Eating Garden

How to Grow Mint Indoors and Outside

Mentha spp.

A quick-growing perennial herb for drinks, cooking and tea. Grow it in a pot because its creeping roots spread fast.

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At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Easy

    1 of 5 · More shovels, more care

  • Sunlight

    Part sun

    6 hours a day

  • Water

    Thirsty

  • Growing in a pot

    Suitable for pots

  • Plant spacing

    18 in apart

More about this plant

Mint is forgiving and easy to pick. Its main challenge is keeping it contained. Give it steady moisture, regular trims and its own pot.

  • Comes back each year.
  • Can grow in indoors, the open ground.
  • Fine in a small space.
  • A good one to grow together with children.

Which kind of mint should I grow?

  • Spearmint

    A sweet, familiar cooking mint.

  • Peppermint

    A stronger mint often used for tea.

Make it your plan

Add your location for local planting datesAdd place

A U.S. ZIP uses official NOAA frost records. Other countries use weather-station records, or a climate reconstruction where stations are missing. Coordinates are used once and not stored. We save only a place label and climate summary in a private browser cookie. You can clear it anytime.

What are you starting with?
Where will it grow?

For a plant staying inside, see the indoor-growing advice below. Local dates describe outdoor seasons.

Your plan, starting Nov 10, 2026

A harvest date cannot be estimated from this starting point. Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

When to expect a harvest

There is no reliable day count for this starting point. Use the crop’s season and readiness signs below.

Stems are at least 3 to 4 inches tall and hold fresh, undamaged leaves.

Mint grows in full sun or partial shade and prefers rich soil that stays moist without becoming waterlogged. Many common types survive cold winters, but hardiness varies by variety.

First, gather a few things

  • A young mint plant
  • A draining pot with room for the roots
  • Potting mix that drains well
  • A watering can or hose

Get ready

Do these before you put the plant or seeds in place.

  1. Start here

    1. Choose a pot

    Use a container with a drainage hole. Outdoors, a 12 to 16 inch wide pot gives mint room while keeping its roots contained.

Start or plant it

Follow the steps for the way you chose to start.

  1. 1. Plant one known variety

    A named transplant or cutting keeps the flavor true. Set its roots just below the soil surface.

Water

Check the soil first. Heat, rain, and pots can change how often this plant needs water.

  1. 1. Check before you water

    Feel the top inch of soil. Water when it starts to dry, before the roots dry out.

  2. 2. Water the roots

    Water slowly at the base until the soil feels moist a few inches down. For a pot, water until a little runs out of the drainage holes.

    Keep the soil evenly moist. Outdoors, mint may need 1 to 2 inches of water a week depending on heat and soil. Let extra water drain away.

Need help judging moisture? Read how to check the soil and water the roots.

If the plant looks unhappy

  • Too dry

    Soft stems and drooping or crisp leaves.

    If the soil is dry, water deeply and check it again tomorrow.

  • Too wet

    Yellow leaves, weak growth and soil that stays wet can point to poor drainage.

    If the soil is wet, wait before watering again and check that excess water can drain away.

While it grows

Check on your plant and do these jobs as they come up.

  1. 1. Give it light

    Use full sun or partial shade outside. Indoors, aim for 6 hours of direct sun or use a grow light.

Looking after it

  • FeedingRarely needs feedingIf a soil test shows a need, feed once as growth begins in spring. Do not keep feeding through the season.
  • NitrogenToo much nitrogen gives leaves instead of food
  • PruningNeeds pruningPick often and remove flower buds to keep the leaves flavorful. You can cut the whole plant back to one inch above the soil two or three times a year.
  • ThinningThin seedlings to 18 in apartCrowded seedlings stay small. Pull the weaker ones and keep the strongest.
  • MulchA thin mulch helps an outdoor pot or confined bed stay evenly moist.
  • CompostAdd no more than about an inch of finished compost before planting.

Growing mint indoors

Use well-drained potting mix in a pot at least 6 inches wide with a drainage hole. Give mint at least 6 hours of direct sun each day, or place a grow light 6 to 12 inches above it for 12 to 14 hours. Keep the soil lightly moist, but never leave the pot standing in water. Trim a few inches of stem often so the plant stays full instead of tall and weak.

Pick and store it

Use the plant's signs of readiness, then harvest gently.

  1. 1. Check if it is ready

    Stems are at least 3 to 4 inches tall and hold fresh, undamaged leaves.

  2. 2. Pick it

    Use clean scissors to cut young stems. Take a few inches at a time.

  3. 3. Keep it fresh

    Stand fresh stems in water in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze chopped leaves in an ice cube tray or dry stems in a warm, shady place.

More picking tips

  1. 1. Pick and pinch often

    Cut young stems and remove flower buds. Regular trimming keeps the plant full and the leaves flavorful.

Common problems

  • Aphids

    Common, worth watching for

    Look for: Clusters on the tips and under leaves, sticky leaves, and ants running up the stems.

    What to do: Knock them off with a jet of water, or rub them off by hand. Insecticidal soap for a heavy attack.

    Look for curled, yellow or stunted leaves.

    How to prevent it next time

    Prevention: Do not overfeed with nitrogen, which makes the soft growth they love. Leave a few flowers nearby for ladybirds.

