Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, spearmint is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing spearmint.
Jump to:
Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Spearmint Belong To?
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family.
Some of its relatives include catnip, lavender, and sage.
Since it is in the Mentha genus, it is also covered in our Growing Mints article.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Spearmint?
The minimum container depth recommended for spearmint is 6 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Spearmint?
Some of spearmint's best companions are as follows:
- Marigold
- Calendula
- Carrot
- Parsnip
- Dill
- Parsley
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and other Brassicas, as spearmint deters cabbage moth
- Tomato
- Tomatillo
- Eggplant
- Peppers such as habanero and jalapeño
- Beans such as green beans
- Pea
- Oregano
- Fennel
- Rose
- Blackberry
- Toothache plant
- Quinoa
- Ginger
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Spearmint?
Like peppermint and other mints, spearmint does not have any bad companions. It can grow and thrive around any plant.
However, the flip side of this is that it has an aggressive growing pattern. It can crowd out other plants with its ever-growing "root mat," a network of intertwined roots.
For this reason, it is wise to grow spearmint in a container unless it is located somewhere with significant shade or competition from other established plants such as in an older forest.
What Soil Conditions Does Spearmint Need?
Spearmint prefers rich, loose, well-draining soil.
How Long Does Spearmint Take to Germinate?
Spearmint takes 10-16 days to germinate at a temperature of 60-75°F.
Spearmint also benefits from cold stratification. Check out the Growing Mints article here for more information.
How Much Sun Does Spearmint Need?
Spearmint can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Spearmint also produces more potent volatile oils, which result in more herbal constituents and a stronger flavor, when grown in sunnier conditions.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and spearmint grown in hot climates or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Spearmint Need?
Spearmint needs 1-2 inches of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Spearmint?
Spearmint grows fastest in temperatures of 55-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some spearmint varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
Most spearmint varieties are hardy to around 32°F.
How Tall Does Spearmint Get?
The average height of spearmint is 1-3 feet.
Is Spearmint Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Spearmint is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple growing seasons.
The average lifespan of spearmint is 2-5 years.
How Does Spearmint Reproduce?
Spearmint reproduces by seed, by rhizome, and by runner.
It can also be propagated by a cutting from either above- or below-ground parts.
Can Spearmint Be Ingested?
Spearmint leaves and flowers are edible.
Spearmint leaves and flowers have nervine and carminative properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures.
An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:2 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a fresh spearmint leaf tincture. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a dried spearmint leaf tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting spearmint leaves for the general population.
See this article for more information about ingestibility in general. See the simple uses article linked below for examples of ways to prepare this specific plant.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of spearmint rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for spearmint here!
Spearmint is featured in these Plant to Plate articles:
- Simple Uses for Spearmint
- Growing Mints
- Gardening in Full Sun
- Gardening in Dappled Shade
- Gardening in Part Shade