Growing Mint Outdoors Winter

It s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden even if you re planting in the ground.

Growing mint outdoors winter.

The colder your climate the more your plants run the risk of not surviving the 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. That said mint isn t picky. Runners set their own roots in the ground which means they can be carefully removed and transplanted into a new pot.

Check plants regularly for mint rust. For growing outdoors plant one or two purchased plants or one or two cuttings from a friend about 2 feet apart in moist soil. If you have a friend with an existing outdoor mint plant you may be able to use one of their runners. 18 21 c during the day and 55 60 f.

Runners are long stems that grow away from a mint plant. Mint should grow to be 1 or 2 feet tall. Use a runner from an existing outdoor mint plant. Plant mint in spring after the last frost.

Look for swollen stems with orange spots on the leaves. Dig up the plant and bin it. You ll also want to locate your mint plant in an area with an indoor temperature of around 65 70 f. Mint is a vigorous plant that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground.

When growing in pots rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container removing the rootball and splitting it in half. 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. 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. Pot up a plant in the spring use a 4 inch 10cm pot of good compost.

Growing mint likes well drained nutrient rich moist soil with a ph between 5 6 and 7 5. Plants thrive in zones 3 11 depending on the variety. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Hardiness will depend on the variety you are growing but mints are widely adaptable.

Temperature and humidity. It is best to buy mint as young plants in spring. Quick guide to growing mint. 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. Repot a portion in the same container using fresh compost. This fast growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens. Where to plant mint.

In areas with frost they grow as perennials going dormant in the winter and coming back with new growth in the spring.