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.