Growing Mint Outdoors Winter

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.

Growing mint outdoors 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. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Mints will grow readily in sun or part shade and some types even survive in shade though they may become leggy. Runners are long stems that grow away from a mint plant.

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. It is best to buy mint as young plants in spring. Runners set their own roots in the ground which means they can be carefully removed and transplanted into a new pot. 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. When growing in pots rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container removing the rootball and splitting it in half. In areas with frost they grow as perennials going dormant in the winter and coming back with new growth in the spring. For growing outdoors plant one or two purchased plants or one or two cuttings from a friend about 2 feet apart in moist soil.

You ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65 70 f. That said mint isn t picky. Mint should grow to be 1 or 2 feet tall. It s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden even if you re planting in the ground.

Pot up a plant in the spring use a 4 inch 10cm pot of good compost. Plants thrive in zones 3 11 depending on the variety. 13 15 c at night. Some cold hardy herbs mint thyme oregano sage and chives are very well adapted.

One or two plants will easily cover the ground. Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost. Check plants regularly for mint rust. If you have a friend with an existing outdoor mint plant you may be able to use one of their runners.

Temperature and humidity. Dig up the plant and bin it. Plant mint in spring after the last frost. Hardiness will depend on the variety you are growing but mints are widely adaptable.

The colder your climate the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the winter. Use a runner from an existing outdoor mint plant. Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground. 18 21 c during the day and 55 60 f.

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.