How to grow... Mint

Rocket Growing Guides

Chocolate Mint

You can’t really go wrong growing mint – it is almost impossible not to grow successfully. In fact, it can be a little too successful and will happily take over if given enough space, so it’s best to keep it confined to a pot!

  • Planting Tips
  • Growing advice
  • Chef's Corner
Choosing a site for growing veg

The right site

Mint enjoys moisture and a little bit of shade.

growing veg in pots and raised beds

Can be grown in....

It is rather invasive and so should be controlled so that it doesn’t take over any other plants in the vicinity. Putting in containers or planting mint in a bucket in the ground is a good way of avoiding this.

Autumn Winter Large Vegetable Garden

How far apart?

45cm apart or one plant to a large pot.

When your herb plants arrive....

Your baby plants will arrive carefully packed in straw. They may look a little tired from their travels. This is quite normal but, as soon as possible, carefully unpack them all.

Then, stand them upright. The roots may be dry, so give them all a good drink of water by submerging the roots for a few minutes in a container of clean water. Now they are ready to plant.

This herb plant is a perennial

This means that it’ll keep coming back year after year.

Looking after your plants....

Mint is really easy to grow and a very useful herb to have in the garden. If you cut it back to the ground each year it will keep going for a long time.

Mint

Cut regularly

Continuously cut mint during the Summer to promote new growth.

 

Mint

It's a good companion for...

It’s good to plant mint near tomatoes and cabbages to repel pests

They're ready to harvest when....

Pick leaves off as and when you need them.

Jargon Buster

Annual – a plant that completes its entire lifecycle in one year

Perennial – a plant that “dies” down at the end of the season, but comes back to life again year after year

Biennial – a plant that takes 2 years to complete its lifecycle before dying

Pineapple Mint

Great with...

Mint is a great herb in the summer – it really adds a hint of freshness to food. We like it with:

  • Peas and Cucumber
  • Strawberries and other summer fruits
  • Cous Cous or Bulgar Wheat salads
  • Lamb
  • Pimms

Types to try