The herb peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a hybrid between spearmint (Mentha spicata) and watermint (Mentha aquatica). This amazingly aromatic herb is one of the oldest herbs used for ritual, culinary, and medicinal purposes. Peppermint will thrive in full sun and in almost any type of soil. This marvelous herb can be enjoyed for its refreshing fragrance and taste with little effort.
Growing Peppermint at Home: A Refreshingly Aromatic Herb
With its invigorating scent and flavor, peppermint is a beloved herb for both culinary and medicinal uses. Fortunately, this hardy perennial can be easily grown right in your own backyard with a little TLC. Follow some key care tips and you’ll have homegrown peppermint to harvest for years to come.
Getting Started with Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is actually a natural hybrid between watermint and spearmint. It thrives in the temperate climates of USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9, surviving winters even into zone 3 with ease.
Though peppermint will grow in partial shade, full sun is ideal for the most pungent flavor and growth. It prefers moist, well-draining loamy soil but adapts to most conditions. Just don’t let it sit in soggy soil.
Choose a spot in full sun, Amend the soil with compost or manure to improve drainage and nutrients if needed
Plant peppermint at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot, spacing plants 18-24 inches apart. Water thoroughly after planting.
Contain Those Roots
Perhaps peppermint’s biggest downside is its aggressive spreading habit. Those shallow roots easily send out runners that can take over your garden in no time. That’s why many gardeners choose to grow peppermint in containers that restrict root growth.
You can also plant peppermint in areas surrounded by barriers to contain it. Options include:
- Planting in bottomless buckets buried in the ground
- Installation of underground barriers around in-ground plantings
- Sinking potted plants into the soil
Proper Care for Flavorful Peppermint
Once established, peppermint requires minimal care besides occasional watering. Just be sure to trim it back often. Here are some top tips:
- Water regularly, keeping soil consistently moist but not soaked
- Prune frequently to promote tender new growth
- Cut back flower spikes to focus energy on leaves
- Divide congested plants every 2-3 years
- Mulch annually to retain moisture and insulate roots
Harvest Time
You can begin harvesting peppermint leaves once the plant reaches about 4 inches tall. For the best flavor, cut before flowers appear. Harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated for highest oil concentrations.
Use scissors or pruning shears to cut stems about 1 inch from the ground. The plant will continue producing new growth all season long with proper care.
How to Propagate Peppermint
Peppermint propagates readily from stem cuttings. Follow these simple steps:
- Cut a 4-inch stem section below a leaf node
- Remove leaves from lower half of the cutting
- Place cutting in water until roots form
- Plant in potting mix once well rooted
You can also divide established peppermint clumps. Use a shovel to carefully separate sections, ensuring each has some roots. Replant right away and water well.
Overwintering Peppermint
As a hardy perennial, peppermint often survives winters in the ground without issue. But you can also bring potted plants indoors before frost to overwinter. Place in a sunny window and water sparingly, just enough to prevent complete drying out.
In early spring after the last frost, move peppermint back outside and resume normal care. Trim off any dead stems and leaves. It will quickly regenerate for a new growing season.
Common Pests and Diseases
Peppermint’s natural minty oils act as a deterrent to many pests. But here are some potential problems to watch for:
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Spider mites – Look for yellow stippling on leaves. Rinse plants to wash mites away and increase humidity.
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Aphids – Sticky honeydew and curled leaves may indicate aphids. Use insecticidal soap sprays to treat.
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Verticillium wilt – Leaves yellowing and wilting from the top down signal this fungal disease. Improve drainage and replace soil to prevent its spread.
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Mint rust – Reddish or brown bumps on leaves identify this fungal issue. Remove and destroy affected foliage promptly.
Growing Peppermint Indoors
You can grow peppermint indoors if you don’t have an outdoor garden spot. Peppermint thrives hydroponically or in pots. Provide at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. A sunny windowsill is often adequate for container plants. Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated.
Use quality potting mix, and choose containers at least 10-12 inches wide and deep to accommodate the roots. Terra cotta pots with drainage holes work well. For indoor hydroponic growing, plenty of resources are available both online and at your local hydroponics supply store.
Potted peppermint may need pruning and dividing more frequently than in-ground plants. But with bright light and attentive watering, you can grow peppermint inside year-round.
DIY Peppermint Plant Care Recap
- Plant in full sun
- Amend soil with organic matter
- Space plants 18-24 inches apart
- Water regularly to keep moist, not soggy
- Prune often for tender new growth
- Harvest leaves frequently
- Contain spreading roots
- Propagate by stem cuttings or division
- Bring indoors or mulch heavily for winter
With minimal effort, you can grow peppermint for home use and have this refreshing herb readily available. Just be sure to control its growth habit, and you’ll be rewarded with aromatic peppermint for cooking, crafts, beauty uses and more in your own backyard.
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How to Care for Peppermint
Caring for peppermint is fairly easy granted a few things are kept in mind.
Before planting peppermint, be aware of its invasive nature. It grows quickly, and its roots need to be kept in check or the plant will send out runners and take over your garden. If planted in the ground, consider installing soil barriers. If container-grown, you can sink the container into the ground or into another larger container of soil.
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The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
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The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
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The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
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The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Fertilizer
Avoid fertilizing most herbs, especially plants in the genus Mentha. The flavor of herbs relies on the oils in their flowers and leaves. If you speed up their growth, they might get small, bushy growth with lots of flowers, leaves, and leggy stems instead of big, rich flowers and leaves with lots of oils. You can often see this difference in the taste of homegrown compared to store-bought herbs.
How to Grow TONS of Mint (And Not Let it Take Over)
FAQ
Is peppermint easy to grow?
Does the peppermint plant come back every year?
Where is the best place to plant peppermint?
Is there a difference between a mint plant and a peppermint plant?
How do you grow Peppermint seeds?
Press the peppermint seeds on the surface of seed starting mix. The seeds will be tiny, so use care and do not press too hard. You do not need to bury the seeds with soil. Keep the soil moist and germination will occur in five to ten days and perhaps sooner if the soil is kept warm with a heat mat.
Can you grow Peppermint seeds indoors?
Peppermint is a very hardy plant and can grow in almost any conditions. If you’re planning to grow your peppermint seeds indoors, you can start growing them at any time of year. Your house will be warm enough that the seeds will grow even through winter.
How deep should Peppermint seeds be planted?
In general, peppermint seeds should be planted at a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3-6 mm). This depth allows for proper access to light and moisture, which are essential for germination and seedling growth. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plant peppermint seeds: Prepare the soil: Choose a well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
When can I plant Peppermint seeds?
Peppermint is a very hardy plant, so late spring is not the only time you can plant. Peppermint can be grown anytime between the last frost of spring and 2 months before the first frost of fall. Rather than planting the seeds outside, you can also begin growing the seeds inside.
How do you propagate Peppermint?
Peppermint is so vigorous that some commercial growers plow up their plants in the fall to chop up the roots and stolons and spread them around. In the spring, new peppermint plants pop up everywhere and mature rapidly. Rooting stem cuttings is the preferred propagation method for commercial growers because it’s reliable and easy.
How far apart should Peppermint be planted?
Space it about 24 inches apart from other plants if not planted in a container. If planting several peppermint plants in rows, allow for 18 to 24 inches between rows. Although you can grow peppermint in your garden, many choose to grow in containers due to it’s invasiveness and the need to restrict its roots.