Growing Mint Outdoors Winter

Mint rust remains in the soil for at least three years so don t plant other mints tarragon or chives in that spot after infection.

Growing mint outdoors winter.

Plants thrive in zones 3 11 depending on the variety. Pot up a plant in the spring use a 4 inch 10cm pot of good compost. 18 21 c during the day and 55 60 f. Plant mint in spring after the last frost.

Where to plant mint. Some cold hardy herbs mint thyme oregano sage and chives are very well adapted. Runners are long stems that grow away from a mint plant. Water the mint plant 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.

It s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden even if you re planting in the ground. Peppermint mentha piperita is very cold hardy able to withstand the cooler temperatures in usda hardiness zone 3 spearmint mentha spicata handles the heat best and can grow in zone 11 if you are growing your mint indoors you will need to provide humidity. Temperature and humidity. This fast growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens.

Growing mint likes well drained nutrient rich moist soil with a ph between 5 6 and 7 5. 13 15 c at night. Hardiness will depend on the variety you are growing but mints are widely adaptable. It is best to buy mint as young plants in spring.

Look for swollen stems with orange spots on the leaves. One or two plants will easily cover the ground. You ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65 70 f. If you have a friend with an existing outdoor mint plant you may be able to use one of their runners.

Runners set their own roots in the ground which means they can be carefully removed and transplanted into a new pot. That said mint isn t picky. The colder your climate the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the winter. Mints will grow readily in sun or part shade and some types even survive in shade though they may become leggy.

Don t cut at this one too much just allow it to make good growth and keep it trimmed to about 6 inches 15 cm this way you will have lots of stems for winter use the cutting back will make other stems shoot up and stop the flowers growing. Check plants regularly for mint rust. Mint should grow to be 1 or 2 feet tall. Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost.

Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground. Quick guide to growing mint. For growing outdoors plant one or two purchased plants or one or two cuttings from a friend about 2 feet apart in moist soil. Use a runner from an existing outdoor mint plant.

When growing in pots rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container removing the rootball and splitting it in half.