How to Grow Mint

Co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH

Last Updated: July 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Mint is a tasty, versatile herb that can spice up a fruit salad, lamb or fish dish, or even a glass of iced tea or a cocktail. Mint comes in many different varieties, each of which is easy to maintain and lasts for many years if cared for properly. The plant is fairly invasive, however, and may compete with surrounding plants for resources if allowed to grow without restriction. To grow mint, you either need to plant it in containers or find a method of restricting the growth of its roots below ground.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Acquiring the Mint

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1
Take a cutting from a pre-existing mint plant. Mint is difficult to grow from seed, and it is virtually impossible for some varieties, like peppermint. Cut a 4 inch (10 cm) sprig about ½ inch (1 cm) above a junction to allow new branches to grow in its place. The sprig does not need to have many leaves, and almost any sprig will do. Place the sprig in a glass of water, and remove any leaves that fall below the water line.^{[1]
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Research source} Within a week, small white roots should appear under water. Wait a few more days to another week to allow the roots to develop into a decent length.
- Add water to the glass as necessary. Make sure that you change the water every four to five days to prevent rot.
You can find mint seedlings at most nurseries and garden stores. There are many varieties of mint, such as sweet mint, chocolate mint, spearmint, lemon mint, apple mint, and peppermint. Spearmint is most commonly used for cooking. Mint is a fast-growing, fast-spreading plant and is perfect for one of your first attempts at growing plants.

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Runners are long stems that grow away from the current plant and set their own roots in the ground. These can be carefully dug up and transplanted. If you have a friend growing mint, the plants will have runners that could be transplanted.

Part 2

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Planting the Mint

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Ideally, you should plant your mint in the spring, or in the fall if you're in a climate that is free of frost. Though mint is a resilient plant, it's best to start growing it under optimal conditions.
2
Transplant the seedling or rooted sprig into a container. Potting mint is the most popular way to grow it because you can easily keep it in check this way, as well as keeping it close to your kitchen so you can use it frequently. Mint spreads rapidly, and its roots have a tendency to choke out the roots of other plants.^{[2]
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Research source} As a result, it is often best to plant mint in a container without other plants. Use a 12-to-16-inch wide pot for one plant.
- You should add a water-retaining polymer to the potting soil so that it stays moist and doesn't dry up. You can also use pearlite or vermiculite instead of a polymer.^{[3]
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If planting multiple seedlings, plant them 6 inches (15 cm) apart. This will give each seedling enough room to grow.
When you plant your mint or place down your potted mint plant, you'll need to choose an area that receives morning sun and partial afternoon shade. You want the plant to get some light without drying it out completely. Mint grows best in deep, moist soil, so you want to keep it that way. You can even place your mint pot indoors, on a windowsill, as long as it's in a location that will get enough sunlight.
If you're planting it in the ground, then use a damp area with full sun or partial shade.^{[4]
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Research source} The best conditions for growing mint in the ground require a fertile soil with a pH that is between 6.0 and 7.0. Though it can grow on its own without a problem, a little bit of fertilizer every few weeks won't hurt it. Make sure that the soil is moist by placing some mulch around the plant's roots to protect them.
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Submerge the container if planting in a flower bed. If you go this route, you should submerge your mint in a container, such as a pot or a mesh bag that is at least 5 inches (about 13 cm) deep. You should leave the rim of the container above ground level so that the plant's root system will be contained. If you don't do this, your mint will spread rapidly into places you don't want it to be.^{[5]
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- You can also plant mint in its own raised bed container, on a bare spot in your garden that you would like to fill in, or section off part of your garden with bricks or timbers to create a barrier for the mint.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Caring for the Mint

