This is an article about how to grow mint indoors and outdoors.

Mint can be grown successfully by anyone. It is perfect for busy (or lazy) gardeners. It is so hardy that even when ignored for days there are no adverse consequences. Frequent harvesting doesn’t matter, either. In fact, it invigorates and promotes healthy growth.

Where to Use Mint Leaves

Leaves from mint plants are most often used in teas, but they can even be consumed medicinally. Then there’s the zesty, refreshing flavor mint makes in a variety of culinary uses including yogurt, smoothies, and salads. Last but no least, let’s not forget that mint is a frequent ingredient in some of our favorite cocktails.

Selecting the right mint plant for you

With over 600 varieties of mint available, it can be difficult to know where to begin! A good place to start is with your basic peppermint or spearmint plants. Both of these are used widely in recipes from soups and sauces to cocktails and ice cream. The classic, instantly recognizable flavor of peppermint (Mentha x piperita) comes in a number of cultivars, has a stronger flavor than spearmint, lends itself readily to teas and desserts, and pairs perfectly with chocolate.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is my go-to for more savory dishes and makes a great addition to salads, chutneys, and soups, and is used to great effect in sweeter options as well (Wrigley’s anyone?). There’s even a “Mint Julep” variety of spearmint to elevate your Kentucky Derby Day festivities.

Other fun types include apple mint, which combines a mildly sweet mint flavor with a hint of apple that is perfect in salads or served with cut up fresh fruits, and lemon or orange mint which both have a refreshing citrusy flavor. Ginger mint and pineapple mint not only have appealing flavors, they have variegated leaves too, making both pretty options in the garden when planted alone or combined with colorful annuals. There’s even a chocolate mint! Isn’t chocolate one of the basic food groups?

How to grow mint in the garden

Here are a few simple practices to help your mint plants thrive while at the same time preventing them from running rampant through your veggie patch. Did I mention that mint is an aggressive spreader in the garden?

Mint performs best with full morning sun but with partial shade in the afternoon. It will grow 2-3 feet tall in good conditions. Site plants in a moist, but well-drained spot.

The plants form a network of underground stems, (stolons). These will overtake your perennial bed, herb garden, lawn, and life, if you let them! To rein in spreading, I always plant my mint in bottomless containers that are at least a foot deep and then buried in the ground, with only an inch or two sticking up above the surface.

If you do place them directly in the soil, space the plants two feet apart. Make sure they have enough room to send out runners. Mulching is recommended. It helps prevent the underground stems from running amok. Fortunately, roots are fairly shallow. If runners start to extend into areas where they’re not wanted, simply pull them up.

Sprouting mint after the rains – photo by Justin Youngman

How to grow mint outdoors in pots

Another method for growing mint outdoors, plant in large pots above ground!

Regular harvesting is important. It keeps the plants compact in size and performing their best. Cut the stems with leaves attached. Either use the leaves immediately while fresh, or you can air dry or freeze them for later use. Cuttings will keep the plants producing. Pinch off flower buds if they start to appear. That will eke a little more time in the harvesting season.

A perennial herb, mint foliage will die back over the winter, but most plants have a root system that is hardy from Zones 3-8, and will return next season.

Refreshing mint in container – photo by Uma Malviya

How to grow mint indoors in containers

You can easily grow mint indoors. All you need is a sunny windowsill. It’s handy to have access to fresh sprigs of mint all year round.

Choose a container with a wide surface to allow horizontal roots/runners to spread out and send up new stems and leaves. Use a good quality potting mix from your favorite garden center. You can also make it yourself portioning out sphagnum peat moss, coarse sand, and either perlite or vermiculite. The objective is to create a fluffy mixture that will maintain a healthy moisture level with adequate drainage.

Keep the soil in your container evenly moist by watering regularly. Make sure the temperature in the room is consistently at or above about 60 degrees. The plants should be away from heaters or radiators that will dry them out.

Pots can be rotated every few days to maximize exposure to sunlight and prevent the plant from leaning in one direction or another. And just like when growing mint outdoors, harvest regularly by pinching off leaves as needed. Remember cuttings keep plants healthy and full! Don’t hesitate to mix up that batch of mojitos!

Click for more information on how to grow mint indoors (and improve your cooking!).

What to do when mint plants age

After a few years, you may want to replace your potted mint plants. That’s because roots eventually outgrow their space. Compacted roots negatively affect plant health and the flavor of the leaves. You may also find that you wish to increase your stock. For either reason, new plants can be propagated by taking a cutting from the old plant and rooting it in water. To do this, cut a three inch sprig from the top of the plant, and remove all the lower leaves. Place the stem in a glass of water and locate it in a bright, sunny spot while you wait for roots to develop. Within about two weeks they should begin to form, and once the network has expanded a bit further you can replant your cutting in soil.

How to deal with mint pests and disease

Though mint generally requires only minimal care, plants can be susceptible to problems including pests and diseases like powdery mildew, mint rust, verticillium wilt, and mint anthracnose, as well as spider mites, root borers, flea beetles, and even aphids. To help prevent diseases, make sure plants have good air circulation, and that the soil drains properly. Remove any insects by hand, (check undersides of leaves for sneaky critters!). If outdoors, gently spray the leaves with a garden hose.

Summary

All these varieties have similar growing habits and should perform well with proper care and conditions. If you have the space, either indoors or out, growing a few different varieties is fun, and you will enjoy their fragrance and flavor all throughout the year.