growing mint - Ask Extension
I love to grow mint but feel hugely incompetent because anyone can grow it except me. I want to grow large pots of spearmint, peppermint, and chocol...
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growing mint #388244
Asked March 10, 2017, 1:02 PM EST
I love to grow mint but feel hugely incompetent because anyone can grow it except me. I want to grow large pots of spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint. If I plant seeds I don't get anything at all and though I get a pot full if I use plants they rarely come back the next year. I use commercial potting soil. The soil in my yard is rock solid clay that you could throw pots with and I don't know what to do with it so I plant very little directly into it. I have completely changed the soil each planting some years and have kept the same soil others but neither makes a difference. What can I do differently?
thanks, Shannon Carranza
thanks, Shannon Carranza
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
For cultivating mint in outdoor pots, you can keep their roots from freezing during the winter by insulating the pots (blankets, bubble wrap, etc) or by bringing them into your garage and watering once a month or so.
For planting seeds, you can try planting a really heavy load of seeds, in case the germination rate is low. As always keep moist and warm according to package directions.
Mint is so aggressive, that it actually do OK in your clay soil. Dig in some compost to the bed where you plant them to increase the amount of organic matter. It should overwinter fine in the ground (more buffered to temperature changes); you can increase insulation by adding a couple inches of mulch in the fall.
Here are two CSU publications that may also help:
Mint: http://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1057-mint-mentha/
Perennial Gardening: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07402.pdf
Best regards,
For cultivating mint in outdoor pots, you can keep their roots from freezing during the winter by insulating the pots (blankets, bubble wrap, etc) or by bringing them into your garage and watering once a month or so.
For planting seeds, you can try planting a really heavy load of seeds, in case the germination rate is low. As always keep moist and warm according to package directions.
Mint is so aggressive, that it actually do OK in your clay soil. Dig in some compost to the bed where you plant them to increase the amount of organic matter. It should overwinter fine in the ground (more buffered to temperature changes); you can increase insulation by adding a couple inches of mulch in the fall.
Here are two CSU publications that may also help:
Mint: http://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1057-mint-mentha/
Perennial Gardening: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07402.pdf
Best regards,
