How to Grow and Care for Mint

Mintplants (Mentha spp.) are veryhardy perennials that can be grown indoors in containers or outdoors in the garden. These plants spread aggressively as their long stems grow upward, flop over, and root wherever they touch the soil. Mint plants produce small white or purple summer-blooming flowers that attract bees, butterflies,and other pollinators. The herb is a culinary delight and digestive aid known for its refreshing taste and spicy scent, and it also serves as a pest repellent. Mint is toxic to animals. Learn mint plant care so you can enjoy this versatile plant.

How to Plant Mint

When to Plant

Plant mint outdoors in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Generally, plant mint in late February to early March in zones 10 and above, April in zones 5 to 7, and mid-May in zones 3 and 4.

Selecting a Planting Site

Mint is an aggressive spreader, so keep it separated from your regular garden beds, or it will consume nutrients and overgrow other plants. Mint fares best in a damp, moist area with well-draining soil but also in a spot that's in either full sun or part shade. The plant favors fertile soil enriched withcompost. Plant the root ball completely in the ground, covering it with at least 1 to 2 inches of soil on top.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Plant mint cuttings or small purchased plants 18 inches to 2 feet apart outdoors. Two plants should be enough to cover a few feet of ground, as mint grows fast. This plant has a shallow root system, so you won't have to dig down too far—just enough to gently lay the plant and spread its roots with 1 to 2 inches of soil on top. To discourage mint from spreading in the garden, add edging around the planting area 18 to 24 inches deep into the soil or grow it in a container.

Tip

If you plant mint in pathway crevices and between rocky places in high-traffic areas, the mint will release its aromatic scent whenever the leaves are stepped on and crushed.

Growing Mint Indoors

Choose a 12-inch wide container to give the plant room to grow. Use soil with low fertilizer formulated for edible plants. Place the plant where it will get four to six hours of daily sunlight and where the temperature stays between 65°F and 75°F. Keep the soil moist and note that indoor mint plants may struggle in low humidity. Increase humidity by misting between waterings or using a water-filled tray of pebbles under the pot, especially during a dry winter.

Mint Plant Care

Light

Mint plants prefer partial shade, though too much shade produces leggy plants and less flavorful leaves. Mint will grow in full sun if watered frequently and somewhat protected from the strong afternoon sun.

Soil

Mint adapts to most soil types but prefers rich and well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Water

Water your mint during dry spells to keep the soil lightly moist, adding more water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Mint plants like water but waterlogged soil can rot their roots. Water mint in the morning so it stays moist as temperatures rise. Wilting foliage means the plant needs water.

Temperature and Humidity

Mint tolerates various temperatures but it can depend on the variety. For example, peppermint (Mentha piperita)is very cold hardy, and tolerates the cool temperatures in USDA hardiness zone 3. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) handles heat well and grows in USDA hardiness zone 11. Most mints are fine with average humidity outdoors.

Fertilizer

Feed mint plants about once per month (every four to six weeks) during the growing season if you have nutrient-poor soil. If you already have rich garden soil, you likely won't have to give your mint any supplemental fertilizer. Container-grown plants and plants grown in nutrient-poor soil will benefit from feeding with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer throughout the growing season, starting in spring when the plants emerge. Follow the label instructions of your specific fertilizer to dilute it as needed.

Pollination

Mint plants cross-pollinate, which could result in hybrid seeds. To keep your mint plants from producing hybrid seeds, grow them separately in different containers or garden beds. Or encourage cross-pollination by growing two varieties of mint together to produce seeds with combined characteristics like taste and smell.

Types of Mint

The many types of mint have a range of appearances and flavors. Popular mint varieties include:

• Mentha x piperita: Peppermint features a sweet, minty flavor and grows in USDA zones 3 to 11.
• Mentha x piperita f. citrata'Chocolate': Chocolate mint, a first cousin of peppermint, has leaves with a minty-chocolate flavor and aroma.
• Mentha spicata: Spearmint is excellent for flavoring teas and salads and is one of the better mints to use as a landscape ground cover. It grows in zones 5 to 9.
• Mentha piperita citrata: Orange mint is one of the tangiest of the fruit-flavored mints. It grows in zones 4 to 11.
• Mentha suaveolens: Apple mint combines the flavors of apple and mint. It grows in zones 5 to 11.
• Mentha suaveolens variegata: Pineapple mint is a variegated offshoot of apple mint. It grows in zones 6 to 11.
• Mentha arvensis: Also called wild mint, this type of mint has more of a sweet aroma than minty and it blooms purple, white, or pink flowers. It grows best in zones 3 to 8 and warmer zones if given enough water.

