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Posted: May/28/2009 6:53 PM PST
Hi everybody, I'm back in need of another bit of advice  My herbs are all doing wonderfully; luscious, green and full of odour. My question is this; my mint is growing like a weed, but instead of being full and growing upwards like before, it is now starting to hang because of the length of the stems. It is still very healthy and green though. Is this ok, or should I cut it back to maintain its fullness? If I do cut it back, can I freeze the cuttings or how should I store them so I can use them later? Cheers in advance for any advice.
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Posted: May/29/2009 2:09 AM PST
You can cut the mint all you want to. It won't hurt it. It's tough! Sure you can freeze it. |
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Posted: May/29/2009 2:40 AM PST
Excellent! That's settled then. Thanks 
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Posted: Jun/23/2009 7:18 AM PST
I like to dry my mint, then I don't use up freezer space. I love to use it as tea. |
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Posted: Jun/30/2009 5:34 PM PST
I have the same problem with my mint. I also need the space the mint is taking now as i didnt realize how much space watermelon would take. I have pruned the heck out of my mint and hung it upside down in a spare room with a celing fan on so its is well ventalated. I also have basil and would like to do the same with it but heard this is not how you dry basil. Any thought on what i should do with it. I would love to keep fresh basil but there has been a watermelon takeover and the melons are starting to cramp the style of other plants.If i dug up my basil and moved it do you think it would survive this late in the year? I want to use it fresh when i can my tomatoes this year. Any advice will help. |
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Posted: Jul/02/2009 2:53 AM PST
I don't know if I'd chance moving it, but it might survive. The best thing to do is take cuttings of the basil. It roots easily in water right on the window sill. You could probably keep it going all winter like that. I've got some in the window right now just rooting away! I dry my basil by pressing. I just put the leaves in an old phone book between paper towels. It's not as pungent, but it's better than nothing, but the best thing is rooting in water and then potting up. |
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Posted: Jul/08/2009 9:21 AM PST
Speaking of mint - I have some that is trying to take over my flower bed I am trying to get rid of it or at least get it in a pot but I heard that if you cover mint to smother (kill) it then if it comes up again it will be kill you if you eat it. Any idea on whether this is true or not? Also if I dig up my mint can I just plant it in a pot or will this not work to transplant it? |
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Posted: Jul/14/2009 6:16 PM PST
I dug up my basil and moved the whole plant after a large drink of water and he remained unphased. It never even wilted. I am thinking to move my mint the same way to give me more space. Two weeks ago i cut my mint to the ground after i harvested all i would need and now its about 6 inches tall again and is getting bigger every day. It seems to even be spreading a bit. |
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Posted: Jul/15/2009 7:53 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by prettwtch Speaking of mint - I have some that is trying to take over my flower bed I am trying to get rid of it or at least get it in a pot but I heard that if you cover mint to smother (kill) it then if it comes up again it will be kill you if you eat it. Any idea on whether this is true or not? Also if I dig up my mint can I just plant it in a pot or will this not work to transplant it?Talk about an old wives tale. Of course not. It won't kill you. It's just a tenacious plant. You should have no trouble digging it up and putting it into a pot. There's no way you're going to smother mint. It will spread itself to where it wants to be. You just have to be as tenacious as it is and keep pulling it out of the flower bed, and then you probably won't get every little piece of it. Most mints are hard to get rid of when they are in the ground. |
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Posted: Jul/15/2009 12:54 PM PST
I wish I knew this about mint before putting 3 plants in the corner of my vegetable garden!!! 
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