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During the first year that you have your mint, you will need to water it frequently.^{[6]
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Research source} Test the soil with your finger to determine how dry it is. Keep the soil damp, but don't soak it. If your mint is in direct sun, water it more frequently. Check on it frequently to make sure that it gets adequate water, but not too much.
This will help to contain the plant's height and keep the leaves nice and full around the sides of the plant.^{[7]
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Research source} This also creates a better harvest. When you check on your plant to see if it needs water, see if the plant has gotten too tall.
A mint plant's small flowers will typically bloom from June to September. You should trim the buds before they have a chance to open so the plant doesn't grow out of control. Pinching off the plant's flower buds as they appear will also extend your plant's harvesting season.
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Research source} Do this only if you are growing it in a pot/container. After a few years, your mint will match the size of the container, causing its roots to become cramped. De-pot it and carefully split apart the mint into several plants. Lifting and replanting your mint every two to three or even three to four years will help keep the scent and the flavor of the mint nice and strong.
Rust, a fungus that creates orange-brown patches on the undersides of a plant's leaves, is one of the few diseases that mint is susceptible to.
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Watch out for pests and diseases. Your plant may fall victim to diseases such as verticillium wilt or mint anthracnose and it may be infested with insects such as flea beetles, root borers, spider mites, or root weevils.^{[9]
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Research source} This is not a likely occurrence, however, since the strong odor of mint wards off most insects and other pests. Just provide good air circulation and soil that is well-drained to keep your plants healthy. If you notice any insects, spray them off with a garden hose.
- You can also wash your leaves with insecticidal soap.
- Make sure to look for pests under the leaves of the plants, too. This is a place where they like to hide.

Part 4

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Harvesting Your Mint

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1
Harvest fresh green leaves as desired from the late spring through the early autumn. Never harvest more than 1/3 of the leaves at once and allow the plant to regrow before harvesting more. You can just harvest as much mint as you need at a time.
- If you want to air-dry your mint, then you should hang the stems upside down. Separate them into bundles secured with some string or a rubber band or spread them on a flat surface. When the leaves and stems feel crispy and dry, pluck off the leaves and put them into jars, Ziploc bags, or plastic containers with lids.^{[10]
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2
Harvest as much mint as possible before the frost each year. The roots will survive the frost and regrow the following spring, but the above-ground plant matter will die off. Protect your mint roots by covering the plants with a layer of mulch before winter. To harvest the leaves, you should pinch off the stems. If you have a larger harvest, then wait until right before the plant blooms and cut the whole plant just above the first or the second set of leaves.
- Typically, you can harvest a larger harvest of mint about three times a season.
3
Use your mint. There are endless uses for mint, and you can do whatever you like with it. However, there are some typical uses of mint that you should be aware of. Here are some great ways to use it:
- Serve it as a compliment to fish, chicken, lamb, or another protein dish.
- Use it to spice up veggies such as carrots, peas, and potatoes.
- Spice up salads such as fruit salads, fig and radish salads, or walnut and goat cheese salads.
- Use them in drinks such as iced tea, punch, or lemonade.
- Use the mint in cocktails, such as the mojito or the mint julep.

Expert Q&A

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Question

I kept a sprig of my mint in a small bottle, but it is rotting. Do I need to keep the bottle in a sunny place or should the mint leaves stay out of the water?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

The leaves should be removed from the bottom of the stem before placing the sprig in water. If your stem is rotting, remove all leaves below water, and change the water and clean the container. This should give it a clean start.

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Question

Do I cut the old stems down to the ground now?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

I recommend that you cut the stems to the ground just before your first frost of the year.

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How do I harvest mint?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

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You can harvest just a few leaves at a time or cut off whole stems of leaves if you need a lot of leaves at once. The more you need to pick mint, the better control you'll have over the spread of the plant, so don't be afraid to enjoy using your homegrown mint!

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Tips

Create a barrier if you want to plant your mint in your garden. Sink a bottomless bucket into the soil and plant the roots inside. This prevents them from spreading too far.

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Pick mint by snipping off stems and leaves above a leaf cluster. Leave at least one leaf cluster on each main mint stem. Leave at least three inches of mint stem (from the ground). This method also creates a bushier, shorter plant (a good thing) because the mint is forced to branch off and grow more leaves.

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Consider planting spearmint or peppermint for a versatile, common variety suited for most culinary purposes. For a more unique variety, consider white peppermint, chocolate mint, apple mint, bergamot mint, basil mint, lemon mint, lime mint, or curly mint, among others.

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Warnings

Keep your potted mint from draping down into your garden or into other containers filled with other plants. Healthy shoots of mint can take root in soil, even if those shoots are still connected to a mother plant.

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Mint is invasive, meaning that it will spread quickly if in the correct environment. Keep your mint potted or away from other plants. Make sure your pots don't have any cracks, as mint roots can spread through.

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If you see flowers, cut them off to preserve the quality of the leaves. If you leave the flowers, it will look pretty but take the plant's energy away from producing leaves.

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