grow mint for a regular supply all season long is easy . Here ’s what you demand to have it off about mint plant care .
Mint has many unlike uses . Its fresh green leave-taking add a lemonlike lick tofruit salads , ice pick , sherbert , and brew tea . It ’s a flavorful addition to a simple methamphetamine of still or effervescent water . And whoever hear of a slew julep without the stack ? One plant life is usually plenty to supply a summer ’s worth of this tonic herbaceous plant . Along with their culinary and aromatic properties , mint flower attract pollinators .
When people typically think of mint , two types come to mind : peppermint and spearmint . There are several other lesser - eff species , all with a distinct taste . hatful plant are easy cross with one another , and several hybrid go on naturally , result in a reach of delectable flavors , scents , and intensities .
Credit: Scott Little
Most commonly grown for their culinary appeal , many wad metal money are also attractive decorative plants . In summer , cluster of small flush appear in shades of lavender , whitened , or pinkish . There are also attractive motley batch , which make eye - catching garnishes , such as variegated pineapple mint with cream - edged fuzzy parting , or ginger slew with deep dark-green leaves and gold vein .
Where to Plant Mint
For the most fertile plants with the strongest flavor , give mint a blot in ample soil and provide consistent moisture . Mint plants grow best in full sun as long as they are well - watered ; otherwise , they tolerate part shade . If you are growing mint plants for their flowers to attract beneficial worm to the garden , plant them in full Lord’s Day .
mountain acquire well in containers , which is a perfect agency to have a glob right near your kitchen doorway for quick and promiscuous nip for formula .
Unless it is contained , spate spreads aggressively and competes with other plant life for water and nutrients in the soil , lead to stunted growth or even death of surround plants . Planting mint in a container is a great direction to control its strong-growing use .
Credit: Bryan E. McCay
How and When to Plant Mint
Plant mint in glasshouse containersin spring after the last frost , spacing them 18 - 24 inch apart . Prepare a garden bottom by digging in compost to amend drainage . Dig a hole the same astuteness and slightly larger than the greenhouse container . Set the plant in the hole and backfill with the amended soil , compact down with your hands to remove air pockets . Water the plant well .
Mint is anherb that grow well in containers , which is a sound way to keep it under control . Plant it in a pot that is at least a 12 to 16 inches broad . If you want to add the plant to a garden bed , first sink a plain , lightweight credit card container with the bottom move out into the soil so the rim is barely above ground degree . That style , the throne wo n’t show , but it will keep the herb under dominance .
Another option is to plant mint candy in a enceinte pot and leave it outdoors year - round . Do n’t keep ceramic pots outdoors during wintertime . They often break up during freeze - melting cycles as temperatures fluctuate over the colder calendar month .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Mint Care Tips
Mint is an undemanding herbaceous plant that is promiscuous to grow and care for .
Light
Plant mint infull sunor part shade . It adapts to just about any type of soil , but it evolve the good foliage in moist , well - drained soilthat has beenenriched with compost .
Soil and Water
Mint enjoys rich soil but grows well in most soil type . Keep the area around your mintfree of weeds . Otherwise , it looks untidy , and the weeds may lose weight output and affect smell .
Water to keep the territory slenderly moist at all time — about every two or three days . Although many varieties tolerate drouth , they wo n’t grow as well or have as good a flavor in ironical times .
Temperature and Humidity
The idealistic temperature for growing mint — indoors or out — is 65 ° F to 70 ° F . However , the plant is typically hardy to -20 ° farad and grows in Zones 2 - 10 .
Mint grow well in average humidity of around 40 to 50 percent . If your garden or home ca n’t accommodate that range , offer additional humidity bymisting the plantevery few years . Mint does better in high-pitched humidness than in low humidness .
Fertilizer
Mint does n’t require much plant food . fecundate in - land spate once in the spring using a balanced , slow - release fertilizer , such as a16 - 16 - 16 formulation .
Fertilize container - grown passel with a balanced melted plant food in early fountain and every six to eight weeks during the growing season .
Pruning
Frequent cutting keep mints looking attractive . As with basil and other flowering herbs grown for their farewell , take out the prime as they appear , andpinch back the stemsto encourage scant , bushy growth . After a concentrated hoarfrost withers the prow in dip , cut the plant life to the earth .
Potting and Repotting Mint
Mintcan be produce indoorsin a pot . found it in a container with drain jam and set it where it gets a generous amount of brightness level , either natural orfrom a grow light , but keep the plant aside from any component that might dry it out , such as a heater or a radiator . After two year , repot the plant in a container twice the size with fresh potting soil .
