How to Grow Mint

The genus Mentha includes about 24 species and cross pollination is difficult to control, so many sources suggest that mint will not come true from seed. Our mint seeds are grown in isolation and bred with care in a greenhouse setting. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow mint from seed.

Latin
Mentha sp.
Family: Lamiaceae

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Zone: Hardy to Zone 4

Timing
Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost, or direct sow in late spring. Seeds should sprout in 10-16 days. Bottom heat will speed germination.

Starting
Sow seeds no more than 5mm (¼”) deep in moist soil. Space plants 45-60cm (18-24″) apart.

Growing
Mint spreads in the garden with gusto via a vigorous root system, so it may be preferable to confine it to planters on the balcony or in a raised bed. Prune plants back hard in early summer to promote good top growth. Bring some inside to grow in a small container over winter to grow on a brightly lit windowsill.

Harvest
Clip leaves or branches as needed throughout the year. Mint is so hardy and tough that it will grow right back. Dry the leaves and flowers for peppermint tea, or use them fresh. The flowers are edible and bring distinctive character to salads and sweets.

Companion Planting
Mint attracts earthworms, hoverflies and predatory wasps, and repels cabbage moths, aphids, and flea beetles. Mint can spread aggressively, so it may be better to use cut mint as a mulch around Brassicas, or to restrain it in containers around the vegetable garden. Avoid planting near parsley.