Grown for digestion, anxiety, insomnia, headache, bacterial infection also its effects on the gastrointestinal system, and it’s properties in relation to bacterial growth & respiratory function.
Mentha x piperita is a hybrid of watermint (M. aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata). It’s sometimes called black or candy mint.
Peppermint has a pungent, peppery bite with a cool aftertaste that sets it apart from other types of mint. It’s a flavour that almost all of us have tried in candies, desserts, or health care products at some point.
In the garden it’s prolific, attracts pollinators, and is easy to grow.
If there was ever a plant that could make the blackest thumb turn green, it’s mint. Give it enough water and it will happily do its thing.
GROW: Press the peppermint seeds on the surface of seed starting mix. The seeds will be tiny, so use care and do not press too hard. You do not need to bury the seeds with soil. Keep the soil moist and germination will occur in five to ten days and perhaps sooner if the soil is kept warm with a heat mat
HARVEST: Always cut off whole stems rather than individual mint leaves. Plucking off the leaves can lead to damage and stress, whereas cutting the stems will cause the mint to sprout again more quickly. This prolific herb tends to have the most concentrated flavor just before flowering. Watch closely for when the flowers spikes have formed and chop at the base of the plant, just above the first or second set of leaves.Tip: It is best to harvest the top 10 – 20 cm of the mint, as the leaves are youngest here and taste more intense
USE: Fresh or dried