Pests and Problems
Mint is prone toseveral plant diseases , such as verticillium wilt , mint rusting , and anthracnose . If they strike , the proficient thing to do is get rid of the works and plant Modern , respectable ones . Do n’t place them in the same spot or the same potting soil because that increase the chances that the disease will go around again to the replacement plants .
blighter such as wanderer mites , flea mallet , aphids , and cutworm can also be a trouble . If you intend to eat your mint , it ’s well to avoid any pesticides , even rude I . rather , knock off worm using a strong jet of water from a garden hose , being sure to spray the underside of the leaves , where pest wish to hide .
Mint spread quickly by belowground runners experience as rootstock . It quickly takes over a garden layer and outcompetes nearby plant . To contain the moon curser , plant it in a container with the bottom removed and eat up the container in the earth .
Credit: Denny Schrock
How to Propagate Mint
Mint is propagated by stem cuttings , division , or come .
Stem Cuttings : occupy a small pot with commercial potting soil . Make certain the pot has a drain hollow ; it if does n’t , the prow and fresh roots may rot . Take 3- to 5 - inchstem cuttingsfrom the tips of a passel plant ’s stems . Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting . Dip the theme in root internal secretion if you have it , but it is n’t essential for success ; pile ordinarily roots well without it . Make a hole in the potting soil , insert the cutting , and firm the soil around it . you may put several cuttings in the pot if their folio do n’t touch . Keep the sens and cuttings in indirect sunlight until you see new growth , watering as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy .
division : hit the mint from a pot or drudge up the glob of rhizomes and roots from mint planted outdoors . Use your hands to separate the clump into two or three department , starting from the bottom up . practice a needlelike knife , if needed , to geld through the roots and rootstock . Each section must have healthy , intact rootstock . Do n’t worry about breaking some of the roots , though . They should find quickly . Replant the divisions immediately at the same astuteness as the parent plant was and irrigate them well . Divide mint every few years .
Credit: Holly Shimizu
seed : Fill a container with commercial seed - starting mixture or a sterile growing medium . The container needs a drain hole . souse the seeds for a couple of hours in strong H2O before institute them speeds up germination . Sow the seminal fluid lightly across the planting culture medium , pressing them in lightly but do n’t cover them ; they want light to germinate . irrigate them , and they will germinate in 10 - 15 days . Place the container in a warm property with indirect ignitor until you see growth , watering as needed to keep the planting medium moist , not pissed . When the seedling are a couple of inches tall , thin them if needed . After the last hoar in spring , move the container outdoors .
The seeds can also be inseminate directly in a inclined bottom outdoors after the last frost in springtime . Do not cut across the seeds and thin the seedlings as require when they are several inches marvelous .
Harvesting Mint
The best time toharvest mintis in the morning before heat or sun warms the folio , but you could break off sprig or attract off farewell from your pot plant any time you require some for a formula ( the flavor is skilful before the bloom of youth appear ) . Use fresh leave-taking immediately , orfreeze them to retain their bright colour .
Toair - ironic mint , hang the fore upside down in small bundles or broadcast them loosely in a little tray . When the prow and leaves are brittle , remove the leaves and flowers and store them in airtight containers .
Types of Mint
Not all mints taste the same . Try mature several varieties to compare their smell and obtain your favorite .
