Growing Mint, also Garden mint

Mentha spicata : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
            S S S S    
                T T T  
                P P P  

(Best months for growing Mint in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in trays and plant out or start from cuttings. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 70°F and 75°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks. Cut leaves from top with scissors.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cabbages, Tomatoes
  • Mint leaf

Although mint can be grown from seeds, cuttings are a faster, more reliable option.
Cuttings can be planted directly when danger of frost is past. Mint can be grown in pots outdoors or indoors.

Mint prefers damp, partly shaded areas and once established will grow for many years. Mint dies down in Winter and sends up new shoots in Spring.

Mint is a rampant grower and will take over a garden bed if not restrained.

One way to contain mint is to use an old bottomless bucket pushed into the ground. The mint won't be able to put its roots out sideways, so will take longer to spread. If grown in a pot, mint needs to be watered regularly to keep it healthy.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Mint

Mint adds a fresh flavour if chopped and sprinkled over salads. And is traditionally used mixed with vinegar and sugar to make mint sauce for lamb.

Your comments and tips

25 Sep 19, Peter Devenny (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hey all, I have a problem with a white/grey mould appearing on my mint and sage leaves, the leaves are dieing off and i don't know what to do about it , can anyone help please Happy gardening
26 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Google the internet, you might find a natural spray. If you can't fix it, throw the soil and plant in the rubbish. Give the pot a good sterilisation and start again.
12 Jul 19, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a few patches of mint - in a garden bed and in pots. It thrives in spring and summer, but still grows quite well through winter. In the last two years, though, I have had a pest; a tiny fly that must lay its eggs in teh growing tips. This causes the tiny terminal leaves to stick together as the eggs hatch and teh larvae feed. If I prise the tip leaves apart I can (just) see tiny, tiny yellowish maggots. I took them to a lab and examined these under a microscope. Sure enough they are typical maggots - legless, hairless, pointed at one end and flat at the bum (spiracle) end, wriggling about. They are about 1 mm long. It kills the tips - they go brown and once the larvae change into adults the tips dry out and die. Does anyone know what the ID of this fly is? And what I should do? I'm guessing remove all tips, put out yellow sticky paper for the adult flies and maybe spray with spinosad? Or stop growing mint for a season??? Help! I do love mint in my mojitos!
15 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
I'd suggest you spray and yellow sticky paper and see how it goes.
12 Mar 19, Greg paterson (Australia - tropical climate)
What is the best variety of mint for Darwin I have grown Coles and Woolies cuttings but they struggled and had low yield
15 Mar 19, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
Try growing Vietnamese mint. www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/tropical-herbs/9427796
14 Mar 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do some internet research.
01 Jan 19, Chloe (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My flourishing mint has suddenly grown very tall and stalky. Should I prune it right back or just the tops?
05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably going to seed.
31 May 19, Sally Pope (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, our mint also goes leggy in summer, especially the potted ones. We cut it back fairly severely, then keep up the watering, and it comes back.
Showing 1 - 10 of 64 comments

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