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Spearmint in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Mentha spicata

 

Spearmint

Mint is a perennial herb grown for its leaves which have many culinary uses. Not all Mentha are edible however. Their leaves are generally fragrant when crushed. They can be invasive so plant them where their root systems do not swamp other plants. Spearmint is a very aromatic plant used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Contributed by @sfw21

 
plant Features
  • Spearmint likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Spearmint likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Spearmint is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Spearmint likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

 
plant information

Common name

Spearmint

Latin name

Mentha spicata

type

Herb

family

Lamiaceae

ph

5.6 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Spearmint likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Spearmint is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Soil

    Spearmint likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

  • Water

    Spearmint likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When to harvest

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Spearmint is 0.30meters x 0.60meters 0.30 M 0.60 M

Mentha spicata

Mint is a perennial herb grown for its leaves which have many culinary uses. Not all Mentha are edible however. Their leaves are generally fragrant when crushed. They can be invasive so plant them where their root systems do not swamp other plants. Spearmint is a very aromatic plant used for culinary and medicinal purposes.


Propagating by seed

From Late Winter TO Early Spring

Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost, or sow in the soil outdoors in Spring. Seeds should germinate in 10-16 days. Bottom heat will speed germination. Sow seeds no more than 5mm (¼”) deep in moist soil. Space plants 45-60cm (18-24?) apart.

 

Propagating by cuttings

From Early Summer TO Late Summer

The easiest way to propagate mint is to take cuttings.Take cuttings from the top growth of your mint plant, about 8cms. in length. Take off the lower leaves and cut the stem just below the leaf node. Place the stems in a glass of water. Leave in a light, airy place until the stems have taken root, then plant out, or plant in a pot.

 

Planting

From Mid Spring TO Late Spring

Plant out seedlings after all danger of frost has passed. Plant into free-draining fertile soil, preferably in a bottomless bucket that has been sunk into the soil, with the rim of the bucket sticking up a good couple of inches, to stop shoots from growing over the top (mint can be very invasive!). Or the plants can be grown in pots.

 
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