Growing Mint, also Garden mint

Mentha spicata : Lamiaceae / the mint family

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

(Best months for growing Mint in Australia - sub-tropical 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 21°C and 24°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks. Cut leaves from top with scissors.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cabbages, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

10 Feb 14, Jennifer Ellen Flides (Australia - temperate climate)
I have green caterpillars on my mint....I spray the mint plant with Pyretherum..but, these pests persist! What else can I do please..??
28 Nov 13, Angie (Australia - arid climate)
Hi, something has been eating my mint. I had a good look under the leaves and found 2 green caterpillars. I got rid of them but how can I stop more from finding my mint plant??
28 Dec 14, (Australia - temperate climate)
If you got any response please let me know - I have the same problem and many of the leaves are now like lace?
11 Oct 13, MintGrower (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I don't know what's wrong with my mint, leaves aren't growing and the small ones are getting yellow. It's receiving nice morning sun and then shadow in the afternoon because when I left it out in the sun all day it was getting burnt. It's well moist and everything seems according to instructions but I'm afraid it's dying, what to do?
16 May 13, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Mint. Note the comment under growing notes. Mint WILL attempt to take over your garden! Which can be an advantage : ) or disadvantage : (
04 Mar 13, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
you could try a garlic oil recipe for a bottle sprayer. I have tried making it before and always works well, although I usually make two mistakes. First, I never make enough, second I always forget to strain it properly and my sprayer gets clogged up.
26 Jan 13, Sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Something is eating my mint at night time , I put snail and slug pellets down but whatever is eating it the pellets arnt working, the bugs have nearly stripped all the leaves bare just leaving the storks.
27 Jul 14, (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem for the last two winters. Late one night I went to the mint growing box with a flashlight and voila I found all my mint covered in little green caterpillars. I have no idea what they were, but spent an hour or so for the next couple of nights picking them off. The caterpillars will not be found during the day and are hard to see of a night but persistence is the key. Happy hunting!! John
02 Jun 13, Meg (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sue The same thing happened to my mint and lemon balm. I looked very closely at the remaining mint plant and I finally noticed a bright green caterpillar on a stalk. It was extremely well hidden against the green stalk! I picked it off and found one more. The lemon balm had a slightly curled leaf, which upon inspection, was a home to a well protected heap of caterpillar eggs. Dipel will get rid of them, but if plant is small you can look for pests and pick them off. Good luck!
16 Jan 13, Justine (Australia - temperate climate)
A few weeks after planting my mint I have noticed that something has been eating the leaves. A lot of the leaves have sharp cuts into the leaves. I'm thinking a bird might be eating them? We have lots of rosellas and we have pigeons in the area.
Showing 41 - 50 of 64 comments

Hi, something has been eating my mint. I had a good look under the leaves and found 2 green caterpillars. I got rid of them but how can I stop more from finding my mint plant??

- Angie

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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