very easy · windowsill
How to grow mint
So vigorous it is hard to kill, and so invasive it should always be kept in its own pot.
Mentha spicata · Lamiaceae
Why bother
It grows from a cutting in a glass of water, tolerates shade, and comes back year after year with no attention.
What it needs
- Light
- 3-6 hours. One of the few edible plants that genuinely tolerates partial shade.
- Water
- Likes it moist — mint is the exception to the do-not-overwater rule.
- Soil
- Any compost. It is not fussy.
- Temperature
- Hardy. Dies back in winter and regrows in spring.
- Container
- Its own pot, always. Planted in a bed it will spread through the roots and take over.
- Time to harvest
- 4 weeks from a cutting.
Step by step
Day 0
Take a cutting
Cut a 10cm sprig just below a leaf node and strip the lower leaves. Buying a plant is unnecessary.
Week 1-2
Root it in water
Stand it in a glass of water on a windowsill. Roots appear within one to two weeks.
Week 3
Pot it up
Once roots are 3-4cm long, pot into compost and keep it well watered while it settles.
Week 4 onward
Harvest and pinch
Pick from the top to keep it bushy, and pinch out flower buds to keep the leaf flavour strong.
What usually goes wrong
Orange powdery spots under the leaves
Cause: Mint rust, a fungal disease.
Fix: Remove and bin affected growth — do not compost it. Improve air flow and avoid watering the leaves.
Woody, sparse growth
Cause: The plant is old and pot-bound.
Fix: Divide the root ball in spring and replant a healthy section in fresh compost.
Before you eat anything you grow: be certain of the identification. This guide describes mint specifically — it is not a way to confirm that an unknown plant is safe. Never eat a plant on the strength of an app alone.