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Mint Seeds - Spearmint - Mentha spicata

Regular price: $5.99

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Mentha spicata - Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Heirloom, Untreated
Cool, Sweet Mint Flavor: Spearmint offers a classic, refreshing, and less overpowering minty flavor than peppermint, making it a favorite for teas, mojitos, and culinary uses.
Vigorous, Spreading Perennial: Once established, this hardy perennial will return year after year, forming dense patches that are perfect for a dedicated herb garden.
Easy to Grow: Spearmint is a low-maintenance and highly adaptable plant that is incredibly easy for gardeners of all levels to grow successfully.
Excellent for Containers: Due to its vigorous and spreading nature, planting spearmint in a container is the best way to control its growth and keep it from taking over your garden.
Highly Aromatic: The lush green leaves release their sweet scent when brushed against, making it a delightful sensory addition to any garden or patio.
Attracts Pollinators: The small, lavender to pink flower spikes are a magnet for bees and other beneficial insects, supporting a healthy ecosystem.
Culinary & Medicinal Uses: A versatile herb used in everything from desserts and sauces to refreshing drinks. It also has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for its calming properties.

$5.99

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USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

USDA Zones 3-11 - Grows as a hardy perennial in most zones and as a cool-season annual in extreme climates. Spearmint is very cold-hardy and can withstand light freezes.

Best performance in Zones 3-9, where it can be grown as a perennial.

Northern Zones (3-5) - Plant seeds in early spring after the last frost date. Can be direct sown or started indoors for an earlier harvest. Mulching can help the plant overwinter in colder regions.

Hot Climate Zones (9-11) - Plant in early spring or fall. Spearmint can struggle in extreme heat and may benefit from some afternoon shade to prevent scorching.

Soil Temperature - Requires a cool to warm soil for germination, with an optimal temperature range of 60-70F.

Growing Season - As a perennial, it will establish a strong root system in the first year and provide an abundant harvest in subsequent years.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

USDA Zones 3-11 - Grows as a hardy perennial in most zones and as a cool-season annual in extreme climates. Spearmint is very cold-hardy and can withstand light freezes.

Best performance in Zones 3-9, where it can be grown as a perennial.

Northern Zones (3-5) - Plant seeds in early spring after the last frost date. Can be direct sown or started indoors for an earlier harvest. Mulching can help the plant overwinter in colder regions.

Hot Climate Zones (9-11) - Plant in early spring or fall. Spearmint can struggle in extreme heat and may benefit from some afternoon shade to prevent scorching.

Soil Temperature - Requires a cool to warm soil for germination, with an optimal temperature range of 60-70F.

Growing Season - As a perennial, it will establish a strong root system in the first year and provide an abundant harvest in subsequent years.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

Planting Tips

When to Plant:
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date or direct sow seeds outdoors in the spring after the last frost has passed.

Location and Soil:
Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade. In hot climates, partial shade is ideal. Mint is not particular about soil fertility but thrives in moist, well-draining soil.

Starting Seeds:

Sowing Indoors: Fill seed starting trays with a well-draining seed starting mix. Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil and do not cover them, as they require light to germinate.

Gently mist the soil to keep it moist. Consistent moisture is crucial for germination, which can take up to 2 weeks.

Sowing Outdoors: Prepare a seedbed by raking the soil smooth. Scatter the seeds on the surface and lightly press them into the soil.

Keep the seedbed consistently moist until seedlings emerge.

Care and Maintenance:

Controlling Spread: Spearmint is an extremely vigorous spreader via its underground rhizomes. To prevent it from taking over your garden, plant it in a container.

Watering: Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods. Spearmint does not like to dry out completely.

Fertilizing: Mint is not a heavy feeder and generally does not require fertilizer.

Pruning/Harvesting: To encourage bushier growth and a more concentrated flavor, harvest regularly. Harvest the stems by cutting them back to just above a leaf node.

Deadheading: Pinching off the flower spikes will help prevent the plant from going to seed and encourage more leafy growth.

Overwintering: In colder zones, the plant will die back to the ground. The roots will survive and the plant will regrow in the spring. A layer of mulch can help protect the roots from extreme cold.

Division: Divide plants every 2-3 years in the spring or fall to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.

Planting Tips

When to Plant:
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date or direct sow seeds outdoors in the spring after the last frost has passed.

Location and Soil:
Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade. In hot climates, partial shade is ideal. Mint is not particular about soil fertility but thrives in moist, well-draining soil.

Starting Seeds:

Sowing Indoors: Fill seed starting trays with a well-draining seed starting mix. Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil and do not cover them, as they require light to germinate.

Gently mist the soil to keep it moist. Consistent moisture is crucial for germination, which can take up to 2 weeks.

Sowing Outdoors: Prepare a seedbed by raking the soil smooth. Scatter the seeds on the surface and lightly press them into the soil.

Keep the seedbed consistently moist until seedlings emerge.

Care and Maintenance:

Controlling Spread: Spearmint is an extremely vigorous spreader via its underground rhizomes. To prevent it from taking over your garden, plant it in a container.

Watering: Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods. Spearmint does not like to dry out completely.

Fertilizing: Mint is not a heavy feeder and generally does not require fertilizer.

Pruning/Harvesting: To encourage bushier growth and a more concentrated flavor, harvest regularly. Harvest the stems by cutting them back to just above a leaf node.

Deadheading: Pinching off the flower spikes will help prevent the plant from going to seed and encourage more leafy growth.

Overwintering: In colder zones, the plant will die back to the ground. The roots will survive and the plant will regrow in the spring. A layer of mulch can help protect the roots from extreme cold.

Division: Divide plants every 2-3 years in the spring or fall to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.

Mint Seeds - Spearmint - Mentha spicata

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