Guide to growing Mint - Mentha
Members of the Mentha genus are hardy perennial herbs that reach from 45 to 90cm in height.
They are often used in cooking, herbal remedies and for making teas.
They flower in the summer with flowers of pink, white or purple.
Common names for plants from Mentha include Mint, pudding grass, Chocolate Mint and Pennyroyal.
If you plan to grow mint in the herb garden, it is best to sink them within a container within the herb garden; this will stop mint from spreading. When using mint in the garden it is best to use fresh leaves, but they can be frozen or dried for later use. To freeze mint, it is best to wash the leaves, then chop them before freezing the mint leaves as quickly as possible.
How to grow Mint
It is much easier to grow mint from cuttings, divisions or runners than it is from seed. These can be planted in the garden in either spring or autumn. Members of the mint family can grow in either sunny or partially shaded locations and have a preference for a moist soil of pH 6.5 to 8.5. At the time of planting the mint add compost to the soil. Ideally the plants should be planted from 30cm to 60cm apart.
Caring for Mentha species such as mint in the garden
It is best to grow mint in their own pots to prevent them from spreading; sink the pot into the herb garden, and remove mint runners to prevent them from spreading. To create vigorous and bushy Mentha species growth it is best to pinch back the tips of young plants. Every three years the mint plants should be divided and re-potted in fresh soil and compost to maintain healthy growth.