Mentha spicata Nannah

The Moroccan Mint - Mentha spicata 'Nannah' is a variety with light green, wavy leaves that emit a fresh fragrance. This hardy and perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in the ground or in a pot. It will reach a height of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). Its leaves will flavor your salads, grilled dishes, sauces, or desserts. This variety is ideal for the famous mint tea. The plug plants of this variety come from organic production. They can be planted in spring (from April to June) or at the end of summer (August-September) for a harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Ideally, plant it in a semi-shaded area, although mint can thrive almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years as, beyond that, it tends to become less productive. Choose carefully where you want to plant it: mint spreads rapidly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its growth. It is ideal to install in the vegetable garden as mint is known to repel unwanted insects in the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as certain 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 balm. Depending on the variety, the leaves will offer you a whole range of fragrances. In cooking, use them from appetizers to desserts, to flavor salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yogurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusion, in tea or hot chocolate.

Harvest: Harvest the leaves as needed. Choose the largest leaves and cut the entire stem to encourage regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to make the most of the aromatic qualities of mint. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume the freshly cut leaves. If you don't use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, protected from light.

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.