Common mistakes

  • Planting it loose in a bed

    Mint sends creeping roots through open soil and is hard to remove later. Keep it in a pot or a proper root barrier.

  • Keeping the soil soaked

    Mint likes moisture, not standing water. Wet roots and leaves make disease more likely.

  • Letting it flower

    Flowering lowers the oil in the leaves. Pinch off buds or cut the plant back before blooms open.

Companion plants for mint

Some of this is measured in trials and some is long-standing garden practice. Each note below says which it is.

Keep apart

Extension programs advise keeping these apart:

  • Other garden cropsMint spreads quickly and can crowd out nearby plants. Keep it in its own container or root barrier.Recommended by extension programs
How to choose companion plants

Questions about mint

Tap a question to see the answer.

Will mint grow where I live?

Mint grows in full sun or partial shade and prefers rich soil that stays moist without becoming waterlogged. Many common types survive cold winters, but hardiness varies by variety.

  • LightPart sunAbout 6 hours of direct sun a day.
  • ShadeHappy in shade
  • SeasonA cool season cropUsually grown in spring, summer, or fall.
  • FrostSurvives a hard freeze
  • HeatCopes with heat
  • AirNo strong preference

What soil is best for mint?

  • Soil pH5.5 to 6.5A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
  • Soil it likesSandy, Loam, Clay, Silt
  • DrainageLikes ground that holds moisture
  • RichnessAverage ground is fine

Mix compost into ordinary garden soil so it holds moisture without staying soggy.

Use a soil test before adding fertilizer. Too much feed makes weak growth and can reduce mint oil.

Before changing your soil, learn how to test soil acidity and understand the result.

When and how deep do I plant mint?

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

  • Plant out in the week of your last spring frostPlant after frost danger has passed, once the soil is at least 50°F and dry enough to work.

What you need

  • How to start itFrom seed or a young plantYou can sow it straight into the ground, or start it indoors first.
  • How deep to plant0.25 in
    Planting depth: 0.25 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
  • How far apart18 inLeave 24 in between rows.
    Leave 18 in between plants and 24 in between rows. View from above; drawing is not to scale.

What happens to mint through the year?

Measured from your last spring frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

  1. Plant out

    in the week of your last spring frost

How do I give mint a better start?

Simple ways to help your mint grow, from the soil up.

  • Start with good soil

    Mix compost into ordinary garden soil so it holds moisture without staying soggy.

  • Give the soil a cover

    A thin mulch helps an outdoor pot or confined bed stay evenly moist.

  • Make room to grow

    Thin seedlings to 18 inches apart.

  • Feed with care

    If a soil test shows a need, feed once as growth begins in spring. Do not keep feeding through the season.

Use a soil test before adding fertilizer. Too much feed makes weak growth and can reduce mint oil.

Can I grow mint indoors?

Yes. Use a draining pot at least 6 inches wide and give it 6 hours of direct sun, or 12 to 14 hours under a nearby grow light. Keep the soil lightly moist.

How do I stop mint taking over?

Grow it in its own 12 to 16 inch container. If you sink a bottomless pot into the ground, leave the rim above the soil and trim runners that cross it.

How often can I pick mint?

Pick young stems whenever the plant is at least 3 to 4 inches tall. A healthy plant can also be cut nearly to the ground two or three times in one season.

Why are my mint leaves turning yellow?

Check the soil first. Soil that stays wet can starve the roots of air and invite disease. Make sure the pot drains and water only when needed.

Quick answers about mint

One question each, answered first, with the source named.

  • Can Mint Grow in Shade?

    Yes. Mint grows in full sun or partial shade with 2 to 6 hours of direct sun. It needs moist soil more than it needs sun.

Helpful gardening guides

Dig into the next thing you need, from starting a garden to getting watering right.

Starting your first garden? Choose your space and get it ready, then plan local planting times.

Browse all gardening guides

Also filed under: Herbs

Where this came from

Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

Sources & review dates
Light and weather
Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Mint in Your Garden · checked 2026-09-15
University of Illinois Extension, Herbs all winter: grow them indoors · checked 2026-09-15 · Indoor light and temperature
North Carolina State University Extension, Mentha spicata · checked 2026-09-15 · Outdoor direct-sun hour bands
Planting
Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Mint in Your Garden · checked 2026-09-15
University of Maryland Extension, Growing Mint in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15 · Outdoor pot size and spacing
University of Minnesota Extension, Growing herbs in home gardens · checked 2026-09-15 · After-frost transplant timing and 50°F soil condition
Timing
University of Minnesota Extension, Growing herbs in home gardens · checked 2026-09-15 · After-frost transplant timing
Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Mint in Your Garden · checked 2026-09-15
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting · checked 2026-09-24 · Where frost is rare, cool-season crops are timed to months averaging 55°F to 75°F.
Looking after it
Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Mint in Your Garden · checked 2026-09-15
University of Illinois Extension, Herbs all winter: grow them indoors · checked 2026-09-15 · Indoor trimming and setup
Companion plants
Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Mint in Your Garden · checked 2026-09-15 · Containment because mint outcompetes nearby plants
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