How to Plant Mint

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow and one of the most useful in the kitchen and garden. It grows quickly and spreads fast, which means it needs a bit of control but very little fuss. You can plant mint from seeds, cuttings or potted plants. It does best in moist, fertile soil and partial sun, but it’s flexible enough to grow in most garden conditions. Because it spreads via underground stems, it’s often best to plant it in a pot or contained area to stop it from taking over.

How Do You Cut Mint So It Keeps Growing?

To keep mint growing well, cut just above a pair of leaves on the stem. This encourages the plant to produce two new shoots from that point, keeping growth compact and bushy. Regular cutting during the growing season helps the plant stay productive and stops it from becoming leggy or woody. Avoid cutting more than a third of the plant at once, especially if it’s young or recently transplanted.

Do You Pick Mint Leaves from the Top or Bottom?

For the freshest flavour and strongest growth response, pick mint leaves from the top. This encourages the plant to branch out below and produce more shoots. Picking from the bottom won’t harm the plant, but it can leave bare stems if done too often. Always use clean hands or scissors to avoid damaging the plant and try to harvest in the morning when oils are most concentrated.

How Do I Make My Mint Plant Bushy?

A bushy mint plant is the result of regular pinching and trimming. Cut the tips of new growth as soon as the plant is around 10 to 15 cm tall. This triggers side shoots to develop, making the plant fuller and stronger. If the plant is already leggy, a harder cut back may be needed to encourage fresh, dense growth. Light, frequent pruning works better than leaving it to grow tall and then cutting back all at once.

What Does an Overwatered Mint Plant Look Like?

An overwatered mint plant often shows yellowing leaves, wilting despite wet soil, or a soggy, foul-smelling root zone. The stems may feel soft and mushy, and the plant can collapse if root rot sets in. If you spot these signs, reduce watering immediately and check the drainage. Repotting into fresh, dry compost may be needed if the roots are affected. Mint prefers moist soil, not wet—there’s a big difference.

How to Grow and Care for Mint

Mint likes consistently damp, well-drained soil and partial sun. It will grow in full sun too, but may need more frequent watering. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring, and cut back regularly to keep growth in check. As mint spreads by underground runners, you’ll need to manage its spread if growing in borders. Container growing is often the easiest way to keep it tidy and accessible.

Planting

Mint can be planted in spring after the last frost or in early summer. Space plants about 30 to 40 cm apart if growing in the ground, or plant one per pot. Enrich the soil with compost before planting. Water in well and keep the soil moist while the plant establishes. If planting in a border, consider sinking a bottomless pot into the ground to limit the spread.

Growing Mint Indoors

Mint grows well indoors as long as it gets enough light. A bright windowsill or a spot near a glass door is ideal. Rotate the pot regularly to avoid lopsided growth. Use a pot with good drainage and keep the compost evenly moist. Indoor plants may need more frequent harvesting and occasional feeding to stay healthy. If growth slows, trim back and let it rest for a week or two.

How Do I Continue Caring for the Mint Plant

Ongoing care is simple: water when the soil starts to dry out, trim regularly to encourage bushy growth, and remove any flowers to keep the leaves tender and flavourful. In late summer or early autumn, cut back the whole plant to just a few centimetres above the soil to encourage new growth. Mint will often die back in winter and regrow in spring.

Types of Mint

There are many varieties of mint, each with its own flavour and growth habit. Common mint, spearmint and peppermint are the most popular, used in teas and cooking. Apple mint has a fruity edge, while chocolate mint adds a subtle cocoa scent. Moroccan mint is often used in tea and is less invasive than others. Choosing a variety depends on your use—culinary, aromatic or ornamental.

Harvesting Mint

Mint can be harvested as soon as the plant is established and growing well. For the best flavour, pick leaves before the plant flowers. The oils are strongest in the morning, so harvesting early in the day is ideal. If you’re drying or preserving mint, take longer sprigs and hang them in a cool, dark place. For fresh use, just snip what you need and the plant will regrow quickly.

Can I Grow Mint in Pots?

