🌱 Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
- Sowing distance: sow in 8 cm pots, scatter seeds approximately every 1 cm
- Germination temperature: 21–24 °C
- Germination period: 7–16 days
- Planting distance: in a large pot (min. 30 cm) or in open ground; in open ground it spreads rapidly.
- Growth cycle: ± 200 days; perennial, sprouts again in spring (if the frost is not too severe)
- Planting out: after the Ice Saints (mid-May)
📅 Growing times throughout the year
Mint can be sown indoors or directly outdoors. Because mint spreads rapidly, growing it in a pot is often the most practical.
- Sow indoors: sow from March to April; plant out in May–June; harvest from July to October.
- In situ (outdoors): sow from April to August; harvest from July to October.
Start cultivation (sowing)
Harvesting
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
🏠 Sow indoors
On site (outside)
🏠 Inside
🪟 Greenhouse / conservatory
Outside
🌿 Popular breeds
📘 Basic information
- Crop group: Herbs
- Crop family: Lipaceae family
- Height: approx. 30 cm
- Frost resistant: light – above ground can freeze, rhizome often grows back
- Root system: 30–45 cm, rapidly spreading and proliferating in open ground
- Fertilization: Potting soil for vegetable gardens is sufficient; dissolve a few universal fertilizer granules in water and apply every two weeks.
- Preferred soil: pH 6.0–7.5, slightly moist, humus-rich soil
🌞💧 Pitch & water
Location: 🌤 Partial shade to moderate sun – mint also does well in a spot with less direct sunlight.
Watering: 💧💧💧 a lot – mint likes a constantly slightly moist soil, especially in a pot.
🤝 Good & Bad Neighbors
- Good neighbors: beans
- Bad neighbors: tomato, celery
Note: Mint spreads rapidly in open ground. It's best to plant it in a pot or a buried bucket without a base to keep it under control.
🪴 Cultivation method step-by-step
- Fill 8 cm pots or a seed tray with good vegetable potting soil .
- Sow the seeds thinly (about every cm) and cover lightly with a maximum of 0.5 cm of soil.
- Keep the soil moist and warm (21–24 °C) until the seedlings emerge.
- Allow the plants to grow further and move them to a lighter and cooler location as soon as they emerge.
- Plant out in May–June in a large pot (at least 30 cm) or in the ground. Root restriction is strongly recommended in the ground.
- In spring, remove dead leaves and twigs. Loosen the roots if necessary and fill with fresh potting soil.
- Fertilize lightly regularly during the growing season with universal fertilizer granules dissolved in water.
- Harvest buds and leaves regularly; this keeps the plant young and encourages new shoots.
❗ Dangers & Concerns
Main problems: Snails like to feed on young mint leaves. Provide protection or traps if snails are a problem.
🧺 Harvesting & Use
- You can harvest leaves and buds as soon as the plant is well branched and growing (from summer onwards).
- Cut off the stem tips with scissors; the plant will sprout again and stay young longer.
- Mint is best fresh, but can also be dried or frozen for tea and cooking use.
