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:
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!
It looks a little bare right now, but just you wait. That pot will be full of mint in no time!
