Herb · Perennial herb
Mint
Mentha spicataMint is nearly unkillable once established, throwing up fresh stems from a spreading root system all season. That vigor is also its one hazard in a mixed bed. The one rule: contain the roots, or it will take over.
Sow depth
Crown at soil level
Spacing
18 in apart
Sun
Sun or part shade
Germination
10–14 days to establish
Time to harvest
60–90 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow mint
- Sow from about 2 weeks before your last expected frost until about 6 weeks after your last expected frost.
Plant in a container — sink a bottomless pot in the ground to check runners.Set young plants at the same depth they sat in their nursery pot.Water in well and keep the root zone moist until new growth appears.
Cut back hard — shear stems to the base after flowering for fresh growth.Divide congested clumps every couple of years to keep them vigorous.Feed lightly; overly rich soil makes leaves lush but less aromatic.
Pick often — regular cutting is the best way to keep mint bushy.Harvest whole stems just above a leaf pair to encourage branching.Leaves are strongest in flavor just before the plant flowers.
Companion plants
Mint’s strong scent confuses cabbage moths and flea beetles hunting brassicas by smell.
Watch out for
Rust — Orange pustules appear on leaf undersides in humid, still conditions. Remove affected stems and improve airflow around the clump.