Overview
What mint needs, when to pick it, and whether it suits your garden.
Mint is one of the toughest herbs, and that is the problem: its underground runners spread through a bed and are very hard to get rid of. Grow it in a pot, even a sunken one, pick it often and cut it hard after flowering, and one or two plants give all the leaves a kitchen needs.
Quick facts
- Botanical name
- Mentha spp.
- Feeding
- Light feeder
- Hardiness
- USDA zone 5a and warmer
- Height
- Up to 90 cm (35 in)
- Propagation
- Division, Cutting, Seed
Survives −28 °C
Growing details
- Germination
- 14 days
- Spacing
- 45 cm (18 in)
- Frost sensitivity
- Frost hardy
Growing calendar
- Plant out: March, April, May, September, October
- Harvest: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Prune: August, November
- Divide: March, April, September, October
Spring or autumn settle in best (RHS). Late spring to the first frosts. Cut back after flowering for fresh leaves; clear dead stems from late autumn to spring. Every few years, in spring or autumn.
Is this plant right for you?
- Very hardy
- Sun or part shade
- Best in a pot
- Spreads fast
- Beginner friendly
- Loved by pollinators
- Toxic to pets
Toxic to pets
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses in large amounts: vomiting and diarrhoea (ASPCA).
Before You Grow
Choose a flavour you’ll use, and a pot or sunken container to keep it in bounds.
Mint is toxic to dogs, cats and horses if eaten in large amounts (ASPCA).
What you need
A young plant
Of a named mint you like the taste of. See choose your mint.
A large pot
30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) across, or a bottomless container to sink in a bed. See planting.
Peat-free compost
Multi-purpose or soil-based. See soil.
Pot feet
To stop the pot sitting wet in winter (Gardeners’ World).
Scissors or shears
For picking and cutting back. See cutting back.
A watering can
Pots dry out fast in summer. See watering.
Choose your mint
There are about 25 species of Mentha and many hybrids, differing in flavour, leaf and vigour. Buy plants in person if you can, so you can compare their scent (RHS): flavours vary a lot, and mints grown from seed often don’t come true (Utah State).
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the all-round kitchen mint, with a sweet scent; the RHS picks it if you only have room for one.
Peppermint (M. × piperita) has darker leaves, reddish stems and a warm, spicy scent: the one for tea.
Bowles’s mint has large leaves and mauve flowers and is Gardeners’ World’s choice for mint sauce.
Fruity and novelty mints: apple mint (tall, soft, fruity), pineapple mint (cream-edged leaves), chocolate mint and lime mint. Gardeners’ World finds several of these less invasive.
Not for eating. Pennyroyal (M. pulegium) is harmful if eaten (RHS). Catmint (Nepeta) isn’t a true mint.
Mints compared
-
Spearmint
- Flavour
- Sweet, classic
- Best for
- Everything; mint sauce
- Notes
- The one to grow if you grow one
-
Peppermint
- Flavour
- Strong, spicy
- Best for
- Tea
- Notes
- Reddish stems; very hardy
-
Bowles’s mint
- Flavour
- Mild, rounded
- Best for
- Mint sauce
- Notes
- Large leaves, mauve flowers
-
Apple mint
- Flavour
- Fruity
- Best for
- Drinks, desserts
- Notes
- Tall, soft, slightly woolly leaves
-
Pineapple mint
- Flavour
- Fruity
- Best for
- Garnish
- Notes
- Cream-edged leaves; scorches in full sun
-
Chocolate mint
- Flavour
- Like after-dinner mints
- Best for
- Desserts, drinks
- Notes
- Brown-tinged leaves; less invasive
From the RHS, Gardeners’ World, UMD and Utah State. Spearmint for cooking, peppermint for tea.
Where mint grows best
Mint thrives almost anywhere with moisture: sun or partial shade, in most soils.
Light. Full sun to light shade. Full sun gives the most growth (UMD) but dries pots fast; light shade keeps roots moist (Gardeners’ World). Variegated pineapple mint can scorch in full sun (Utah State).
Cold. Very hardy: Utah State finds mint hardy to about -28 °C (-20 °F). It dies back in winter and regrows each spring.
Moisture. It likes moist soil but not waterlogged: excess water brings root and leaf diseases (Utah State).
Space. Plants grow 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft) tall and spread by underground runners.
- Light
- Full sun to light shade
- Hardy to
- About -28 °C (-20 °F)
- Height
- 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft)
Soil and compost
Mint prefers rich, moist, slightly acidic soil (Utah State), but tolerates most soils (RHS).
In the ground, work in some compost before planting.
In pots, use peat-free multi-purpose or soil-based compost (RHS). Gardeners’ World uses soil-based compost and replaces it every couple of years.
