Grow mint in moist soil and sun or part shade. Mentha is the Latin name.
Keep the soil moist, give sun or part shade, and keep mint out of an open bed
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun to part shade. Best harvest in sun | Do not expect a full crop in deep shade |
| Soil | Rich, moist ground that still drains after rain | Do not plant it in dry, sandy soil |
| Water | Keep the root zone moist. Water when the surface starts to dry | Do not let the soil dry out, and do not leave it soggy |
| Site | A dedicated bed, a raised strip, or a pot. Mint spreads by rhizomes | Do not plant it loose in a mixed border |
Mint wants moist ground and sun or part shade. It does not take dry soil. [1] spearmint and peppermint both need that same moist site. Part shade is fine; three hours of sun is enough for peppermint, though a sunnier bed gives more leaf. [2] Keep it out of an open mixed bed. Runners root wherever they touch soil, so a dedicated strip or a pot is the usual start. [3] Match the kind on Types of Mint before you pick the bed. If you are setting a nursery plant this spring, the hole and spacing are on Planting Mint. A patio pot that drains is on Mint in Containers. [4]
Does mint need full sun?
No. Sun or part shade both work. The plant is most productive in sun, and peppermint still grows with about three hours of light.
How often should I water mint?
Keep the soil moist. Water when the surface starts to dry, and do not let the bed bake.
Is mint deer resistant?
Kitchen mint is less attractive to deer because of the fragrant leaves. That is not a guarantee in a hungry yard. Do not treat water mint or Corsican mint as the same deer claim.
Not thyme — and not catmint
Mint is not thyme. Thyme is How to Grow Thyme — a different mint-family herb that wants sun and lean, dry ground, not this moist bed.
Catmint is How to Grow Catmint — Nepeta, not this genus. Oregano is How to Grow Oregano. Oregano sits in sun and lean drain. Mint runs in moist ground. Spearmint and peppermint are still this genus; pick that kind on Types of Mint.
Is thyme the same as mint?
No. Mint is Mentha. Thyme is Thymus. They share the mint family, not the same plant. Catmint is Nepeta.
Root a stem cutting in water
A nursery plant is the usual start. If you already have a plant whose leaves taste right, a green stem will root in a jar of water.
- Cut a few inches of green stem in spring or summer. Do not take a flowering tip.
- Strip the lowest leaves so none sit in the water, and stand the stem in a clean jar.
- Set the jar in bright light, change the water when it clouds, and pot the cutting once roots are an inch or two long.
Can I grow mint from a cutting?
Yes. Take a few inches of green stem from a plant with the flavor you like, and root it in water or a moist mix.
If the bed is dry and the stems look thin, water more often and keep mint out of a mixed border.
FAQ
Does mint come back every year?
Yes. Kitchen mint is a hardy perennial. The top dies back in a cold winter, and new shoots come from the rhizomes in spring. Dry soil hurts it more than cold.
Can I grow mint from seed?
You can start some kinds from seed. Peppermint is a hybrid and rarely comes true. A nursery plant or a cutting from a plant whose flavor you like is the usual start.
Why does mint get rust?
Rust and leaf spot show up when the stand is crowded and wet on the leaves. Give it air, water the soil not the foliage, and cut out badly marked stems.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] University of Maryland Extension -
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-mint-home-garden - [2] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/mentha-x-piperita/ - [3] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/mentha-spicata/ - [4] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/mint
This note is part of Mentha Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors