Growing Mint Outdoors Winter

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

Growing mint outdoors winter.

Check plants regularly for mint rust. It s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden even if you re planting in the ground. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Runners set their own roots in the ground which means they can be carefully removed and transplanted into a new pot.

Use a runner from an existing outdoor mint plant. Where to plant mint. It is best to buy mint as young plants in spring. Hardiness will depend on the variety you are growing but mints are widely adaptable.

Dig up the plant and bin it. Temperature and humidity. In areas with frost they grow as perennials going dormant in the winter and coming back with new growth in the spring. Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground.

Pot up a plant in the spring use a 4 inch 10cm pot of good compost. Mints will grow readily in sun or part shade and some types even survive in shade though they may become leggy. Plant mint in spring after the last frost. That said mint isn t picky.

13 15 c at night. 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. If you have a friend with an existing outdoor mint plant you may be able to use one of their runners. Plants thrive in zones 3 11 depending on the variety.

Growing mint likes well drained nutrient rich moist soil with a ph between 5 6 and 7 5. This fast growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens. The colder your climate the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the winter. 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.

Some cold hardy herbs mint thyme oregano sage and chives are very well adapted. Mint should grow to be 1 or 2 feet tall. You ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65 70 f. Look for swollen stems with orange spots on the leaves.

Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost. One or two plants will easily cover the ground. Quick guide to growing mint. 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.

18 21 c during the day and 55 60 f.