All you need to know about Growing Mint

Growing mint is easy. It is a great starter plant for new gardeners because it doesn’t need much attention and has many practical uses.

I was so excited when I bought my first mint plant. We didn’t really have a garden planned out at the time; I was just trying to fill in the stretch of dirt next to my front door. I bought lavender that day as well and planted both in that area. It smelled amazing at my front door. To this day my kids smell lavender and mint and immediately think of me.

While the lavender slowly bushed out over the years, the mint traveled. Year after year, it creeps along the length of the house weaving in and out of all the other plants. Needless to say, I gave up trying to control it. Even when I pulled it out and moved it to more contained place, it still comes back and continues to travel.
When we move to the farm, I will still be growing mint but I will totally prepare a very specific bed just for the mint.

Mint is just very exciting. It marks the beginning of summer, even if the weather doesn’t. When the first shoots pop up, the Padawan starts bartering for Mint Iced Tea, my signature summer drink.

Growing Mint

There are so many types of mint such as spearmint, wintergreen, apple mint to name a few. Then there are the cousins; plants in the mint family that don’t smell like mint but share similar structure and growing traits such as basil, catnip, and lemon balm. You can tell its in the mint family by the square stem.

Peter Pan will always and forever call Lemon balm fake mint with a hint of detest. He reached into the herb garden and plucked off a leaf to chew, expecting it to be minty only to receive and strong lemon flavor. I was amused. He not so much.

Mints prefer moist but well drained soul. It doesn’t have to be very rich but the healthier the soil produces healthier and more abundant plants. They naturally grow along streams and creak banks. A good trick to learning how to grow plants is to find out how it grows naturally.

They are prone to powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot as well as antracnose, which is a fungal disease that causes small dark sunken spots on the leaves. All of these are caused by warm, moist conditions. While you can’t control the rain or humidity, you can keep the mint beds thinned to promote good air circulation. This seems to help. I’ve noticed problems only in the plants that have spread in between other plants in the garden.

Mint doesn’t have too many pests. There are only a few insects that like to munch on the leaves but after the first year, you’ll have plenty to share. Mint does have the added bonus of deterring mice, deer, ants and spiders. Like I said, growing mint is easy.

Propagation

Mints are vigorous spreaders, as I’ve learned the hard way. They propagate through horizontal runners and underground rhizomes. I made the mistake of sticking a small 4 inch plant in the front garden because I didn’t have a bed ready. That silly little plant spread the length of my house and then turned the corner. I’ve since replanted some in a contained box but the front garden mint keeps going, popping up where ever it pleases.

Another way to propogate Mint is to cut a main stem 6 inches from the roots and stick it in soil or water. It will start rooting by itself. Which is why it’s so hard to get rid of, but why would you want to?

Mint will grow 1 to 2 feet tall. It is best to plant them in confined area’s. Perhaps a raised bed or sunken container to keep the plant from spreading everywhere.
The runners spread about 2 inches under the ground and they find the smallest cracks to spread through.

If you choose to plant in above ground pots, be sure to provide serious winter protection. In the Midwest we have harsh cold winters and my attempt at containing the mint in a pot failed when the roots froze and it didn’t come back in the spring.

Harvesting

Harvest often. Mint will keep growing, sending side shoots up where the leaves attach to the stem. Cut the stems a few inches from the ground. For the best flavor, harvest before they bloom. Once they bloom all the energy goes into seed production. If you want to prolong the mint, pinch off the buds as they form.
You can keep fresh stems in a glass of water for a day or so.

Preserving

You can also dry mint to keep for long term storage.
Rinse the cut stems in water to clear off dirt and bugs. I tend to just let them soak in a sink full of cold water, swishing them around occasionally and letting the dirt settle to the bottom. Bundle the main stems together. I tie them with cotton string but rubber bans work as well. Shake off the excess water and pat dry with a clean dish towel. Now, hang the bundles upside down in a cool dark place. They will dry in 24-36 hours. At that point you can pull the leaves off the stems and store in an air tight container.
Like most fragrant herbs, mint will last a few years if kept away from heat and light.

Culinary

Mint is a summer flavor in our world. We use it to season summer vegetables or fruit salads. It’s really popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. It is served with lamb and is a popular flavoring for drinks such as mint tea and mint juleps.

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Mint Iced Tea Recipe
2 cups of fresh clean mint leaves
1 cup of sugar (give or take)
A 2 quart container

Directions: Pack fresh mint leaves in a quart jar, I usually only fill it half way. Pour boiling water to fill jar and let steep, occasionally muddling the leaves. I let it steep for about 10 minutes, Strain water into the 2 quart container, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Fill the rest of the container with cold water and let chill in the fridge.

Notes: You may want more or less sugar depending on your tastes (my kids like more). Feel free to experiment with different sweeteners, more or fewer mint leaves and amount of time you let them steep.
Throw the steeped mint leaves into the compost. You can also make mint iced tea with dried leaves.

Fun Fact* In the middle ages, cheese makers discovered that sprinkling mint around their cheese piles would keep rats out of the store room.

Medicinal and nutritional

Food is medicine! Mainstream medicine doesn’t always recognize the connection between food and health as a preventative to disease but it is very important. That being said, mint does have nutritional value. It is high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Mint has often been used as a remedy for nausea, travel sickness and tummy aches. It stimulates the mind, offering ‘wakefulness’ and improves alertness.

Mint essential oils is used to flavor toothpaste, chewing gum and ointments for muscle aches.

Magical Uses for Mint

Gender:Male
Planet: Mercury/Venus
Element:Air/Fire
Uses:Money, love, luck, healing, travel, protection, divination
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers

Magically, Mint has many uses and can be used in many ways.

• use in prosperity spells. Leave a few leaves in a wallet, cash register or wherever you keep your money.
• Add to love spells to ‘excite’ them
• Use in healing spells, Stuff in Poppets (read more here) to relieve stomach problem in your recipient.
• Add to incense for energetic cleansing ~ disclaimer about burning plants~
• Use in protection rituals, Place in your home, sprinkle dried leaves across thresh holds and window sills. Carry mint while traveling.
• Sprinkle around the house for purification.
  Drink Mint tea before divination to enhance psychic visions.
  Use in sacred circles or magical altars to draw in benevolent spirits.

Money oil- to anoint self or candles.
2 drops of Mint oil
1 drop of patchouli oil
1 drop of orange oil
10mL of carrier oil

Pair mint with topaz or chalcedony for a stronger effect in spell work.

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Where to get Mint

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I picked up my original mint plant from our local farm and garden center. I’ve seen mint seeds available although I’ve never tried to grow it from seed. If you try, let me know how it works. I hope you have fun growing mint and would love to hear all your tips, tricks and stories.

If you don’t have the space to grow or just plain don’t want to, (that’s cool) you can still get dried mint for magic uses at your local grocery store in the spice aisle or our Etsy shop.
If you looking for large amounts of mint, I’m partial to Starwest Botanicals for the herbs I can’t grow: You can find it here.