Drainage. Moist but never waterlogged: stand pots on feet in winter.
Planting
Plant young mint in spring or autumn, in a container with room to spread.
In a bed, sink a bottomless container with its rim just above the soil, or the runners escape.
When to plant mint
Potted mint is sold all year and can go in at almost any time, but it settles best in spring or autumn (RHS). Utah State plants early in the growing season.
Seed is sown indoors in spring, but most gardeners start from plants: they’re cheap, and seed-grown mint may not taste like its parent.
- Spring or autumn is best.
- Start from a plant, not seed.
- Pot it before planting in a bed.
Growing mint from seed
Possible, though plants vary and division or cuttings are quicker.
-
Sow on the surface
Scatter seed thinly over damp seed compost in small pots or modules and press it down; don’t cover it (RHS). Utah State sows 6 mm (¼ in) deep.
-
Keep it warm
In a propagator or under a clear bag, somewhere bright at about 20 °C (68 °F).
-
Pot on
When seedlings have several leaves, move each into its own 7.5 cm (3 in) pot.
-
Plant out
Once the plants are growing strongly, after hardening off.
How to plant mint and keep it contained
Mint’s underground runners (rhizomes) will out-compete most garden plants, and once established it is very hard to remove (Utah State).
-
Best: a pot
About 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) across (UMD), in peat-free compost. Cut off any runners that creep over the rim.
-
In a bed: a sunken container
Use a bottomless container or a pot with big drainage holes, sunk so the rim stands above the soil. Utah State sinks it 25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 in) deep with 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) above, so shoots can’t root over the top.
-
Plant at the same depth
With the roots just below the surface, and water in well.
-
Space plants
About 45 cm (18 in) apart (UMD) if planting more than one.
-
Keep mints apart
Separate pots for each variety stop them tangling together.
Care
Water in dry spells, pick often, cut back after flowering, and divide every few years.
Cut the whole plant back after flowering for a fresh flush of leaves in autumn.
Care through the year
Spring
Feed: once as growth starts
Clear old stems, feed once, and divide crowded pots. See feeding.
Summer
Water: pots when the top dries
Pick often and water in dry spells. See watering.
After flowering
Cut: to just above the soil
Cut back hard for fresh leaves. See cutting back.
Autumn
Divide: every few years
Divide, and pot a piece for the kitchen windowsill. See growing indoors.
Winter
Protect: from wet, not cold
Dormant: raise pots on feet and keep them from waterlogging.
Watering mint
Mint likes steady moisture, but overwatering encourages root and leaf diseases, including rust.
In pots, water during dry spells, especially in hot weather, to keep the compost evenly moist. Moving pots into light shade in summer reduces watering (RHS).
In the ground, Utah State gives 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) a week in its dry climate, depending on heat and soil.
Keep leaves dry. Water at the base, ideally in the morning, so foliage isn’t wet overnight (Utah State).
Feeding mint
Mint needs little feeding. Too much fertiliser (and water) promotes rust and lowers the oil content that gives mint its flavour (Utah State).
Once a year in spring, as growth resumes: a little slow-release general fertiliser (Utah State).
After cutting back in late summer, Gardeners’ World gives a high-nitrogen feed for a fresh flush of leaves.
Picking, cutting back and flowers
It is very hard to over-prune mint (Utah State): the more you cut, the more fresh growth it makes.
Pick often. Regular picking keeps plants bushy and compact, and the new growth has the best flavour (RHS, Illinois).
Flowers. Mint flowers in summer. Flowering lowers the oil in the leaves, so pinch off flower spikes for the best leaves (Utah State), or leave some for bees, hoverflies and butterflies (Gardeners’ World).
Cut back. After flowering, cut the whole plant to just above the soil; it regrows fresh leaves for autumn (Gardeners’ World). Utah State cuts to 2.5 cm (1 in) two or three times a year.
Winter tidy. Old stems can be cut back any time from late autumn to spring, before new shoots appear (RHS).
Mint in containers
A container is the best way to grow mint: it keeps the runners in check and puts the leaves near the kitchen.
Size. 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) across (UMD). A bigger pot needs less watering.
Repot or divide every few years, when the pot is crowded and growth weakens, into fresh compost (RHS, Gardeners’ World). See propagating mint.
Winter. Raise pots on feet so they don’t sit wet.
Mint indoors in winter
Mint dies back outdoors in winter, but you can keep a supply going indoors.
Root cuttings. Take cuttings from the underground stems indoors in November for fresh mint by Christmas (RHS).
Or root stems in water. Stems stood in a jar of water soon root and can be potted (RHS).
Light. Give it the brightest window you have.