Yes, and it’s often the best option. Growing mint in pots keeps it contained and easy to manage. Use a medium to large container with drainage holes and water regularly, especially in summer. Refresh the compost each year and divide the plant every couple of years to keep it healthy. Pots can be moved to follow the sun or brought indoors when temperatures drop.

Pruning

Pruning mint regularly keeps the plant productive and neat. During the growing season, cut the stems back by half every few weeks. This removes old, woody growth and encourages soft new shoots. If the plant flowers, cut off the blooms promptly. At the end of the season, give it a final cut back and mulch lightly if growing outdoors.

Propagating

Mint is easy to propagate from cuttings or by dividing mature plants. Cuttings root easily in water or moist compost within a week or two. For division, simply dig up the plant and split the root ball into smaller sections, then replant. This helps refresh older plants and gives you new ones to grow or share.

Growing From Seeds

Growing mint from seed is possible but slower and less predictable. Many mint seeds are not true to type, meaning the resulting plants may vary in flavour or strength. If growing from seed, sow indoors in early spring, keep warm and moist until germinated, then harden off before planting out. For consistency, growing from cuttings or potted plants is usually better.

Pests and Diseases

Mint is fairly resilient but can suffer from issues like aphids, whitefly, and mint rust—a fungal disease that causes orange spots on leaves. Best Time to Plant Mint

Spring is the ideal time to plant mint, once the soil has warmed up and the risk of frost has passed. This gives the plant a full growing season to establish itself. If planting in pots, you can start indoors a little earlier. Mint grows fast in the right conditions, so even a late spring or early summer planting will still yield strong growth by mid-season.

Soil Preferences and Drainage

Mint isn’t too fussy, but it thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, though it will tolerate a range. If your garden soil is sandy or clay-heavy, improve it with compost or organic matter before planting. In containers, use a general-purpose compost and make sure the pot has good drainage holes. Consistent moisture is key, but mint does not like to sit in soggy soil.

Companion Planting with Mint

Mint makes a great companion plant when managed carefully. Its strong scent can deter pests like aphids, ants and cabbage moths, making it useful near brassicas or tomatoes. But because mint spreads aggressively, it’s best to grow it in its own pot or in a sunken container if planting in the ground. That way, it won’t compete with nearby plants or overrun your garden beds.

Managing Invasiveness

One of the biggest challenges with mint is how quickly it spreads. It sends out underground runners that can travel far and wide if left unchecked. To stop this, plant mint in a bottomless pot sunk into the ground with the rim above soil level. This creates a natural barrier without completely restricting root space. Regularly trim the edges of the plant to keep it from creeping beyond its space.

Maximising Flavour

For the best flavour, grow mint in partial sun rather than full shade. Too much shade can result in leggy, bland-tasting leaves. Watering regularly also keeps the flavour clean and strong—stressed plants tend to turn bitter. Harvest young leaves often and remove any flower buds as soon as they appear to maintain fresh, sweet flavour and encourage continuous leaf production.

Overwintering Mint

In colder areas, mint will die back to the ground in winter but regrow from the roots in spring. Cut the plant back hard in autumn once the leaves begin to yellow and mulch around the base with compost or straw to protect the roots. In very cold zones, or if the plant is in a pot, you can move it into a sheltered spot or unheated greenhouse to help it survive the cold months.

Refreshing Old Plants

Mint can get woody and tired after a couple of years. You’ll notice the stems become thicker, and the leaves may grow smaller. To fix this, dig up the plant in early spring, divide the root ball, and replant only the healthiest sections. You can discard the centre if it looks woody or dead. Refreshing the compost or soil also helps give the plant a second wind.

Using Mint Beyond the Kitchen

Mint isn’t just for food and drink—it can also be used around the home and garden. Crushed mint leaves can be added to natural pest repellents or used in homemade cleaning sprays for a fresh scent. In the garden, fresh-cut mint can be scattered near seating areas to deter flies and ants. It’s also a popular ingredient in herbal remedies and cooling foot soaks.

Avoid overhead watering and overcrowding. In containers, refreshing the compost and dividing the plant regularly reduces the chance of disease. Slugs may nibble young shoots, especially outdoors.