When to Pick Mint Leaves for Tea?

Mint tea is refreshing and delicious.

Mint is featured in many herb gardens. This rapidly spreading plant must be kept in check to prevent it from taking over the garden. Reining in the roots by keeping the plant potted will help, and regularly harvesting the leaves can provide a ready supply of aromatic leaves for tea.

Time Frame

Herbs such as mint should be harvested in the morning, on a sunny day after all moisture has dried from their leaves. It's important to harvest before noon because moisture leaves the plant later in the day and decreases its aromatic properties.

Features

Harvest before the mint flowers open. A spike of tiny blooms will begin to appear on the tops of your mint plants around the middle of the growing season. Texas A&M University's website advises you to harvest your mint leaves before these itsy bitsy blossoms begin to bloom.

Considerations

Mint is a perennial herb, and the University of Vermont website notes that perennial herbs should be harvested in no later than a month before fall frost.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Herbs From Seed
• Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension: Fall is for Herbs
• University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science: Homegrown Teas