Mint

Mentha

Plant a patch of cooling, refreshing fragrance by adding mint to your garden. Undemanding and easy to grow, mint boasts a hearty constitution, often growing where other plants fail. Fragrance varies with variety, as does taste. Use mint fresh or dried to season a range of culinary creations including soups, beverages, vegetables, meats, and desserts.

Mint quickly scrambles to cover garden real estate; tuck mint where you don’t mind its wandering ways, or corral its rambles by planting it in a raised bed or a pot sunk into soil. Plants readily cross-pollinate; keep your patch pure by planting mixed varieties as far apart as possible. This herb releases scent when you crush or bruise leaves. Place it near garden paths or benches so you can savor the fragrance frequently. All mint varieties thrive in containers.

Light: Part sun, Sun

Type: Herb, Perennial

Height: 1 to 3 feet

Width: 1-4 feet wide

Flower color: Blue, Pink, White

Seasonal features: Fall bloom, Summer bloom

Problem solvers: Deer Resistant, Groundcover, Slope/Erosion control

Special features: Attracts birds, Good for containers, Low maintenance

Zones: 3-10

How to Grow Mint Indoors

Growing and planting mint indoors is easy. You can find mint growing indoors in a pot of soil or even in a bottle of water. For starters, you need a container with adequate drainage for healthy plant growth. Pot up your mint plant with a good potting mix, either a regular commercial type or one with equal amounts of sand, peat, and perlite mixed in.

Water it well after planting and place it in an area with indirect light, preferably an east-facing window during spring and summer or a west- or south-facing one in fall and winter. You’ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65-70 F. (18-21 C.) during the day and 55-60 F. (13-15 C.) at night.

Care for Mint Growing Indoors

If you wish to grow mint plants in water, simply take tip cuttings of about 5 to 6 inches in length from an established mint plant. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cuttings in a water-filled glass or bottle. Set this in a sunny window with at least four to six hours of light each day.

When growing mint inside, there are a few things necessary for its continual care. One is watering. These plants prefer to be kept moist but not overly wet. If the upper part of soil becomes dry to the touch, then watering is needed. Otherwise, try to keep it evenly moist.

Humidity is another important factor, so mist the plant between watering or set the container on a water-filled tray of pebbles.

In addition, you should rotate the plant every three to four days or so to maintain a more even appearance, as plants tend to bend towards the light, becoming somewhat lopsided. If desired, you can move your mint outdoors for summer too.

While fertilizing isn’t a must with this plant, you can give it an occasional dose of all-purpose, water soluble fertilizer or fish emulsion. Mix the fertilizer at half strength. Do not over fertilize, as this can cause the herb to lose its overall flavor.