Mint Wonderful Mint: How To Care For & Plant This Fragrant Herb - See

Joy Us garden
by Joy Us garden
By Nell @JoyUsgarden
I love pretty much any herb. I do a lot of cooking and have a raised bed of herbs in the back yard that I can pick from all year long whenever my little heart desires. Of all the herbs, mint is my very favorite. I use it almost every day to add to a pitcher of water with sliced lemons for that added pop of flavor.
My mint doesn’t share growing grounds with the other herbs. It’s planted in a terra cotta container otherwise it would take over raised bed as well as part of the garden. That’s how mint grows – vigorously without regards for any of the space around it. If you’re new to the world of planting mint and don’t want a total takeover, here are 2 words: contain it.
Here I am removing the old mint from the pot. You can see how those underground stems have wrapped themselves around in a circle. In my experience, it grows fast but not very deep.


My mints, thai basil and some type of spearmint, had been planted in that pot for 4 or 5 years. I had rejuvenated them twice by cutting them back and replanting a small portion but I decided enough was enough. The unknown spearmint had completely crowded out the thai basil mint. The planting was in the beginning stages of mint rust so time to take action. I hoped to salvage some of the leaves but ended up throwing away both the foliage and roots (I’m an avid composter but always avoid anything with a disease or pests).
All about mint & how I planted my new Cuban & Syrian Mints:
It looks a little bare right now, but just you wait. That pot will be full of mint in no time!


Here’s what mint likes:


Light: Sun to part sun.


Water: Average. Mint is not drought tolerant.


Fertilizer: A 2″ application of organic compost or worm castings in the spring is all it needs.


Soil: Well drained with amendments (see above) added in.


USDA Zone: 3-11 depending on the variety of mint. Some mints are more cold tolerant, some are more heat tolerant.


Propagation: Mint easily roots in water or can be grown from seed.


Diseases & Pests: Mint doesn’t like these (duh, obviously) but yours may or may not get: rust, wilt or anthracnose. Also spider mites, aphids or cutworms.


There are SO many varieties of mint it makes my head spin. How in the world is a girl supposed to choose just 1 spearmint?! Regardless of all the choices, this is a plant with purpose. It’s found in the culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and fragrance industries as well as in homes everywhere. I know 1 thing for sure: I’ll always have it in my garden. In a pot that is!


Happy Gardening!


Nell


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  • KG KG on Jun 08, 2017

    I spray peppermint to keep ants away. It has worked well. I think it's also kept spiders away too;) Use a spray with real essential peppermint oil or buy a small bottle of essential oil and put on cotton to wipe around baseboards or leave (cotton balls/pads) around areas where ants come into your home.

  • Diana Diana on Apr 24, 2022

    I have a chocolate mint plant and it tastes just like chocolate and mint.

    Yummy!!!!

    • Joy Us garden Joy Us garden on May 02, 2022

      Hi Diana - Oh yes, Plus, the foliage of a chocolate mint plant is gorgeous! Nell

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