Applemint
Mentha suaveolenshas a delightful wintergreen flavour and fragrance . The fresh leaves can be used to make apple - mint gelatin or a stomach - soothing tea leaf . Like other mints , it is an belligerent grower . Applemint grows 3 human foot improbable and spreads several foot wide . zone 5 - 9
‘Chocolate’ Mint
Mentha piperita’Chocolate ' is a fast - spreading mess survival of the fittest with dark green leaves , over-embellished - tinted stems , and a light hot chocolate - pot aroma . It grows 3 base tall and spreads indefinitely . Zones 4 - 9
Ginger Mint
Menthaxgracilis , often referred to as peppiness mint , is a endearing mint that has bright green foliage with yellow veins . It has a gingery odor atop the common pile fragrance . Zones 5 - 9
‘Julep’ Spearmint
Mentha spicata’Julep ' is a selection of spearmint that acquire 18 - 24 inches tall and 14 - 18 inches wide . In summer , it bears ivory to clean flowers . zone 4 - 11
‘Hillary’s Sweet Lemon’ Mint
Mentha dulcia citreus’Hillary ’s Sweet Lemon ' was developed from a cross of apple mint and fluxing lime mint , affording a fruity , citrusy aroma to the plant . It was named for former First Lady Hillary Clinton . The plant produce gray - green foliage , which grows to 18 inch tall , and , like most mints , it spreads aggressively . zone 4 - 9
‘Himalayan Silver’ Spearmint
Mentha spicata’Himalayan Silver ' has silvery , stretch leave on industrial plant that raise 18 - 24 inch tall and all-embracing . In summertime , the plant produces an abundance of pinkish bloom , which dry out well . zone 4 - 10
‘Kentucky Colonel’ Mint
ThisMentha spicataselection is a Mentha spicata with excellent minty - green foliage , often used to flavor mint mint julep and mojitos . The plant bears white , pinkish , or lavender blooms in summer and grows 2 - 3 invertebrate foot marvellous . Zones 4 - 9
‘Mojito’ Spearmint
Mentha spicata’Mojito ' has a flavor worthy for the Cuban beverage by the same name ; however , it is different from the true mojito mint , which is a hybrid between spearmint and apple mint . ' Mojito ' produce 2 - 3 feet tall and spread at least as wide . Zones 4 - 11
Water Mint
Mentha aquatica , as its name evoke , arise in standing water up to 3 inch cryptic . It also get in moist garden soil . In summer , piss mint bears lilac-colored - purple peak . The flora grow 2 - 3 invertebrate foot tall and spreads unless contained . Zones 5 - 11
Variegated Pineapple Mint
Andy Lyons
Mentha suaveolens’Variegata ' brightens corners of the garden with its white - border leaves . This raft has a fruity flavor . It grows 3 foot marvelous and several feet wide . zone 5 - 9
Spearmint
Mentha spicataoffers a mild flavour that give the plant versatility in the kitchen . Spearmint withstands higher soil wet ; tuck it beneath a downspout for a well-chosen raft patch . Zones 4 - 9
Peppermint
This pick ofMenthaxpiperitapacks the strongest mint flavor . It raise 12 - 30 inches tall and 18 inches wide . zona 3 - 8
‘Todd’s Mitcham’ Peppermint
Mentha×piperita’Todd ’s Mitcham ' is a variety show of peppermint that is wide farm commercially for peppermint crude extraction . It has high essential oil colour content and is resistant to verticillium wilt . Zones 4 - 9
Longleaf Mint
Mentha longifoliais a type of weewee mint aboriginal to the Mediterranean , but it also has naturalise in much of the easterly United States . It has numerous coarse gens , including horsemint , Habek mint , brook pile , and buddleia mint . With its elongated gray leaf on a plant uprise up to 4 metrical unit grandiloquent , it resemble butterfly bush ( Buddleiaspp . ) . Zones 5 - 11
Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis , also know as field mint or Zea mays mint , is native throughout most of North America . It bear whorl of whitened , pale lavender , or wan pink flowers from mid- to former summertime . You are most likely to discover plants through aboriginal works companionship plant sales . Like most stack , it pass around aggressively . geographical zone 2 - 10
Mountain Mint
Though not a appendage of the wad genus , mountain mint ( Pycnanthemum muticum ) has all the properties of its botanic cousins without the incursive role . It is a dauntless recurrent industrial plant that is native to the eastern United States and Canada . It has a minty aroma , and the parting are used to make teatime . What makes mountain mint really stand out is its quality as a pollinator plant . Zone 4 - 8
Catmint(Nepetaspp . ) is a member of the mint family unit and grows likewise to herbal mint , but its flavor is much more attractive to Caterpillar than to humans . Many types of Nepeta cataria metal money are turn as ornamentals for their attractive blue - purple , white , or pinkish flowers .
Garden Plans for Mint
Colorful Herb Garden Plan
Get an herb garden that daze with this colorfulherb garden plan , where a 3 x 8 - foot mete features foliation with purple , fleeceable , and golden chromaticity , admit vary leaves .
French Kitchen Garden Plan
During the Middle Ages , monks in France typically createdkitchen gardenswith geometrically shaped beds separated by paths and enclosed within a bulwark or hedging . The raise beds in thisFrench kitchen garden planare filled with a form of veg , herb , and comestible flower .
Frequently Asked Questions
It takes about two months from start plenty seeds to the first harvest . Frequent harvesting is the closed book to keeping mint plant do at their best .
Although picking mint as it ’s needed is best , putting reduce sprigs of hatful in a glass with some water keeps them sweet for a couple of days .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
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Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
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Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
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