Mint
Mentha spp.
Grow it in a pot unless you want a mint lawn.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9
Light: part shade
Size: about 1.5 ft tall, 3 ft wide
Harvest: May to October
From: Europe and Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators, traditional use.
Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
The story
Mint was strewn on floors in ancient Greece and Rome, brewed in Morocco's tea, and muddled into Kentucky's julep; the Romans carried it across Europe and it has escaped every garden since. Give it a pot or it takes the yard.
Planting
Sun or shade, moist soil, and a container, a buried bucket or a corner you can mow around. Plant a division in spring.
Growing
Water generously, cut back hard after flowering, and divide yearly. It does not care about feeding.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves any time; harvest whole stems before flowering to dry. Peppermint, spearmint and apple mint each have their uses.
What to watch for
Its spread, and rust on the leaves in late summer.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home