How to Grow and Use Mint

Quick Guide to Growing Mint

1. Plant mint in spring after the last frost. ...
2. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. ...
3. Give your garden a great foundation by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. ...
4. Keep soil consistently moist and water when the top inch becomes dry.

1. What is the best way to grow mint?
2. Can you plant anything with mint?
3. Does mint grow better in sun or shade?
4. What can I do with fresh mint?
5. Does mint plants come back every year?
6. How often should I water mint?
7. What can you not plant next to mint?
8. Will Mint kill other plants?
9. How do you care for a potted mint plant?
10. Why does my mint keep dying?
11. What food grows in full shade?

What is the best way to grow mint?

Plant. It is best to buy mint as young plants in spring. Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground. This is why it is a good idea to plant it in a large pot filled with multi-purpose compost that can be placed in a prominent place to make picking easy.

Can you plant anything with mint?

Oregano and marigolds.

In combination with mint, pungent, spicy oregano and marigold spread an aromatic forcefield across any vegetable garden, attracting pollinators and deterring pests.

Does mint grow better in sun or shade?

Mints are vigorous perennials that thrive in light soil with good drainage. Ideally, they prefer a moist but well-drained site, something like their native habitat along stream banks. Most will tolerate some shade, and the variegated types may require some protection from direct sun.

What can I do with fresh mint?

14 of the Best Ways to Use Fresh Mint

1. Add Fresh Mint to Greek Yogurt with Berries. ...
2. Make Tea from Fresh Mint Leaves. ...
3. Change Up Your Protein Smoothie. ...
4. Mix Up Your Salad Game. ...
5. Mint Sauce and Mint Jelly. ...
6. Make a Mint Lime Fizzler. ...
7. Cool Off This Summer with Watermelon Mint Popsicles.

Does mint plants come back every year?

Lift and replant your mint every 3 to 4 years to keep your patch's flavor and scent strong. Mint is frost tolerant. It usually dies back in the winter but comes back in spring.

How often should I water mint?

Mint plants need about 1 to 2 inches of water every week, depending on the conditions. This includes both rain and your supplemental watering. Mint plants like water, but they cannot withstand soggy soil and wet feet, so monitoring the soil and using it as a guide on when to water is the best option.

What can you not plant next to mint?

Avoid duplicating photos showing mint planted in a single windowsill container with other herbs: mint does NOT do well planted with other common herbs such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme, as these herbs prefer soil dry-down and sunny locations.

Will Mint kill other plants?

If you want to add it to an existing herb bed then the best way is to sink a deep bucket or tub without holes into the soil and plant into that as otherwise mint will quickly choke out the other plants. Apart from that, mint is not a fussy plant and will even grow under trees or in shade.

How do you care for a potted mint plant?

Once the plant is safely in the pot, put it where it receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. Mint tolerates a little shade but thrives in full sunlight. Water container-grown mint whenever the top inch (2.5 cm.) of potting mix feels dry to the touch.

Why does my mint keep dying?

If you plant mint in a pot that is too small, it will grow slowly. Also, the lack of adequate space for its roots and water can result in your mint plant dying. The best soil PH for growing mint is 6.0 to 7.5. ... If you are planting indoors, place the plant at a place where it will get full, all-day sunlight.

What food grows in full shade?

Vegetables that grow well in shade

• Arugula (Rocket) With every peppery bite, you can feel the strength of the sun in arugula. ...
• Brussels Sprouts. Another cool season plant that tolerates, even thrives in shade, is Brussels sprouts. ...
• Kale. ...
• Lettuce. ...
• Mustard greens. ...
• Sorrel. ...
• Spinach. ...
• Swiss chard.