Mint vs. Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is part of the mint family and looks like mint, but it tastes and smells different than other typical types of mints. It has a lemony scent with a twist of mint. Lemon balm also has larger leaves and grows taller than mint.

Harvesting Mint

Harvest mint leaves once the plant has multiple stems that are 6 to 8 inches long. This amount of growth should take about two months if you are growing plants from seed, or less time if you buy nursery plants. Mature mint can be harvested in the summer and fall before the shoots die back. Do not harvest more than a third of a plant at one time, as removing large amounts can weaken the plant.

Use your freshly harvested mint as a garnish for various recipes or in mixed drinks, salads, soups, tea, baked goods, and more. Mint can be stored in the refrigerator for three to five days, but its freshest flavors are most prominent on the first day of harvesting. Mint can also be chopped and frozen to maintain its aroma.

How to Grow Mint in Pots

Growing mint in containers keeps it from spreading rampantly in your garden. Even potted, mint's long stems can touch the surrounding soil and take root so be mindful about where you place the container. Place it on a hard surface or add a double layer of landscaping cloth inside the pot over the drainage holes to prevent the roots from sneaking out of the container.

Repot the mint once it becomes root-bound. Older repotted mint plants may not have the best minty flavor, so you may want to root a cutting instead. Choose an unglazed clay container with ample drainage holes to allow excess moisture to escape.

To repot, remove the plant, gently loosen the roots, and put it in a container one to two sizes larger with fresh quality potting soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Pruning

If growing mint as a ground cover or in the garden, you'll likely want to trim back the plant to prevent its runners from spreading to unwanted places.

If you don't harvest your mint regularly, it will benefit from a shearing midseason. If you notice the stems getting longer and the leaves getting shorter, cut the plant back by a third or half to encourage fresh, new foliage with larger leaves.

Propagating Mint

Mint is a very easy plant to propagate by cuttings as a simple, cost-effective way to create new plants. Propagation is best done in the late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing and before it has bloomed. Here’s how:

1. Use sterilized scissors or pruning shears to cut a healthy piece of stem 4 to 6 inches long.
2. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem.
3. Place the stem in a container filled with water or a small pot filled with moistened potting mix. Put the container in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight.
4. Change the water every few days when rooting the cutting in water. Once roots grow to a few inches long, plant the cutting in potting soil.
5. Water to keep the soil lightly moist if you're rooting the cutting in potting soil.
6. When you can gently tug on the stem and feel resistance, roots will have formed. The rooting process takes a couple of weeks. You can then transplant the mint into the garden or another container.
   

How to Grow Mint From Seed

Sow seeds outdoors in the late spring after the danger of frost, or start seeds indoors about eight to 10 weeks before your area's last projected frost date. It's important to note that some mint varieties are hybrids and will not grow true to seed.

To grow mint from seed, lightly cover the seed with potting soil. Keep the soil moist until the seed germinates, which takes about 10 to 15 days. Plants started from seed should reach harvestable size within two months.

Overwintering

It's difficult to kill a mint plant, even in the winter. If you have mint planted outdoors, trim it low to the ground, cover it with leaves or mulch (some gardeners use an old sheet), and leave the plant alone until springtime.

Overwinter potted mint indoors before the threat of frost. Put the containers in an area that receives bright light and water consistently (do not let the soil become soggy). Inspect the plant regularly for pests.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Mint is usually not affected by pests or diseases. However, stressed plants can be bothered by common garden pests, including whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, andmealybugs.

Mint plants can sometimes contract rust, which appears as small orange spots on the undersides of leaves. Use a fungicide, and try to allow plants to dry between waterings.​

From: thespruce