Problems
Mint rust and spreading runners are the real troubles; pests rarely matter.
Common mint problems
Mint’s biggest problem is its own vigour; its biggest disease is rust.
Mint taking over the bed
- Runners
Underground runners. Dig out every piece you can find (small bits regrow), and replant in a pot or sunken container.
Leggy, woody plants with few leaves
- No cutting
Often plants left uncut. Cut hard after flowering and divide old clumps.
Weak growth in an old pot
- Crowded
Roots have filled the pot. Divide and repot in fresh compost.
Weak flavour
- Flowering
- Overfeeding
Flowering and heavy feeding both lower the oil in the leaves. Pinch flowers and feed less.
Scorched leaves
- Sun
Variegated mints, such as pineapple mint, scorch in full sun (Utah State). Move to light shade.
More problems with mint
Common pests
Pests rarely do mint much harm; leave them to natural predators, and shake and wash picked leaves (Gardeners’ World).
Mint beetle
Blue mint beetle (RHS): does little damage in small numbers, but large infestations can be a problem (Gardeners’ World).
Flea beetles and caterpillars
Holes in leaves; rarely serious. Row covers in spring keep flea beetles off (Utah State).
Common diseases
Mint rust
Swollen, distorted stems in spring, then small orange to brown spots under the leaves. Dig up and bin the plant, not the compost heap. The fungus stays in the soil at least three years, so don’t grow mint, tarragon or chives there (Gardeners’ World). Avoid wet leaves overnight and overfeeding.
Wilt
Leaves yellow from the edges, curl and die. Remove infected plants, move mint to a new spot, and don’t overfeed (Utah State).
Harvest & Use
Pick young shoot tips from spring to autumn, the fresher the better.
Harvesting mint
When. From late spring, once plants are 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) tall, until the first frosts (RHS, Utah State).
What. The young, soft shoot tips have the most intense flavour. Pinching out tips also makes plants bush out.
How. Cut stems with scissors or a sharp knife; for a big harvest, cut to within 2.5 cm (1 in) of the soil. Utah State picks late in the morning on dry days.
For drying, cut stems just as the flowers start to open (Illinois, UMD).
How much. One or two plants supply a kitchen; each can be cut hard two or three times a season (Utah State).
- Young tips have the best flavour.
- Pick often.
- Cut for drying as flowers open.
Storing and using mint
Mint is best used fresh, when its oils are strongest.
Fresh. A bunch in a glass of water keeps three to seven days (Illinois), or store it in the fridge.
Freezing. Whole leaves freeze poorly. Chop them finely and freeze in an ice-cube tray, with or without water, then bag the cubes (Gardeners’ World, Utah State).
Drying. Hang bunches upside down somewhere warm and shady until brittle, then store in an airtight jar for up to a year (Utah State).
Using it. Mint sauce with lamb, new potatoes and peas, salads, desserts, drinks and fresh mint tea.
Propagation
New plants from division, cuttings, or a stem in a jar of water.
Propagating mint
Mint roots readily, and division or cuttings keep the flavour of the parent.
Division. In spring or autumn, lift or tip out the clump, cut it into sections with a knife or spade, throw away the old woody centre, and replant the vigorous outer pieces in fresh compost (RHS, Gardeners’ World). Do this every few years anyway.
Cuttings. Take soft cuttings from new shoots in spring, or stand stems in a jar of water: they soon root and can be potted (RHS).
More to Explore
Quick answers, related guides, and the sources behind this one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop mint spreading?
Grow it in a pot. A bottomless container sunk with its rim above the soil helps, but runners can still escape. See planting.
Does mint come back every year?
Yes: it is a hardy perennial that dies back in winter and regrows in spring.
Should I let mint flower?
Flowering lowers the flavour of the leaves, but the flowers feed pollinators. Pinch some, leave some, and cut back after.
Can mint grow in shade?
Yes, in light shade; it grows most in sun.
What are the orange spots on my mint?
Mint rust. Remove and bin the plant. See diseases.
Can I root mint stems in water?
Yes: stems in a jar of water soon root and can be potted (RHS).
Can I grow mint indoors?
Yes, on a bright windowsill, especially over winter. See growing indoors.
Is mint safe for pets?
The ASPCA lists mint as toxic to dogs, cats and horses in large amounts.
Related guides
Sources
- How to grow mint (opens in a new tab) Royal Horticultural Society
- Mint (opens in a new tab) ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Mint (opens in a new tab) University of Illinois Extension
- Mint in the garden (opens in a new tab) Utah State University Extension
- Growing mint in a home garden (opens in a new tab) University of Maryland Extension
- How to grow mint (opens in a new tab) BBC Gardeners’ World