Lemon Mint - Mentha citrata

Lemon Mint (Mentha citrata) is a variety with variegated green and yellow leaves that give off a lemon scent. This hardy and perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in the ground or a pot. It will reach a height of 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32in). Its leaves will flavour your salads, grills, sauces, desserts, or infusions—plant in spring or autumn and harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Plant it in a semi-shaded area, although Mint can adapt to almost any location. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years because, beyond that, it tends to become less productive. Choose carefully where you want to plant it: Mint spreads quickly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to install in the vegetable garden as Mint is known to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as some rodents. As for leaf harvesting, it can be done throughout the year, mainly from March to October.

There are many varieties of mint, the most well-known being spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and lemon mint. The leaves will offer you a range of flavours depending on the variety. Use them from starters to desserts, to flavour salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yoghurt-based sauces, or fruits in cooking. The leaves are also delicious in infusions, tea, or hot chocolate.

Harvest: Harvest the leaves as you need them. Choose the most giant leaves and cut the complete stem to encourage regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to make the most of the mint's aromatic qualities. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume the freshly cut leaves. If you are not using the fresh leaves, dry the stems and store the leaves in a tightly closed jar away from light.

The gardener's tip: If you want to plant mint in the vegetable garden while limiting its spread, plant it in a pot and bury the pot in the middle of your garden! Choose a large enough pot and regularly divide the clumps in autumn or spring.