Content
- How to collect peppermint seeds
- The peppermint flowers
- Harvest seeds from the peppermint
- Gently shake from the flower
- Buy seeds in the specialized trade
- Tips & Tricks
How to collect peppermint seeds
The seeds of peppermint flowers are collected in early autumn. Leave the flowers to fertilize insects. You need to be aware of this when collecting peppermint seeds to sow in the garden or on the balcony.
The peppermint flowers
In June and July, the small white-pink flowers appear on the peppermint plant. Since the plant is the most aromatic shortly before flowering, it is usually harvested first.
If you want to collect seeds to repopulate peppermint, you need to leave the flowering shoots on the plant. Only then can a fertilization take place.
Harvest seeds from the peppermint
When the plant has withered, you have two options for harvesting seeds.
Either leave the flower on the plant until the seeds are ripe. Whether they are ripe, it can be seen that they fall from the dried flower at the slightest touch.
As a second option cut the stems with the flower as soon as it has turned brown. Lay them loosely next to each other on a white paper towel. On it you can best recognize the dark seeds. Store the cloth in a warm place to dry.
Gently shake from the flower
Ripe seeds dissolve easily from the flower. You just have to shake a little bit and the seeds will fall out. Therefore, only harvest with a light surface.
Peppermint seeds germinate slowly and irregularly and sometimes not at all. Therefore, collect many seeds so that later at least a few plants grow from them.
Buy seeds in the specialized trade
If you do not have peppermint plants in the garden so far, you can also buy the seeds. In the supermarket, the bags are offered inexpensively. However, it is rarely noted on the bags, which variety it is.
A larger selection offers the garden trade. Here you will find very different peppermint seeds for sowing.
Tips & Tricks
Instead of sowing peppermint, it is more promising to buy them in the pot and to plant in the garden or to cultivate on the balcony. Cut cuttings from the plants if you want to multiply them.
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