Mint Growing Guide
The mint family (Lamiaceae) is a very large family of aromatic and flavorful herbs that belong in everyone’s garden. It adds a refreshing flavor to iced tea, but is also a wonderful addition to salads and often used as a garnish.
They are strong vigorous herbaceous perennials that are typically identified by their square stems. The mint family also includes many of the familiar culinary herbs such as basil, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Also if you have cats, you may want to grow catnip (Nepeta cataria) or catmint (Nepeta mussinii), which are related species. Many adult cats are strongly attracted to catnip, but not very much to catmint, which makes a very attractive flowering border plant.
It can be easily grown in containers outdoors as well as indoors in a very sunny window or under grow lights.
Seed Starting
Mint can be started indoors 6 to 8-weeks before your last expected frost date. Most gardeners prefer to purchase it potted from garden centers.
Follow the instructions on the seed packet. Sow the seeds evenly and thinly in a sterile seed starting mix in cell packs or pots.
You can direct sow them in your herb garden right after your last frost date.
For more detailed information visit the seed starting page.
Soil Preparation
Plant your mint in full sun to part sun in a nice loose well-drained garden soil. It does best in a slightly acid soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Planting Mint
Mint is a perennial herb that is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 11. Individual mint plants should be spaced 18 to 24-inches apart. Depending on the variety mint may grow 12 to 24-inches tall and 12 to 24-inches wide.
After planting it, water daily and once established, weekly to keep the soil moist.
It can spread aggressively and take over your garden by sending out horizontal runners and underground rhizomes. This characteristic will make it a good ground cover as it quickly spreads out.
Planting along a walkway or a driveway, between pavers or bricks, will help keep it from spreading. The fragrance as you pass by is very pleasing.
You can grow it in containers on a patio or deck, or in flower pots indoors on a sunny window for fresh leaves throughout the winter.
Watering and Care
Place a few inches of a nice loose mulch of shredded leaves or pine straw to shade the plant roots. This will keep the weeds out, the soil cooler and help retain moisture. Keep the mulch a couple of inches away from the stem. During dry spells give some water each week. If planted in a container it will need to be watered more often to ensure that it does not dry out.
Harvesting Mint
The taste and smell of mint improves after the flowers have formed. Crushing the leaves greatly releases the aroma and flavor.
The leaves or sprigs with a cluster of leaves, can be sniped or pinched. Harvesting the leaf tips and flower buds will encourage new growth and keep the plant compact and bushy.
They are shallow rooted, so take care not to pull the plant out of the ground as you remove the leaves or stems. Pulling up the runners that the plants send out will help keep it from spreading.
Older established plants may get a bit tall and ragged looking. They will benefit by cutting them back in late spring through mid-summer, leaving about 6-inches of stem left. This severe cutting will rejuvenate the plant. Do not do this late summer through the fall, the new growth needs time to mature and harden off before the cold winter sets in.
Drying Mint
The leaves can be easily preserved by drying. When you dry your excess that you grow during the summer months you can enjoy and have a steady supply during the winter and spring.
There are several methods of drying the leaves. If you are in a warm, dry, low humidity location, you can dry them in the sun or in a dry barn or a shed. A very good method of drying the leaves is using a food dehydrator following your unit’s directions. Check occasionally for dryness, which may take several hours. When the leaves are brittle and crumbly when you press on them, they are done.
For most gardeners the easiest and fastest way is to dry in the oven. Pick your leaves after the dew has dried. To avoid having to remove the dried stems after drying, it is easier to cut them off before drying. Discard any discolored or bruised leaves. The leaves should be dry before putting in the oven. Place a thin layer of whole or cut leaves on a parchment lined cookie sheet and place in the oven at a very low temperature setting. Leave the door slightly open.
If the temperature is too high, the mint leaves may turn brown. Keeping the temperature around 200-degrees F or slightly lower, your dried mint leaves will have nice green color. When dried, the leaves will be brittle and crumbly when you press on them. Check occasionally for dryness. The time it takes may be an hour or so depending on temperature and the amount of mint leaves you are drying.
When the leaves are fully dried, they can be stored in a tightly sealed Mason jar.
Diseases and Pests
Mint plants are rugged and hardy, but when young they are vulnerable to whiteflies, blackflies, spider mites, snails and slugs. Keep an eye on them and use a light row cover and hand pick when needed.
Popular Mint Varieties
Apple Mint, Calamint, Catmint, Chocolate Mint, Ginger Mint, Lemon Balm, Orange Mint, Peppermint, Pineapple Mint, Spearmint, and Sweet Mint.
Sources: Seeds Now, Burpee, Park Seed
Tips and Warnings
Mint has a very aggressive growth habit of spreading and taking over your garden. To keep mint from spreading it should be grown in a round container such as a large plastic flower pot that has many drainage holes in the bottom.
Dig a hole and place the pot in the hole leaving an inch or two above the ground. Fill the pot with good garden soil and plant the mint. Several times during the growing season, give the round pot a quarter or half of a turn to break off any roots growing through the drainage holes.
Garden Spikes newsletters give you timely information once or twice a month. Subscribe Free to the Garden Times newsletter below.
Your email address will only be used to send you a newsletter and will never be sold. You can unsubscribe at any time.
