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    
                    T T

(Best months for growing Mint in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

29 Apr 20, Louise (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi - we are in a temperate climate with high rainfall in winter and not much in the way of frost. We have had a beautiful large pot of mint thriving over summer and as it ended have cut it back hard. If I tuck the pot out of sight for winter will it come away again in Spring or am I better to pull it out and replant in Spring? Thanks : )
30 Apr 20, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read the notes here it tells you what to do. Grow indoors or outside, will die back in winter, shoot away again in spring. Likes a bit shade etc.
01 Feb 20, Denise (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can I plant mint in January. Just decided I want to plant some
03 Feb 20, anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Look up mint for your climate zone and check the planting calendar guide.
25 Jan 20, Michael Daly (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I cut back my mint last year it was a massive crop now it has not come away as good only have small amounts it is in same soil and grows in a big wooden square container I added cow dung in soil this year I live in Timaru
27 Jan 20, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You may have hacked it back too hard. Freshish cow dung won't do anything at first, it needs to decompose first and it is not rich in fertiliser. Don't over fertilise any crop it will only produce massive growth.
21 Aug 17, Eileen Stowers (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My Grandfaher told me to empty the tea pot round the mint when the tea is cold and it will thrive. I tried it and got three times the size of the leaves that I got before with only water !! Has anyone else tried this ?

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!

- Sally

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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