How to Grow Mint: Planting, Care, and Harvesting

Nov 03, 2026by David Schulze

Mint (Mentha spp.) is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow, and one of the most vigorous. These hardy perennials thrive in full sun to partial shade and return year after year, but their spreading habit means the most important decision is where to put them. With a little containment and regular harvesting, mint will reward you with armloads of fragrant leaves.

When to Plant Mint

Start mint seeds indoors about eight to ten weeks before your last frost date, and transplant seedlings outside once the danger of frost has passed. Direct sowing into containers is also possible in late spring. Germination typically takes about ten to fourteen days.

How to Plant Mint Seeds

Mint seeds need light to germinate, so sow them on the surface of the growing medium or cover them very lightly, and keep them evenly moist. One note about growing mint from seed: mints hybridize readily, so seed-grown plants may vary from their parents. Choose a spot in full sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil, and space plants about twelve to eighteen inches apart.

Containing Mint's Spread

Mint spreads aggressively by underground rhizomes and can take over a garden bed. The simplest solution is to grow it in a container, or sink a bottomless pot into the ground with the rim slightly above the soil line to block runners. If you plant mint in a bed, give it its own space away from neighboring plants.

Caring for Mint Plants

Keep the root zone consistently moist but not soggy, watering the soil rather than the foliage to help prevent leaf diseases. Container-grown mint dries out quickly and needs more frequent watering, along with occasional feeding. Pinch off the growing tips regularly for bushier plants, remove flower spikes as they appear to keep the leaves flavorful, and cut the plants back to the ground before winter for healthier, more prolific growth the following year. Divide clumps every three to four years to keep them vigorous.

Harvesting Mint

Harvest leaves or cut stems any time during the growing season, and harvest often: frequent cutting keeps mint fuller and more vigorous. Young leaves have the best flavor, and if you plan to dry mint, cut it before flowering, since flowering can make the leaves bitter. Fresh mint keeps about a week in the refrigerator, and leaves can also be dried to preserve them for later use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I plant mint in my vegetable garden?

Only with containment. Mint's runners spread quickly and will crowd neighboring plants, so grow it in a pot, a raised bed of its own, or a sunken bottomless container rather than open ground.

Why does my mint taste less flavorful?

Flower spikes can make the leaves bitter, so remove them as they appear. Young leaves carry the most flavor, and frequent harvesting encourages fresh, tasty growth.

Will mint come back every year?

Yes. Mint is a hardy perennial that dies back in winter and returns in spring, and cutting it back to the ground before winter helps it come back stronger.

Enjoying Mint

Mint's fragrant leaves make it a welcome plant near the kitchen door, where it can be snipped fresh for drinks and dishes all season. Use the leaves fresh or dried, and renew older clumps every few years when stems turn woody and sparse.