Peppermint – Growing, Harvesting, and Enjoying It All Year

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a well-known medicinal plant – and also one of the most rewarding to grow in your own garden. Once planted, it comes back reliably year after year.

Active compounds and their traditional uses

The properties in the following list are traditionally attributed to these compounds. They are not proven healing effects, and the list is not a recommendation for use.

Peppermint contains:

• Menthol – cooling, antispasmodic, expectorant
• Menthone & menthyl acetate – antibacterial, digestive-supporting
• Flavonoids & tannins – anti-inflammatory

Traditional uses: digestive complaints, headaches, colds, concentration.

⚠️ Important before planting

Peppermint spreads aggressively and crowds out other plants. Always plant it in a pot or with a root barrier – otherwise it will take over the whole bed within a single season.

Growing & location

Location: Partial shade to full sun, moist, humus-rich soil.

Propagation: Not from seed – peppermint is a hybrid and does not come true from seed. Instead: buy runners, cuttings or divided plants.

Pot: At least 20 cm deep, with a drainage hole. Water regularly, never let it dry out completely.

Overwintering: Hardy down to about -15°C. Move potted plants somewhere protected, cover outdoor plants with a bit of mulch.

When & how to harvest

Best harvest time: May to September, just before or during flowering – that is when the menthol content is highest.

How: Cut the shoots back by about a third. Do not cut too deep, always leave a few pairs of leaves standing. This encourages bushy regrowth.

Tip: Harvest in the morning after the dew has settled – that is when the essential oils are most concentrated.

Uses

Tea – 2–3 fresh or dried sprigs, steep for 5–7 minutes. Do not boil it, that destroys the essential oils.

Kitchen – summer drinks, desserts, salads, lamb dishes, pesto.

Traditional home remedies – peppermint oil on the temples is traditionally used for headaches, a steam bath for colds.

⚠️ Not for babies and toddlers: menthol and peppermint oil must not be used around their face – neither as a steam bath nor as a rub. They can trigger a spasm of the larynx and even respiratory arrest.

Drying & storage

Bundle the sprigs and hang them upside down in an airy, shaded spot – not in the sun, or the essential oils will evaporate. After about 1–2 weeks they will be dry; then strip the leaves and store airtight. Keeps for 1–2 years.

Freezing also works well: wash the leaves, dry them, and freeze in portions.

Notes from the EMA monograph

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) lists peppermint leaf and peppermint oil as a traditional herbal medicinal product. For its use it states, among other things:

• peppermint leaf (tea): not recommended for children under 4; not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as safety has not been established; be cautious with gallstones
• peppermint oil: contraindicated in children under 2, because menthol can trigger reflex apnoea or laryngospasm, and in children with a history of seizures
• do not use peppermint oil on the skin continuously for more than 2 weeks

The monograph applies to tested preparations – home-gathered herb is not dosed more precisely.

Sources

• European Medicines Agency (EMA): European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., folium (Rev. 1), as of EMA/HMPC/572705/2014, accessed 5 Oct 2026
• European Medicines Agency (EMA): European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., aetheroleum (Rev. 1), as of EMA/HMPC/522410/2013, accessed 5 Oct 2026

The sources support individual statements in this article. The organisations named have neither reviewed nor endorsed it.