mint - spearmint / garden mint / common mint
spearmint, garden mint or common mint
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- Seed Packets (only) £2.95
This herb dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Fast
- Flowering period: July to August
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
Aromatic bright green leaves and dense spikes of pink, lilac or white summer flowers. Spearmint is perfect for growing in a terracotta container in full sun. Container-grown specimens are best placed close to paths and entrances, where the aromatic foliage can be enjoyed and easily picked for use in mint sauce, salads and summer drinks.
To prevent mint from romping through a herb garden, restrict the spread by growing it in a sunken container, with adequate drainage holes. Lift and divide each year in spring, replanting the younger, vigorous sections of the plant in fresh compost.
From late winter to mid-spring, sow shallowly in trays or pots of good quality seed compost and keep keep moist but not overly wet. Germination usually takes between 2 and 4 weeks. Seedlings can be transplanted to small pots or cells and then hardened off and planted outside after all risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, sow directly into a well-prepared bed in late spring and when large enough to handle, thin out to allow 25cm between each plant. Once established, regular picking will help encourage new growth to form.