Mint plants are a perfect starting point for your herb garden. They are usually put in pots because they are very invasive and their roots infest the surrounding soil. To make your mint plant thrive (you can choose from 600 different varieties) you just need to give it enough water and sun!
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Choosing Between Mint Varieties
Step 1. Choose peppermint if you want a strong and intense tea, or for general use
Step 2. Choose Gentle Mint if your garden, patio or window sill receives a lot of light and heat throughout the year
It is used a lot in the southern United States.
Step 3. Choose pineapple mint if you want to plant mint close to other plants
It is one of the least invasive varieties.
Step 4. Choose citrus mint if you like the refreshing aftertaste of lemon in iced tea
Step 5. Choose apple mint for a more subtle, mild flavor
This variety is used a lot with fresh salads and drinks.
Part 2 of 5: Plant the Mint
Step 1. Go to a nursery to buy mint seeds
Mint doesn't germinate too easily, so only experienced gardeners will start with seeds. Plant them directly in the soil or compost of a pot after buying them.
A nursery will have several varieties of mint; in any case, you can also find mint seeds and plants in some supermarkets and generic markets
Step 2. Cut some mint from an already mature plant
Ask a friend if you can cut a piece from their plant or find one in a local garden. Cut about an inch above a joint of the stem with sharp scissors.
Step 3. Try to use mint bought in the fresh food section of the supermarket
It is not sure that you will be able to grow a mint plant from each piece of mint, but it is a good idea to try using plant scraps if you like to experiment.
Step 4. Fill a glass with water
Put the mint in the glass, so that new roots are born. Leave the glass in a sunny, warm area and wait for white roots to emerge from the stem.
Add enough water to keep the glass full
Step 5. Wait until the roots are a few inches long before planting the mint
They can go all the way to the bottom of the pot you will plant them in, that's not a problem!
Part 3 of 5: Choosing the Vase
Step 1. Buy a pot that is at least 30cm in diameter
Mint plants need a lot of space to grow.
Step 2. Choose a pot with drainage holes in the bottom
Mint plants thrive only in soils with good drainage. Also buy a saucer to put under the pot, so as not to dirty your patio or windows.
Step 3. Buy an extra pot, or a larger one, if you want to grow mint alongside other herbs
You can put the first smaller pot inside the larger one, next to the other herbs. Remember, though, that the mint roots will still be able to get into the larger pot through the drainage holes.
If you want to plant mint along with other herbs, it will be best to separate them later in the season
Part 4 of 5: Planting Mint in a Pot
Step 1. Buy grainy compost from your nursery
You can also combine compost with plain soil. Mint plants need rich, well-drained soil to grow well.
Step 2. Fill a third of the compost pot and soil
Step 3. Place the mint seedling or seeds in the pot
Bend the roots a little if they are too long.
Step 4. Put the soil back around the mint seedling
Compact the soil enough so that the plant stands upright.
Step 5. Put some plastic in the garden if you want to plant the mint on the ground, but don't want it to expand too much
Then put the whole pot on the ground and let it rise about 10 cm above the ground level.
If possible, avoid planting mint in the garden. Place it on a patio or on windowsills so the mint doesn't expand too much
Step 6. Place some wooden stakes next to the mint plant for support
You can then take them off once they are well grown.
Part 5 of 5: Taking Care of Your Mint Plant
Step 1. Water the soil well so that the water reaches all the roots
For the first year, water whenever the soil is dry. It should always be a little damp.
If it's very hot, you may need to water it several times a day
Step 2. Direct the plant to the east
It is best if it has at least 6 hours of sunshine a day, but at the same time it is better if it will be in the shade during the hottest hours of the day. If there is little sunshine in the winter, it may die.
Step 3. Wait until the mint plant is fully grown and the leaves are large before cutting and using
Once it is large, cutting it into small pieces frequently will keep the plant in good condition and its strong flavor.
Step 4. Cut the top half of the plant with sharp scissors
Cut an inch above a stem junction and below each flower bud. Don't cut more than a third of the leaves at a time.
Never let your mint plant bloom. If this happens, nutrients will be directed to flower production and slow leaf growth
Step 5. Divide your plant every few years
Divide the soil into four and then plant each section in a new 12-inch diameter pot. If you don't divide it, the plant will suffer and the leaves won't grow regularly.
