Mint in pots in ground

[nerobot]

For next year I'm thinking of growing some mint outside, in a boarder. I know how easy it spreads, so was thinking of putting it in a pot, which I'll then put into the ground. Has anyone tried this (growing in a pot, in the ground)?

Any advice?

Steven

[Kristen]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Roots might still escape through the draining holes in the pot though ...

[rustylady]

Make sure it's a good deep pot - at least 10 inches deep. Mint is fairly shallow rooted and spreads like anything. If you plant some in a large pot (or florist's bucket with drainage holes added) it should be fine. Mine is growing in 10" pots on the patio and doing well.

[Snadger]

I didn't have much joy growing mint in a metal bucket sunk into the ground! It didn't like having it's roots confined, dried out very easily (a problem because it's one of the few herbs which doesn't like dry roots) It tried to make an escape by sending out stolons over the edge of the bucket and in the second year just gave up the ghost completely!
I've since planted it in my herb wheel direct into the soil and it is a lot happier. It does try to escape but I can think of a lot more pernicious weeds than mint and its easy to pull up!
Just goes to prove......what works for one doesn't always work for another.

[Two_Sheds]

I hate mint.
I planted it years ago, and know it spreads like couch grass. It is very hard to dig out, and it grows through/around any mulch I put on it.

I don't even like the flavour. Bleugh. I think I'd rather drink comfrey tea than mint tea.

[MaureenHall]

I've sunk an old plastic dog bed (large size, free from Freecycle ) in my allotment specifically to try and contain mint, and planted other herbs in it too to make it look a bit more interesting. I've got a HUGE patch of mint at one end of the lottie still to get rid of - I did give loads away to other Freecyclers - does it compost ok? Should I make sure the roots are really dried out before composting?

[Snadger]

I hate mint.
I planted it years ago, and know it spreads like couch grass. It is very hard to dig out, and it grows through/around any mulch I put on it.

I don't even like the flavour. Bleugh. I think I'd rather drink comfrey tea than mint tea.

I have four different varieties I think..........I like mint!

[Two_Sheds]

Mint ... Should I make sure the roots are really dried out before composting?

yes. same as for couch, bindweed etc ... let it go brown and crispy in the sun, then compost it.

[Alison]

I grow two varieties in pots on the patio but I know plenty of people who grow it in pots or even washing up bowls sunk into beds.

[sharonr]

My mum and dad use to have a mint plant in an old Belfast sink in the back garden years ago. The plug had been left in the plughole but the roots somehow managed to push the plug out and escape through the hole, went under a two foot path and up the otherside.
This plant could escape from anywhere!!!!

[TonyF]

I've got three pots in my herb bed and all three have escapees - pull them out, pot them on, give them away.

The stuff in the herb box on the terrace is contained and can't escape and lives quite happily with thyme.

The odd stuff I've got in pots always looks manky so I'm lifting and splitting it, get it ready for the swap stall at the gerdening club next year.