How to Grow Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Spearmint is a popular, easy-to-grow herb prized for its fresh flavor in teas, culinary dishes, and beverages. Gardeners cultivate this hardy perennial for its vibrant green foliage and ability to thrive in various conditions while adding a cooling note to the garden.
📷 Wikipedia: SpearmintStarting Spearmint: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Spearmint is not usually started indoors.
Spearmint is best started directly in the garden or in containers shortly before your last frost date rather than being transplanted from indoor seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 before sowing seeds directly outdoors or starting them indoors. Sow spearmint seeds about one inch deep as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, typically two to six weeks before your last expected frost date. Expect germination to occur within ten to sixteen days once conditions are right.
Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart or grow them in contained pots to prevent aggressive spreading. While spearmint does not require trellising, ensure consistent moisture as it thrives with high water levels. Apply a light mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds; regular feeding is rarely necessary for this resilient herb.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles, using strong water sprays or air circulation to deter them. Prevent fungal issues like mint rust or powdery mildew by avoiding wet foliage and ensuring good airflow. Harvest leaves starting around sixty to ninety days after sowing when the plant is mature enough for cutting.
When to Plant Spearmint
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
Companion Plants for Spearmint
✓ Good companions
Repels cabbage worms and aphids that commonly attack brassicas
Deters cabbage moths, aphids, and flea beetles from brassica crops
Helps deter carrot fly and other root pests while improving soil health
Provides natural pest deterrent for aphids and improves growth of leafy greens
Both plants repel similar pests and create strong aromatic barrier against insects
Spearmint repels ants and aphids while peas fix nitrogen in soil
Mint deters flea beetles and root maggots that attack radish crops
Spearmint repels ants and rodents that damage tomatoes, while improving their flavor
✗ Keep away from
Mint can inhibit chamomile's delicate growth and overpower its subtle properties
Mint's aggressive spreading nature can overwhelm and compete with parsley for nutrients
Strong allelopathic effects between both plants can inhibit each other's growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
