The easy-care mountain mint provides a fresh supply of aromatic leaves for seasoning in the kitchen until well into autumn. The perennial is also popular in the garden or on the balcony because of its blue flowers and strong scent.
What is the best way to care for mountain mint?
Mountain mint needs a sunny location, little water and nutrients. Cut back close to the ground in autumn and transplant or repot in spring if necessary. It is hardy and resistant to diseases and pests.
How should mountain mint be watered?
Mountain mint prefers dry soil. Once it's really at home in the garden, it can go for weeks without being watered. However, if the leaves droop, you should water the perennial properly. But avoid waterlogging!
In the pot, mountain mint needs water more often. Water sparingly and ensure that excess water can drain away.
Does mountain mint need regular fertilizer?
The herb needs few nutrients. In the open field, it is enough if you carefully rake some ripe compost (€12.00 on Amazon) or horn shavings into the ground around the plant in spring.
When caring for it in a bucket, you can do without fertilizer if you repot the mountain mint in fresh garden soil in spring.
Does mountain mint need to be cut?
Cut the mountain mint close to the ground in autumn. It will sprout again reliably next year.
Pruning after flowering stimulates a second flowering period. This also allows the seed formation and thus the spread of mountain mint to be somewhat curbed.
Can mountain mint be transplanted or repotted?
- Transplanting in spring
- better still, cut off the runners and reposition them
- Repotting potted plants in spring
What diseases and pests should you watch out for?
As with all strongly scented plants, diseases and pests almost never occur.
Mountain mint cannot cope with soil that is too moist and will quickly die if it is waterlogged.
Is mountain mint hardy?
Although the herb is native to the Mediterranean region, it does not need winter protection once it has grown properly in the garden.
You should only spread a blanket of mulch over the plant in the first year after planting. Place mountain mint in a bucket in a protected location in winter.
Tip
Mountain mint needs a full sun location. The perennial, which only grows up to 60 centimeters high, goes particularly well in the garden with roses, in the perennial bed or in the cottage garden. The peppermint-scented herb is also a must in scented gardens.
