the hang upside down with rubberbands method. As for storing, we just use a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Just make sure that mint is really crispy dry before sealing it in the jar.
Mike Lieberman July 19, 2011 at 4:28 pm -

Nice. Thanks for the tips.
Mamasimpson July 19, 2011 at 8:15 pm -

I like mint in water and smoothies on noodles and in baked goods. I’ve never dried it before but think I’m going to give it a try.
Sundownr July 20, 2011 at 3:39 am -

I use chocolate mint in banana nut bread and other desserts as well as in coffee. I use peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, horehound, and catnip in mostly medicinal teas, but like them in desserts, smoothies, and various cold drink, too. Mints are very good for you and refreshing in summer!
Stacy July 20, 2011 at 4:17 am -

Chocolate mint with homemade raspberry granita (basically delicious, frozen raspberry puree) is amazing! I am hooked!
Mike Lieberman July 20, 2011 at 4:57 am -

Always good to experiment with new things.
Mike Lieberman July 20, 2011 at 4:58 am -

Absolutely. Do you mix them with anything else in your teas?
Mike Lieberman July 20, 2011 at 4:58 am -

Sounds damned good!
Ondine N July 20, 2011 at 7:45 pm -

thank you! my mint just keeps trying to escape its container and sending out bunches of vines… hope this helps 🙂
Mike Lieberman July 20, 2011 at 10:04 pm -

Eat more!
Dotnet July 28, 2011 at 3:39 am -

Mojitos! 🙂
Mike Lieberman July 28, 2011 at 1:45 pm -

Good call.
Pruandme August 10, 2011 at 10:15 pm -

excellent timing, thank you!
Mike Lieberman August 11, 2011 at 4:29 am -

I’m good like that.
Karen Gibson April 22, 2012 at 4:37 pm -

I frequently put mint in my large insulated glass of ice water that I carry around all day… viola! Minty fresh water which tastes delicious. I am also looking forward to making mojitos.
Mike Lieberman April 23, 2012 at 6:37 am -

Sounds great to me!
Christine April 24, 2012 at 2:16 pm -

I have a confession. As much as I love eating mint right off the plant, and I do on a daily basis, I mostly planted it around my roses to keep the squirrels from eating the flower buds, lol. Though I have taken rooted cuttings and given them to friends and co-workers!
Mike Lieberman April 24, 2012 at 3:20 pm -

The honesty is appreciated. 😉
Elizabeth Staeheli June 19, 2012 at 12:42 pm -

Love the touch of the mint behind the ear :)…. I love too, to see young people gardening!
Mike Lieberman June 19, 2012 at 3:54 pm -

Word.
Calogero Mira July 17, 2012 at 4:10 am -

I have mint here @ home. Thanks a lot.
CMGardening July 17, 2012 at 4:12 am -

I have mint here at home. Thanks a lot.
fiddlerswife June 10, 2013 at 11:09 am -

My husband and I just bought our first mint plant..it is getting long and stringy, so I looked up how to take care of it and harvest it..I found you..Thanks!! I could listen to you talk all day. I am from South Jersey and live in Tennesee… miss the accent..lol :-}
Heather July 30, 2013 at 10:28 pm -

I make a mint syrup and add it to my lemon water or cucumber water!!!
LS October 21, 2013 at 4:41 pm -

I came to find out how best to pinch off my mint, I stayed to watch the cutie pie on the porch! Go urban organic gardener. Thanks for the visual b/c I totally did not get that I should go past the whole top sprig to pinch. BTW my favorite is a makeshift virgin mojito: a spritzer with muddled mint on the bottom of a big stemware glass, add ice, then whatever sweet juice or leftover wine is around, and some mineral water. Make one for a friend instead of offering soda and they think you are some kind of culinary genius. Add a squirt of fresh lemon wedge and it’s like, “Oh, please. We are so high-end yoga.”
Mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits February 18, 2014 at 9:19 am -

Hi Mike,
I just found your site and I think it’s great. I’ve been wanting to plant some plant and herbs. I haven’t had much luck in the past with my plants so I’m hoping I’ll learn some tricks here. It’s not entirely my fault the harsh AZ weather conditions can be pretty tough on plants.