How to Grow Mint

🌿 How To Grow Mint: Tips, Stories, and Fresh Ideas from My Garden

Mint was one of the very first herbs I ever planted—and let me tell you, it hooked me instantly. If you’re even slightly curious about growing your own herbs, mint is a wonderfully forgiving, fragrant, and fast-growing place to start. In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned growing mint over the years, the best varieties, growing tips, and a few of my favorite ways to use it.

🌱 Why I Grow Mint (and Why You Might Want To)

For me, mint is a garden multitasker. I grow it for iced teas, fresh summer desserts, garnishing cocktails, and even tossing a few sprigs in bathwater after a long day. But beyond the flavor and fragrance, mint is a great plant for beginner gardeners because it’s hardy, fast to spread, and practically grows itself once established.

Whether you want a low-effort edible garden or you’re building up a home herbal collection, mint deserves a spot in your garden—just not *every* spot (more on that later!).

🌿 Is Mint Beginner-Friendly?

Absolutely! Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow, especially for anyone who feels like they don’t have a “green thumb.” It’s forgiving if you forget to water it, doesn’t require fancy soil or fertilizer, and it bounces back even after a hard prune.

The one thing you do need to watch for? It grows aggressively. If you’re planting in the ground, give it boundaries or plant it in containers to keep it from taking over.

🍃 Types of Mint I’ve Grown and Loved

There are so many types of mint, and they each bring something a little different to the table. Something to note is that I have not had success getting all mint to overwinter. I have however successfully had spearmint and peppermint come back for years. Where I live is considered Zone 6B so we get fairly harsh winters and the other varieties seem a bit more fragile for some reason. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Spearmint: Classic and sweet. Great for teas, salads, and chewing fresh.
• Peppermint: Stronger, spicier flavor. I love using this in homemade mint chocolate bark or soothing teas.
• Chocolate Mint: Smells exactly like it sounds—like a peppermint patty! Wonderful in desserts.
• Apple Mint: A fuzzier leaf with a mild, fruity flavor. Very refreshing in lemonade.
• Lemon Mint (aka Lemon Balm): Technically in the mint family—delicate and citrusy. Great for calming teas.

🪴 How I Grow Mint (and Keep It Happy)

Mint thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers moist, well-draining soil. Here are my personal care tips:

• Contain it. Grow mint in a pot, even if you sink the pot into the ground to mask it a bit. This keeps the roots from spreading like wildfire. I actually don’t grow mine in a pot because I have the space and I love it spreading everywhere!
• Prune regularly. The more you harvest, the bushier it grows. I cut mine down every few weeks and dry the extras. My chickens absolutely love mint!
• Water consistently. Mint likes moist soil, especially in hot weather. I keep mine near the hose or use a small drip tray.
• Fertilizer? Honestly, I rarely fertilize mint. It doesn’t need much, but a little compost in early spring goes a long way.

🌸 Companion Planting with Mint

Mint has a strong scent that helps deter aphids, cabbage moths, and even ants. I’ve planted it near:

• Tomatoes – Helps reduce pests, but be sure to contain the roots.
• Cabbage and kale – Deters cabbage moths naturally.
• Carrots – Mint confuses pests like carrot flies with its fragrance.

Plants to avoid: I never plant mint near parsley or chamomile. It tends to overwhelm them quickly. And definitely don’t let it loose in your vegetable beds—it’ll crowd out tender herbs and seedlings.

🌱 Starting Mint from Seed or Cuttings

Here’s how I’ve started mint both ways:

🌱 From Seed

• Sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date
• Keep seeds barely covered and moist
• Germination takes about 10–15 days
• Transplant outdoors after danger of frost

Mint seeds don’t always grow true to type, so this is better for experimenting or wild patches. It is sometimes fun to see what surprise you get!

🌿 From Cuttings (My Favorite Method)

• Snip a 4–6 inch stem from a healthy plant
• Remove lower leaves and place the stem in a glass of water
• Change water every couple of days
• Roots usually appear within 7–10 days
• Plant rooted cutting into moist soil or a pot
• I take advantage of using mint in floral bouquets and generally they start to sprout roots by the time the flowers need tossed out.

🍹 My Favorite Ways to Use Fresh Mint

Fresh mint isn’t just pretty—it’s versatile and flavorful. Here are some go-to uses in my home:

• Mint tea: Steep a handful of leaves in hot water—calming and great for digestion.
• Cocktails: Mojitos and mint juleps, of course!
• Salads: Add a few chopped leaves to cucumber or watermelon salad—SO refreshing.
• Desserts: Garnish cakes, cupcakes, or chocolate mousse with fresh sprigs. Mint is beautiful!
• Homemade body scrubs or bath soaks: Combine with lavender or lemon balm for a spa day at home.

📸 Let’s Connect!

Growing mint has been such a rewarding part of my garden, and I love seeing how others use theirs! If you’ve got a mint patch (or a minty drink in hand), tag me so I can see it. I share tips, garden updates, and seasonal inspiration all year long!