Growing Mint

We are huge fans of growing herbs in containers both outdoors and indoors. Depending on the herbs you want to grow, you can group them in containers according to water needs, so you can water less and grow more. Some herbs even taste better when "stressed" a little so they produce more oils. Not that you want to stress all of your herbs- but you can plan for harvesting the best tasting herbs that way.

Mentha spp., Common name: Mint, Family: Lamiaceae, Perennial, Prefers full sun to afternoon shade, grows indoors and outside, stem cuttings is an easy way to propagate.

Photo is of spearmint that is in bloom all along our driveway.

How to choose which mint to grow

If you are like me- its not a matter of choosing which mint to grow- (since they are so easy grow them all) the decision is really where do you want to grow the mint. Also which mint do you like the smell and flavor of. Even though they are all "mint", each has a very distinct flavor and scent. Mints are usually divided into two groups by fragrance: spearmints (M. spicata) and peppermints (M, piperita) It is also important to decide if you want mint everywhere or just in select places because mint can become invasive if not controlled.

Types of Mint

Apple Mint
Mentha sauveolens 'Variegata'
Can grow to 2 1/2 feet
AKA- woolly mint, features a spearmint smelling leaf with a slight apple flavor. Has delicate purple flower blooms and cream edged leaves.

Banana Mint
Mentha sp
Culinary and fragrant herb, Grows 6-8"

Berries and Cream Mint
Grows 24-36"
Full sun, has an delicate sweet but fruity flavor with mint scent.

Big-Leaved Mountain Mint
Pycanthemum sp
Grows 12-18" Culinary, Fragrant herb also used for white flowers. Likes moist well drained soil.

Black Peppermint
Mentha piperita 'Vulgaris'
Grows to 15" tall
Known for its use in crème-de-menthe- has a wonderful minty smell and flavor. Has forest green leaves.

Chocolate Mint
Mentha piperita
Grows 10-12" tall.
Culinary and Fragrant herb with lavender flowers. Likes moist well drained soil

Corsican Mint
Mentha requienii
Grows under 2" tall.
Culinary and fragrant herb, likes moist well drained soil.

Cunningham Mint
Mentha pulegium
Grows under 2" tall.
Culinary, Fragrant and Medicinal herb.

Curly Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Grows 8-10" tall.
Culinary and fragrant herb, likes moist well drained soil, full sun to part shade.

Double Mint
Mentha spicata
Grows 12-18" Tall
Culinary, Medicinal and Fragrnat herb. Likes shade and wet soil.

Emerald N' Gold Mint
Mentha gentilis
Grows 8-10" tall
Culinary, Fragrant, lavender flowering herb. Likes moist well drained soil. Sun to part shade.

Grapefruit Mint
Mentha suaveolens x piperita
Grows 12-18" tall.
Culinary, Fragrant herb likes sun to part shade, has lavender flowers.

Habak Mint
Mentha longifolia
Culinary, fragrant herb, likes sun to part shade, Lavender flowers, moist well drained soil.

Himalayan Mint
Mentha longifolia
Fragrant herb with lavender flowers

Mint Julep
Mentha spicata
Grows 12-24" tall
Likes full sun, keep well watered, great for sachets, potpourri, and teas.

Kentucky Colonel Mint
Mentha spicata
Culinary, fragrant herb, likes sun to part shade, grows 12-12" tall in moist soil.

Lavender Mint
Mentha piperita
Culinary, fragrant, medicinal herb. Likes sun to part shade with moist soil.

Orange Mint
Mentha aquatica
Grows to 18" tall
AKA- bergamot mint, citrus mint. Has a fruity fresh mint scent. The plant has reddish-purple stems and runners with green leaves. Pretty plant.

Pennyroyal
Mentha Pulegium
Grows 12" tall
Partial to full shade, low growing, creeping mint. Used "tea" from leaves for insect repellant. *NOT Culinary HERB! Can be toxic to children, pregnant animals, pregnant women or cats. Abortifacent (causes miscarriages)

Peppermint
Mentha xpiperita 'officinalis"
Grows up to 2 feet tall
Great companion plant for cabbage family vegetables- insects do not like the smell. Produces purple flowers. We keep clippings in a jar in our bathroom because they will root in the jar and live for a long time, makes a fantastic air freshener without the harsh sprays.

Pineapple Mint
Mentha suaveolens
Grows 12" tall
Wonderful pineapple scent- tastes like mint. Produces pretty creamy white flowers.

Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Grows 2 feet tall
AKA- lambs mint. Nice mint flavor and scent, deters flies, produces violet-gray flowers.

Watermint
Mentha aquatica
Has pretty little lilac flowers.

Other herbs that you might not know are in the mint family.

Catnip
Reseeds it's self easily, known for giving cats a "high". Makes a nice tea.

Tips for growing mint

Mark each type of mint with plant markers so you can keep track of where each mint is planted.
Plant the different types of variety away from each other. Mint cross-pollinates easily. (Cross pollination can cause a weakening of the herbs fragrance or flavor.)
Harvest mint regularly and pinch off flowering if you do not want the plant to go to seed.
Most mint is hearty and perennial, for optimal flavor, move locations of the mint plants every 5 years.
Fertilizer not recommended (compost ok).
Prefers well-drained, loose soil, frequent, consistent moisture.
If you do not want mint to spread in your garden, plant in pots.

Tips of harvesting mint

When harvesting mint for culinary purposes select 4-6 leaves at the very top of each branch.
When harvesting mint for potpourri or drying, select lower leaves as they have more pungent oils.