How to grow mint

Mentha spp. · Lamiaceae · Herb

Mint is a cool-season herb in the Lamiaceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and consistent moisture — it resents drying out. From sowing to first pick is about 70–90 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.

Grower’s note: Spreads by runners and will overrun a bed - grow it in a sunken pot or a contained strip. A tough perennial in most of the country. Cut it back hard and often to keep leaves tender.

Sowing

Sow barely covered — the seed needs light to germinate, into soil between 60–80°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. Germination takes a week or two (10–16 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.

Spacing & layout

Give each plant about 12″ along the row with roughly 18″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 1 per square foot. Allow at least 10″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 8″ deep.

Fitting it to your season

As a cool-season crop, mint does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat.

Quick facts

When to plant mint

Companions

Common problems

Pests: aphids, spider mite, mint flea beetle.

Diseases & disorders: mint rust, verticillium wilt, powdery mildew.

Same family (Lamiaceae)

Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.

Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.