How long mint grow

Gently wrap leaves in a damp paper towel and place the paper towel inside a loosely sealed plastic bag or storage container. Refrigerate the container. Or, trim the stem ends and place them in a small glass of water. Place the glass in the fridge and cover loosely with a bag, replacing the water every 3 to 4 days. Rinse your harvest under cold, running water and dry in a salad spinner or pat dry with a clean dish towel.

Tie several stems together into small bunches of 10 to 25 stems and hang upside down in paper bags. Choose a cool, dry location with ample air circulation. When leaves are dry and crumbly, in 1 to 2 weeks, strip them from the stem and store in airtight containers in a cool, dark cupboard. Freshly squeezed lemon juice can be used to replace the water. A small wedge of lemon or lime or pinch of zest can also add citrus flavor.

You can also pop in a few berries for a fruity twist or add some fresh tarragon for a hint of licorice. After the leaves are frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place in airtight containers in the freezer where they will last up to 3 months. Find more techniques for freezing fresh herbs here. Fresh mint makes a lovely complement to fish, lamb, and poultry and can spruce up lightly steamed veggies like baby carrots, peas, and new potatoes.

And a julep or mojito would be nowhere without the cooling zest of mint! To enjoy your crop, why not start off with a Tomatillo-Jito from our sister site Foodal? This refreshing beverage is a tart twist on a classic cocktail. Also from Foodal , you might enjoy Spicy Pork Tacos with Peach and Corn Salsa, where the herb adds a special pop to the flavorful salsa.

In the right place, mint makes a pretty and fragrant seasonal ground cover. It loves moist areas and is a natural along stream banks, lightly shaded meadows, and the fringe areas around marshes and ponds. The sweet, fresh fragrance can also be enjoyed between pathway pavers, where walking on it releases the scent. But ensure the roots are restricted to the pathway with hardscape borders. If needed, use a landscape edging barrier for effective root management. Landscape Edging Barrier via Amazon.

This one from AmazonBasics gives malleable control and is available via Amazon. Planting zesty cool mint not only means adding an attractive plant to your landscape, but also a fantastic flavoring agent for drinks, savory dishes, and desserts. Have you ever grown mint?

Did it take over your whole yard, or did you put it in a container? Tell us your minty tales in the comments below. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on May 8, Last updated April 14, Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

With additional writing by Lorna Kring. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or using plant-based remedies or supplements for health and wellness.

To Gretchen, nothing is more rewarding than a quick dash to the garden to pluck herbs to season the evening meal. I just love the way mint smells so I planted mine in a pot.

Often prune them for tea or just an aromatic brew. I walked by some last night outside a restaurant. I brushed my hand along the tops of the plants and loved the aroma! Mint is one of my favourite herbs — maybe the second one after basil! I love to add it to water with a lemon and also to some desserts, because it tastes so fresh. I have got mine since, I think, 2 years and it grows amazing! I decided to buy it on the Internet because my previous ones, that I have bought in shops, were withering easily.

In my home, I have got an apple mint — it is the one that you mentioned. Hi Kate! It adds such a wonderful flavor to so many drinks and dishes. I got a few pieces from my dad a few years ago and now I have it completely around my house.

Really enjoy the aroma as I walk around the outside and have many bags of dried mint squirreled away in the house and garage. I currently grow peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint. Sounds like the best way to keep it contained is in big pots or containers.

I made the mistake of putting some in a raised garden and it took over. Hi Tammy! Yes, the best way is to put them in a big pot, and yes, you have to be very diligent about daily watering. That all depends, Jim. Is the raised bed 10 inches in height above the ground, or sunk 10 inches into the ground?

If your raised bed perimeter is sunk at least 5 inches below ground, this should suffice to contain it. Hi I have seen garter snake in my yard. Read peppermint plants keep them away. I want to plant mint plants but not sure if I should put it in the ground or pots? Although it will tolerate a range of soil types, it does not do well in arid environments. When planting from seed, sow in spring in rows 2 feet apart. If you want true mint varieties every year, either seed anew or buy starts from the nursery; mint allowed to go to seed in the presence of other varieties will not breed true.

Avoid over-watering mint plants as this could lead to diseases, rust issues and loss of mint oil production. From seeding to maturity, mint takes about 90 days. This means that it will achieve its full height, generally of 1 to 2 feet , and it will be ready to harvest. At this point you can cut mint down to 1 inch above the soil, and it will regrow to harvest height again in a month and a half or so.

Pollinators are highly attracted to it as well as the fact that it provides an attractive flower most of the summer.

