How to Grow Mint Herbs

Mint is an aggressive herb.

Mints are a family of plants that is native to the Mediterranean. They are aggressive spreaders that are easy to grow. They may be used fresh to complement meat dishes or salad, or they can be dried and stored for later culinary use. Even beginning gardeners can grow mint with ease.

Things You'll Need

• Mint seeds or mint plant
• Soil
• Pot
• Water
• Knife
• Jar

Instructions

From Seed

1. Push the mint seeds into a pot of soil.

2. Place the pot on a window sill with full sun.

3. Water the mint seeds daily, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. The seeds will begin to germinate within two weeks.

4. Transplant the mint to the garden when it is 4 or 5 inches tall, leaving about 12 inches of space between each plant. You may also choose to leave the mint in a pot to prevent it from spreading aggressively.

From Cuttings

1. Cut a 4- to 6-inch stalk of mint from a living plant. Make the cut directly below a place where leaves are growing.

2. Pinch the bottommost leaves from the plant.

3. Push the cut end of the mint stalk into soil.

4. Water the mint thoroughly. Within two to three weeks, the mint will develop a root system and start growing.

Basic Care

1. Plant mint in a location with full sun. While mint can survive in shade, full sun will allow it to grow strong stalks and to produce bushy leaves.

2. Place your mint in a contained location. Mint is a prolific spreader and it will choke out other plants in the garden.

3. Water your mint plant daily if you are growing it in a pot. If you are growing it in the garden, it only needs to be watered during times of drought.

4. Cut the mint back to the ground at the end of the growing season. This promotes prolific growth in the next year.

References

• Harvest Wizard: How to Grow Mint
• Garden Hobbies: How to Grow Mint Herb
• Mountain Valley Growers: Mint Care and Tips
• Garden Action: How to Grow Mint Herb