Growing Mint Outdoors Winter
Dig up the plant and bin it.
Growing mint outdoors winter. Plant mint in spring after the last frost. Mints will grow readily in sun or part shade and some types even survive in shade though they may become leggy. That said mint isn t picky. Check plants regularly for mint rust.
Temperature and humidity. Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost. Growing mint likes well drained nutrient rich moist soil with a ph between 5 6 and 7 5. Look for swollen stems with orange spots on the leaves.
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. 13 15 c at night. For growing outdoors plant one or two purchased plants or one or two cuttings from a friend about 2 feet apart in moist soil. 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.
Some cold hardy herbs mint thyme oregano sage and chives are very well adapted. 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. Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into 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. It s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden even if you re planting in the ground. Plants thrive in zones 3 11 depending on the variety. Use a runner from an existing outdoor mint plant.
Where to plant mint. One or two plants will easily cover the ground. Hardiness will depend on the variety you are growing but mints are widely adaptable. This fast growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens.
Quick guide to growing mint. The colder your climate the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the winter. Mint should grow to be 1 or 2 feet tall. If you have a friend with an existing outdoor mint plant you may be able to use one of their runners.
In areas with frost they grow as perennials going dormant in the winter and coming back with new growth in the spring. You ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65 70 f. Runners are long stems that grow away from a mint plant. When growing in pots rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container removing the rootball and splitting it in half.
Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart.