Growing Mint, also Garden mint

Mentha spicata : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S                    
      T                
      P P              

(Best months for growing Mint in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in trays and plant out or start from cuttings. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 70°F and 75°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks. Cut leaves from top with scissors.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cabbages, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

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31 May 19, Sally Pope (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, our mint also goes leggy in summer, especially the potted ones. We cut it back fairly severely, then keep up the watering, and it comes back.
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05 Oct 18, Mary-Clare (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My mint is very yellow on the lower leaves. How do I make it more healthy. Is there a tip to adding something to the soil? Or do I just need to pinch all the tips off?
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07 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pinch all the yellow leaves off and give it a shot of fertiliser. Mix some in a bucket of water and apply -1-2-3 teaspoons.
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20 Sep 18, Liliana Klebe (Canada - Zone 3b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
This is my first mint plant ever, we planted it outdoors in a raised bed... Winter is coming, do I need to protect it by covering it, or can I just trim it and leave it alone.
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21 Jan 22, Jessica Watson (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Mints are like a weed. They come back every year here in Calgary
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07 Sep 18, kathy (Australia - temperate climate)
I grew chocolate mint. It smelled FANTASTIC. It tasted bleh.
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02 Jul 18, sophie (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth Western australia and would like to grow different and interesting varieties of mint. For example: Chocolate mint, Apple Mint Spearmint Vietnamese Mint any suggestions where I can find these seedlings. or do I have to start them from seed? Thank you, Sophie
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27 Nov 18, Jen D (Australia - temperate climate)
You can try at an Asian grocer or vegetable market for the Vietnamese mint seeds- often they will have a small display of Asian veg and herb seeds in packets.
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16 Sep 18, Jodie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sophie, You could see whether any online seedling / seed companies in Australia ship to your area. This seems to be the best bet for finding interesting varieties. I was able to order quite a few varieties of mint from Mudbrick Cottage Herb Farm (www.herbcottage.com.au), however unfortunately they are unable to post plants to WA due to quarantine restrictions (I live in Victoria). My order included pineapple mint and variegated apple mint. I just planted them up today, and they smell so good! Early spring is possibly the best time for sourcing mint seedlings, as they die off over winter and re-sprout in spring (although perhaps in WA they re-sprout earlier). All the best with your search!
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03 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I think you would have a lot of trouble trying to find seedlings for different mint in one place. Probably have to look at seed selling companies, Boondie Seeds- New Life Seeds - The Seed Collection company and others if you look.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 96 comments
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Hi Kathy, sounds like these could be aphids or mites (if so, they are sap suckers). First plan of attack I use is to hose them off with a strong jet of water. If they return, then the next day I do the same. If they return a third time, I use Eco-Oil to suffocate them. It's a certified organic oil based solution that you spray onto the leaves. The company I get it from is www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au and it's a great emergency product for organic gardeners for those stubborn problems. Other than that, I also address the health of the plant and soil. Pests generally only attack plants that are unhealthy so I add rock minerals, give the plant a fish/seaweed 'tonic' to boost them with trace elements, check soil moisture is adequate and mulch well. Hope this helps!

- Anne

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