Heirloom

Common Mint

Mentha spp.

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

70-80d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to part shade

☀️

Zones

4–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Common Mint in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 herb →

Zone Map

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Common Mint · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, moderately fertile soil; prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH

WaterRegular, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

SeasonPerennial

FlavorFresh, cool, and distinctly minty with subtle sweetness; bright and invigorating.

ColorGreen

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – April	—	April – December

Complete Growing Guide

Use to flavor salad mix, main dishes, ice cream, and drinks. Variety not stated since mint does not grow true-to-type from seed. Edible Flowers: The flowers add a minty flavor to salads, soups, desserts, and drinks. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Common Mint is 70 - 80 days to maturity, perennial, open pollinated. Notable features: Grows Well in Containers, Hydroponic Performer, Edible Flowers.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Each flower is replaced by four small nutlets in the fall.

Type: Nut.

Harvest time: Fall

Bloom time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: Fresh or dried leaves and flowers in teas, beverages, sauces, jellies, vinegars; Fresh leaves in fruit salad, peas, syrups, candies, ice creams, lamb dishes, mint sauce.

Storage & Preservation

Freshly harvested mint keeps best in a sealed plastic bag or container in the refrigerator at 35–40°F with moderate humidity; expect 1–2 weeks of acceptable quality before leaves begin to yellow and lose potency. For longer storage, drying is highly effective—hang bundles upside down in a warm, airy space away from direct sunlight, or spread leaves on a screen until crisp, then store in airtight jars. Freezing also works well: blanch briefly, pat dry, then freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags for up to three months. Mint freezes better than many herbs and retains flavor for tea and cooking. You can also make mint-infused simple syrups or oils for winter use. A practical note: store dried mint away from light and moisture, as it degrades quickly when exposed to either. If you grow multiple mint species, keep them separate during drying to prevent flavor blending.

History & Origin

Common Mint is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe to China

Advantages

+Disease resistance: Deer, Diseases, Foot Traffic, Heat, Humidity, Insect Pests, Rabbits, Wet Soil
+Attracts: Fresh or dried leaves and flowers in teas, beverages, sauces, jellies, vinegars; Fresh leaves in fruit salad, peas, syrups, candies, ice creams, lamb dishes, mint sauce.
+Wildlife value: Attracts butterflies.
+Edible: Fresh or dried leaves and flowers in teas, beverages, sauces, jellies, vinegars; Fresh leaves in fruit salad, peas, syrups, candies, ice creams, lamb dishes, mint sauce.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic: Low severity

Companion Plants

Mint's strong volatile oils (menthol, pulegone) mask the scent of brassicas from cabbage moths and carrot rust flies, which is why cabbage, broccoli, and carrots sit on the beneficial list. Tomatoes get some aphid interference too. The catch: mint spreads by underground stolons and will overrun neighbors at the root zone. Parsley and chamomile share that shallow zone and lose the water fight; sage wants dry, lean soil while mint wants it consistently moist. Sink a buried pot or give mint its own bed.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Mint repels ants, rodents, and flea beetles that commonly affect tomatoes

Cabbage

Mint deters cabbage moths, aphids, and flea beetles from brassicas

Carrots

Mint repels carrot flies and ants while improving soil health

Broccoli

Mint's strong scent masks broccoli from cabbage worms and aphids

Radishes

Mint deters flea beetles and root maggots that attack radishes

Lettuce

Mint repels slugs, snails, and aphids while providing beneficial ground cover

Peas

Mint deters aphids and mice that eat pea seeds and plants

Marigolds

Both plants repel similar pests and create a strong pest-deterrent barrier

Keep Apart

Parsley

Mint's aggressive spreading habit can overwhelm and crowd out parsley

Chamomile

Mint's vigorous growth competes for space and nutrients, stunting chamomile

Sage

Both plants compete for similar growing conditions and mint can inhibit sage's growth

Nutrition Facts

Calories

70kcal(4%)

Protein

3.75g(8%)

Fiber

8g(29%)

Carbs

14.9g(5%)

Fat

0.94g(1%)

Vitamin C

31.8mg(35%)

Vitamin A

212mcg(24%)

Iron

5.08mg(28%)

Calcium

243mg(19%)

Potassium

569mg(12%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #173474)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Spider mites, aphids, mint flea beetles

Diseases

Powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot

Troubleshooting Common Mint

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Orange or rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves, often starting on lower foliage in humid weather

Likely Causes

Mint rust (Puccinia menthae) — a systemic fungal pathogen that overwinters in rhizomes
Overhead watering and crowded plantings that keep foliage wet

What to Do

1.Cut the patch to the ground and bag the clippings — do not compost
2.Switch to drip or soaker hose so leaves stay dry
3.For severe outbreaks, sulfur is OMRI-allowed for rust per NC State's organic gardening guidance; apply preventively every 3-5 days during humid stretches

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, leaves curling and dropping by midsummer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew, favored by warm days and cool nights with poor airflow
Plants jammed closer than the 12-18 inch spacing

What to Do

1.Thin the stand hard — pull every other plant if needed
2.Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda plus 1 tablespoon horticultural oil per gallon of water and spray every 3-5 days as a preventive (per NC State Extension)
3.Harvest aggressively; young regrowth is less susceptible than tired old foliage

Fine stippling or bronzing on leaves, faint webbing on the undersides, worst in dry July-August stretches

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae), which thrive on drought-stressed mint
Mint flea beetles can cause similar pinprick damage but leave shotholes, not stippling

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a hard water spray three mornings in a row to knock populations down
2.Mulch with 2 inches of straw and keep soil consistently moist — mites explode on stressed plants
3.If the infestation is established, cut the patch back to 2 inches and let it regrow clean; mint takes hard cutbacks well

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for common mint to be ready to harvest?▼

Common mint reaches harvestable size in about 70-80 days from planting. You can begin pinching off leaves for use once the plant is established and has several sets of true leaves, typically 4-6 weeks after planting. Regular harvesting encourages bushier growth and increases overall productivity.

Can you grow common mint in containers?▼

Yes, common mint grows exceptionally well in containers and is actually recommended for container growing. This prevents the plant's aggressive spreading tendencies in garden beds. Use a pot with drainage holes and well-draining soil. Containers allow easy placement in sunny or partially shaded locations and make harvesting convenient for kitchen use.

Is common mint a good choice for beginner gardeners?▼

Absolutely! Common mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow, making it perfect for beginners. It thrives in various conditions, requires minimal care, and is very forgiving of neglect. The main challenge is controlling its vigorous growth, but this trait actually ensures reliable harvests even for inexperienced growers.

What does common mint taste like?▼

Common mint has a fresh, cool, and distinctly minty flavor with subtle sweetness. It's bright and invigorating on the palate. The flavor works well in both sweet applications like desserts and beverages, and savory dishes like salads and main courses. The edible flowers also carry the minty taste.

When should I plant common mint?▼

Plant common mint after the last spring frost when soil temperatures have warmed. You can also start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Mint is very cold-hardy and can handle light frosts, but establishing it in warm soil ensures faster growth and better establishment for the growing season.

Does common mint prefer full sun or shade?▼

Common mint thrives in full sun to part shade, making it quite adaptable. It performs best with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily but tolerates afternoon shade well, especially in hot climates. The shade can even help prevent the plant from drying out during extreme heat.