Some of the finest varieties of mint thrive in pots thanks to their delicate, compact growth. The enchanting strawberry mint is one of them or the pretty pineapple mint. Find out about all relevant aspects regarding plants and care in pots here.
How to grow and care for mint in a pot?
To successfully cultivate mint in a pot, you need a container that is at least 30 cm tall with drainage, a partially shaded location, loose herb soil and regular watering and fertilizing. Harvest before flowering and cut back to the ground for overwintering.
Exodus of the Ice Saints heralds the planting season
Once 'Cold Sophie' says goodbye in mid-May, the window of opportunity for planting mint in pots opens. Choose a container with a diameter of at least 30 centimeters. A floor opening for water drainage is mandatory. Loose herbal soil (€6.00 on Amazon), optimized with compost, perlite, sand and horn shavings, is suitable as a substrate. This is how you properly plant mint that you have grown yourself or purchased ready-made:
- Drainage made of grit or expanded clay above the water drain prevents waterlogging
- fill the substrate in the pot up to half or two thirds of the height
- insert the potted young plant in the middle, up to the bottom pair of leaves
- press the soil and water generously
Place mint in the pot in a partially shaded location on the balcony or in the garden. Ideally it is airy there so that rainwater can dry off quickly. The plant should not be placed under blazing midday sun.
This care is what matters
In the limited substrate volume of a planter, mint requires more intensive care than in a bed. How to properly handle cultivation in the pot:
- keep the substrate slightly moist at all times
- Let the soil dry out in the meantime
- empty a coaster immediately
- fertilize weekly with organic liquid fertilizer
- dose in half concentration
In addition to regular harvesting, the shoots are cut off 10 centimeters above the ground shortly before flowering. This gardening trick preserves the aroma in the fresh shoots, which then thrive. After the first frost, cut the mint back close to the ground, cover the substrate with brushwood and wrap the pot in bubble wrap. In this way, the mint will overwinter safely until next year.
Tips & Tricks
Would you like to enjoy fresh mint throughout the winter? Then plant Kentucky Spearmint (Mentha x cordifolia) in a pot on the balcony. Brought into the house in good time in autumn, this variety delivers an aromatic harvest in a sunny, warm window seat during the cold season.