I have a couple of areas where I have not been able to grow anything so mint will be the last resort. The mint not only takes care of not having to mow close to the rock, but I always save that section to do when I'm half done with the lawn, so when I mow that circle around the rock the smell of the cut mint is so refreshing.

Just the regular lawn mowing seems to keep the mint contained in a 2 to 3 foot circle around the rock. When they were still small enough, the granddaughters used to spend a lot of time sitting on that rock surrounded by the smell of mint. I have spearmint growing in my garden and I would like to add summer and winter savory. I have heard that they are members of the mint family. Will they cross pollinate with my spearmint?

Thank you for your help. What type of mint is typically used in iced tea, and found in the grocery store? If I grow it in a pot, is it better to move pot outdoors in summer, or leave inside year-round? Peppermint and spearmint are the most commonly available, and one source suggests that spearmint is the one most often found in grocery stores.

One way to check: peppermint is 40 percent menthol, while spearmint is less than 1 percent menthol. This means that peppermint will have a more intense flavor and possibly an aftertaste, while spearmint will be milder tasting.

If you are growing mint in a container, it will do better outdoors in summer. See above for more specific info. For some reason my mint plants do not bloom. Seeds will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Mints are slow to develop during the first year, but be ready to fight them back the second year. Lovely article, thank you! I was wondering if there was any more information regarding companion planting? I see that you stated to plant mint next to tomatoes and cabbage, but will mint do well alongside other plants?

Why only tomatoes and cabbage? Generally, mint can be planted in pots alongside any veggies that are affected by these pests, like peppers, broccoli and cauliflower, and other leafy greens. Over a year ago, myself an my wife planted a fruit tree and guild. The guild has many perennials from lavender to hibiscus, thyme, yarrow, sorrel and others, but also mint, spearmint, mountain mint.

I can find plenty of information online about planting a guild with perennials but nothing about what to do when fall and winter arrive Do I just leave the mint and others to die, fall and rot, or cut away the stalks for regrowth in Spring? I would love if you could help or even point me in the direction of something online or some books for caring for a fruit tree guild through winter.

Creating a fruit tree guild is a wonderful way to promote biodiversity in a small space and to work permaculture into your garden. However, if the garden is planted very tightly together, you may want to cut and remove some of the larger perennials as they die back like yarrow, for example so that they do not end up suffocating out the others. You should also keep an eye out for any signs of pests or disease—fungal or bacterial spots, mildew, pests, and so on—and remove infected material from the garden.

This helps to prevent it from building up in one location and perpetuating the disease in the following growing season.

The canker may be caused by an infection of bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and they generally expand slowly over time. Depending on the plant and the cause, stem cankers may be lethal to the plant. They both do better outdoors, in the sun. Mint will readily grow in containers. An unglazed clay container with ample drainage holes is best because it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through the holes and the container walls.

Use a quality potting mix, and make sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Be mindful about where you place the container, as long stems touching surrounding soil might take root. Growing it on a patio or paved area is ideal. Place a double layer of landscaping cloth inside the pot over the drainage holes to prevent the roots from sneaking out of the container and into the ground.

Mint prefers to be a ground cover. Pruning back the stems also makes for a bushier and more attractive growth habit. To relieve yourself of major pruning maintenance, grow your mint in a confined location, such as in a pot or between paved areas.

Propagating mint by cuttings is a simple, cost-effective way to create new plants. Propagation is best done in the late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing and before it has bloomed. Sow seed outdoors in the late spring once there's no danger of frost, or start seed indoors about eight to 10 weeks before your area's last projected frost date.

It's important to note that some mint varieties are hybrids and will not grow true from seed. Once your container of mint becomes root-bound and you see roots popping up above the soil, it's often simplest to take a cutting and start a new plant rather than repotting. An old plant won't have the best minty flavor. It's pretty hard to kill a mint plant, even in the winter.

If you have mint planted outdoors, trim them low to the ground, cover with leaves or mulch some gardeners use an old sheet , and let them alone until springtime. Take potted mint indoors before the threat of frost to be overwintered. Put the containers in bright light, water consistently but do not water until soggy , and check for pests. Mint is generally not usually affected by pests or diseases.

However stressed plants also can be bothered by common garden pests, including whiteflies , spider mites , aphids , and mealybugs. Mint plants can sometimes contract rust, which appears as small orange spots on the undersides of leaves.

Use a fungicide, and try to allow plants to dry between waterings. Mint grows best in partial shade. It can tolerate morning sun, but strong afternoon sun can wilt the foliage.

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