Mints all belong to the Lamiaceae family, so they are related to basil, lavender, and thyme, among others. But what makes mints unique? What should you keep in mind when growing them? Read on to find out.
Types of Mint
Most true mints descend from peppermint, spearmint, and water mint. For example, chocolate mint is a variety of peppermint.
There are other "mints" such as mountain mint and Korean mint that are in the Lamiaceae family and have a minty smell or flavor but are not true mints.
Reproduction and Growth Habits
Most mints reproduce by both runners and seeds. The runners run both over and under the ground, and the plants self-seed readily. This is sometimes referred to as an invasive growing pattern, although it certainly happens in the mints' native areas as well.
If you love mints like I do, you may not see a problem with this! But once established, they also form a root mat, a sturdy network of intertwined roots. The root mat can choke out other plants or keep them from rooting deeply enough.
For these reasons, many people choose to grow mints exclusively in containers, not in the ground. For information on picking the right container for your mint, check out this article.
There are exceptions to this such as gardeners who commit to regularly pruning the runners and roots. Mints can also make a good addition to a true woodland garden since they will have enough competition from other forest plants to remain under control.
Germination
Mint seeds germinate best when they undergo cold stratification first. This can be done in 2 ways:
- planting them outdoors in the fall for spring germination
- placing them in a small Ziploc bag or similar bag for 3-5 weeks before beginning germination
Growing Conditions
Most mints can grow in full sun to part shade. But they will produce more concentrated volatile oils, which translate to a stronger mint flavor, when grown in full sun. Mint grown in part shade takes longer to grow and is therefore more susceptible to pests.
Mints thrive in mid-range temperatures of around 55-75°F, although this varies by genus and variety. But even though they may grow more slowly or less vibrantly outside this range, they are tough plants! Most mints can tolerate temperatures below 0°F. For example, some mature peppermint plants are hardy to -20°F.
Most mints will bolt and flower in temperatures above 80° or sometimes 85°, especially if there has been a pattern of increasing temperatures. Although the flowers are edible, bolting makes the leaves tougher and more bitter, and the plant may not live much longer afterward.
Here are the mints we have covered so far:
Mints make fantastic tea plants (my personal favorite, in fact), and they have a wide variety of culinary uses. They also make great jams – on their own or added to cherries, raspberries, rosehips, and more – and additions to pickles, both traditional and quick. Check out our simple uses articles for peppermint and spearmint for more inspiration.