Mint outside??

[blue411]

Ive just purchsed a small mint plant, am i able to keep this outside at this time of year?
I dont want to kill it off as soon as i have bought it

[poly]

Mint is quite hardy. It usually dies back in the autumn, for the winter, before sprouting again as the weather warms. If you have bought lush leafy mint it will need protection from frost, ideally somewhere cool to grow on. As the weather improves harden it off before planting out.

[Alison]

Mine has been outside all winter (as always) but I don't think it's showing yet. I'm guessing if it's a nice healthy green plant then it'll have been kept a bit warm so it won't like going straight outside. If you have a cool greenhouse then it'll probably be fine for now in a pot and you'll be able to use the leaves. When it gets warmer you can plant out but remember they can get a bit rampant so make sure that you restrict the roots.

[lyndap]

Will need protection for a while then hardening off.I wouldnt risk putting a new plant out for a few months yet.

[Birdie Wife]

I don't think you could kill mint with napalm. It's probably been raised in a greenhouse though so if you don't have room for it indoors, plant it in a largish pot (plant the whole pot - it stops the roots spreading abd becoming invasive) and give it a bit of top protection with a cloche or a bit of spare fleece.

[blue411]

Great, i'll harden it off first, ive put it in its own trough and not near any other plants as i had read on here how invasive it can be. Thanks guys

[rogesse]

I also left my mint out all winter and it is just starting to show through - a bit further south than you Alison.

[Gwen11ian]

If you enjoy your mint, have a look at picking up some pineapple, apple, chocolate, purple, etc. mint. They're not as rampant or as invasive (and a bit more susceptible to death!) than the standard garden variety.. but well worth growing for the the color, smell, and the delicious flavors.

[MrsC]

If you enjoy your mint, have a look at picking up some pineapple, apple, chocolate, purple, etc. mint. They're not as rampant or as invasive (and a bit more susceptible to death!) than the standard garden variety.. but well worth growing for the the color, smell, and the delicious flavors.

Hi Gwen got to agree with your post, although applemint is very invasive, I hack mine every year just like the standard mint

[muslimgrower]

Mint is quite evasive though, it shoots rhizomes 1 foot away from the plant and onwards... i dont mind it though i love the smell of mint, One idea is though to grow it in a pot and sink the pot into the ground that way it wont spread in your garden....

[Borisbump]

My mother-in-law told me to plant in it's pot too to stop it going mad but mine broke it's plastic pot!

Also turned up on the other side of my patio to where the original mint plant is (four foot away)! Tricky little herb. Aromatic and pretty so I don't mind, also my son eats it raw, he's only 5 and absolutely loves going round the garden finding all the plants to chomp on, yuck, can't stand it myself. I only grow it to educate the children