After reading these 9 reasons to grow a mint plant, you will definitely do it! Use the mint leaves in recipes, flower arrangements, to repel bugs, and more!
I’m not a life-long herb gardener…but I’ve planted herbs for long enough to know which ones I like and which ones I don’t. My three all-time favorite herbs are rosemary, basil, and mint. There are so many good qualities about all of these herbs, and they are all easy to grow. Even if you have never planted an herb in your life, I promise you can grow these three! If you want to start slow, I recommend beginning with mint. Read on for all the reasons why.
Read All About Rosemary & All About Basil.
9 Reasons to Grow a Mint Plant
- Mint is easy to grow and flourishes in containers.
Mint plants sometimes get a bad rap because if planted in the ground, they can be very invasive. They tend to get carried away and spread all over the place. The best way to avoid that is to place mint in a container. All my herb gardening is done in containers, so I highly recommend it.
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2. Mint plants can be harvested constantly.
Mint grows quickly, so the mint leaves can be harvested on a regular basis. Even if a plant is cut all the way back, it will recover itself in a matter of just a week or two. Because it is a fast grower, mint is a great herb to preserve by drying or freezing.
(Get the garden marker HERE.)
Related: How to Dry Herbs
3. Mint can be grown in partial shade or full sun.
Another reason mint is so easy to grow is that it does well in full or partial sun. So even if your deck or patio faces east, and doesn’t get full afternoon sun, you can still grow healthy and beautiful mint.
4. There is literally no maintenance, except watering.
There is nothing you need to do to grow healthy mint plants, except water them. My method for planting is simple. I purchase small mint plants and place them in fresh, fertilized potting soil. I try to water them regularly, especially in the hot weather. I admit that at times I forget, but the mint hangs in there!
Related: Container Herb Garden Ideas
5. Use the mint leaves in delicious recipes.
6. Mint plants repel flies, moths, and mosquitoes.
If you place your herb garden containers on your deck or patio, the scent of the various herbs, including mint, will act as a built-in bug repellent. The scent comes from the essential oil that is naturally in the herbs, and bugs tend to avoid it. The more herbs you plant, the less bugs you will have!
7. Mint can be grown indoors.
Even though it grows like crazy outdoors, mint can be grown indoors as well. Make sure to use a pot with good drainage and place the plant in the sun.
Related: Herb Garden in a Basket
8. There are multiple varieties to choose from. Here are just a few:
- Chocolate Mint
- Mojito Mint
- Spearmint
- Pineapple mint
- Applemint
9. It’s beautiful as a garnish or in flower arrangements.
Since mint grows so quickly, there may be times where you actually have too much. When that happens to me, I always harvest it and use it in my garden flower arrangements. Not only does it add a wonderful touch of green, but it provides a fresh scent that pairs beautifully with the flowers.
Mint leaves also make the perfect garnish for salads, desserts, and drinks. It can take an ordinary dish and transform it into something lovely. I especially enjoy using it in drinks. Even plain water turns into something special when you add mint!
So…how do you feel about growing mint?
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I have tried to grow mint so many times. I have two plants that I recently bought a n d had them in the window but looked like they were not doing well so I moved them to my patio outside. I hope they survive, love mint in my ice tea!
This is a lovely article with very convincing reasons to grow mint!
The two ways I use it most are as a garnish for drinks, desserts, and other dishes, and in sweet floral bouquets for my powder room for a fresh fragrance.
So funny you shared this today! My mom passed away in nov, and I was just back at her home in Ohio to pack it up for sale which was hard. She always grew mint around her patio and would add it into her homemade sun steeped sweet tea. I grabbed some up to bring back home with me to enjoy the sane and remember her. ♥️Thanks for the ideas.
Where did you find those cute herb markers to put in your pots?!
I adore chocolate mint and have been growing it for years!!! I can’t wait to see it spring out of the ground so I can add to my water pitcher! You can’t find more refreshing water than that with chocolate mint or spearmint added to it! And, bonus, the chocolate mint curbs my chocolate cravings……at least that’s what I’m telling myself!
My grandmother had mint in her garden next to her garden hose. A tiny drip kept it well watered in the summertime. It was so flavorful in iced tea or ice water. I recently dug some mint out of our flowerbed because it was taking over. I may plant more near our patio to keep insects away. I, too, love rosemary and basil.
OOOOOO did you say mojito mint? My favorite drink
I have had success growing mint in the past. But, since moving last year to a new town and house it hasn’t been a priority. Thanks for this blog. I’m going to have lovely refreshing mint all summer -and I’ll need it-I live in Florida!
Be blessed.
In my first house,I planted mint in the ground and it did take over.Not a lover of mint but it does look pretty mixed with flowers with an added bonus as bug repellent.
Meadow Tea is a Lancaster, PA staple. You can find the recipe online. I haven’t tried it yet….this is my first year growing mint :-) Thanks for the great tips, Ann!
Hi Shelly…I’m googling Meadow Tea now. Thank you!
My mint was still green and thriving during the winter! You really can’t kill it. I love using it in most beverages and it holds up so well without wilting.
Mosquitoes love me so #6 is my favorite reason to grow this herb!
I have had an herb garden for 20+ years. Love the mints. Another trick with mints is to watch for runners and clip them. Also clip off flower heads when they start to form. This keeps them the leaves from getting tough. I put holes in the bottoms of pots and plant in the garden. Helps them from overtaking.
How timely. My 20 year old mint “strawberry pot” just fell apart and I was sitting at breakfast thinking what pot to use next! Mint is my favorite herb to grow – always a success.
Mint is a great addition to my container herb garden on the deck. Love to use it in ice tea, to make jelly to use with lamb, and as an addition to bouquets. Also makes such a pretty garnish for my lemon pound cake.
Hi Kathy! Thank you so much for writing. Would you mind sharing your jelly recipe? Just email me at ann@onsuttonplace.com. I would love to make some!