Planting and care
How to grow mint
Warm season · Spreading herbaceous perennial
Rooted transplant or division in a dedicated container
12–24 in tall; roots spread aggressively
About 30–45 days from an established transplant; harvest only after vigorous new growth.
Light feeder
Large Herb
How to prune
Pinch tips above leaf pairs to keep growth bushy; cut flowering stems back to leafy nodes. Trim runners that escape the container and divide crowded roots in spring.
How to harvest
Snip 4–6 inch leafy tips above a node, taking no more than about one-third at a time. Harvest before flowering for strongest leaf flavor.
Harvest and kitchen use
Fresh leaves for teas, fruit, salads and sauces; freeze or dry surplus.
Nutrition and garden value
Aromatic herbs provide flavor and small amounts of vitamins/phytonutrients
High customer value in small space; flowers on many herbs support pollinators/beneficial insects; especially useful in containers
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Aggressive spreading rhizomes if planted loose in shared beds