How to Grow Spearmint

Spearmint prefers part shade and moist soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Mulching around the plants will keep the soil cool and also helps you keep an eye on any errant stems to prevent rooting.

Is Spearmint easy to grow?
Does spearmint need full sun?
Does spearmint come back every year?
How long does it take for spearmint to grow?
How often should you water Spearmint?
How do you care for potted spearmint?
Can you eat spearmint leaves?
Is Spearmint a perennial?
Do spearmint plants spread?
What is spearmint plants good for?
Does Mint regrow after cutting?

Is Spearmint easy to grow?

Spearmint is a hardy perennial up to USDA plant hardiness Zone 5 that grows best in partial shade with well-draining, rich, moist soil and a pH of 6.5 to 7. Mint is easiest to grow from plants, but you can sow seed once the ground has warmed in the spring.

Does spearmint need full sun?

Light requirements: Full sun to part shade. Protect plants from hot afternoon sun in southerly zones. Planting: Space 18 to 24 inches apart. Soil requirements: Nutrient-rich, moist soil is ideal, although mint grows in nearly any type of soil.

Does spearmint come back every year?

Mint is frost tolerant. It usually dies back in the winter but comes back in spring.

How long does it take for spearmint to grow?

Quick Reference Growing Guide

Time to Maturity:	60 days	Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Spacing:	24 inches	Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, lettuce, peas, peppers
Planting Depth:	1/2 inch (seeds)	Other types of mint
Height:	2-3 feet	Lamiaceae
Spread:	2 feet (vigorous)	Mentha

How often should you water Spearmint?

Instead of watering mint plants on a schedule, focus on keeping the soil consistently moist without being saturated. Mint plants usually need 1 to 2 inches of water per week, but growing conditions can affect how much water the mint needs.

How do you care for potted spearmint?

How to Grow Mint

Full sun to partial shade - Mint loves full sun but will grow in partial shade.
Keep fairly moist - While it's best to keep your soil moist, mint will tolerate some dryness.
Don't over-fertilize - Like most herbs, the potency of mint's flavor can be reduced by adding too much fertilizer.

Can you eat spearmint leaves?

When taken by mouth: Spearmint and spearmint oil are LIKELY SAFE when eaten in amount commonly found in food. Spearmint is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine, short-term. Side effects are very uncommon. Some people might have an allergic reaction to spearmint.

Is Spearmint a perennial?

Although you can start mint from seed, it is easier to start with a small plant. Like other mints, spearmint plants are spreading perennials that, left unchecked, can quickly overtake a raised bed.

Do spearmint plants spread?

If you're thinking about planting mint for the first time, keep in mind that it spreads, given space and water. Its roots, properly called rhizomes, run underground and can send up shoots many feet away from the mother plant.

What is spearmint plants good for?

In addition to the plant's ornamental value, mint is a useful herb having a number of uses that include both culinary and medicinal. It's also nutritious, being high in fiber and vitamin A. ... In the garden, the plant attracts beneficial insects and repels pests, including fleas, mosquitoes and mice.

Does Mint regrow after cutting?

Cut the mint stem just below a node (where a leaf grows) on the plant. Remove all but the top leaves. Stick a few cuttings into a glass jar with about one inch of water. ... As the mint grows, replant in a larger pot or in the ground.