![]() You can weigh the end down with a rock if you need to.Īfter a few weeks, the buried branch should have developed roots, and you’ll see new shoots coming out of the soil. Lay the branch on the ground and cover it with 1/2 inch of soil. Trim off the leaves of a branch that is at least six inches long, leaving it attached to the parent plant. You can do this at various times of year, as long as you have at least eight weeks of frost-free weather ahead of you. Spearmint takes well to layering since pretty much wherever mint touches the ground, it forms roots eagerly. Harden off rooted cuttings and plant them out in the garden as described above. You can set out cuttings with established roots into the garden three or four weeks after planting. If you aren’t sure, give soil-planted cuttings a tug. If you’ve started your plants indoors, harden them off for about a week before planting them out in the garden.Įither way, in about two weeks, the cutting should form roots. You can cover seeds with a plastic bag or glass cloche to help keep the soil moist if you live in a dry area.Īfter about two weeks, you should see seedlings emerge. Mint seeds like the soil to be constantly moist and warm – about 70☏. Seeds should be planted about 1/4 inch deep in prepared soil or a seed starting mix. ![]() You can start seeds directly in the garden after the risk of frost has passed, or start them indoors about eight weeks before your last frost date. Unlike peppermint, which must be grown via roots or cuttings because it is a hybrid, spearmint grows true to seed. If you want to save the seeds, leave at least 300 feet between different types. Keep in mind that it is possible for spearmint to cross pollinate with other types of mint. Fill the planting area back in with soil, and water well to settle the roots and give the plant a good drink of water. The common name spearmint references its pointed, spear-like leaves.ĭig a hole twice as wide as the plant to ensure that the roots can spread. It has been cultivated for centuries as a flavoring for candies, jams, medicines, teas, and desserts. Spearmint has naturalized in nearly every state in the US. What does this mean for your garden? While an individual plant only reaches a mature width of about 24 inches at most, it can put out new growth and spread throughout your garden as much as you choose to let it. All mint plants have a well-deserved reputation for being incredibly vigorous. Spearmint spreads (and spreads and spreads) through rhizomes and stolons. Stems are square and the leaves are toothed and oblong or lanced. Spearmint stands apart from other mint varieties because of its smooth, hairless, or nearly hairless leaves that attach to the stem directly, without a stalk in between. × piperita) is a hybrid of spearmint and watermint. That’s where we got peppermint, actually. If you grow it near other mints, spearmint can hybridize. It also has pretty pink or lavender flowers that attract pollinators. Like its mint siblings, spearmint is an aggressive grower that will pop up anywhere and everywhere if you let it – so long as you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11 and have moist soil. ![]() Spearmint is also unique among mints in that it resists verticillium wilt. “Pepper” mint lives up to its name! Spearmint, on the other hand, is more mild.įor that reason, this herb is ideal for when you want something that complements your cooking, rather than becoming the flavorful focal point. If you’ve ever nibbled a peppermint leaf and a spearmint leaf side by side, you can really tell the difference. This terpenoid gives spearmint its sweet, subtle flavor. Spearmint has a distinctive scent, thanks to high quantities of a chemical compound called carvone. So what sets spearmint apart? And why does it deserve a spot in your herb garden? īut spearmint is truly unique in many aspects, from its flavor to its appearance. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
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