Mints!

[chris]

Cor!

Popped to my not-so-local GC last weekend, they're doing loads of different mint varieties this time around. Some I'd never even heard of - Morrocian Mint (gonna use to cover the rockery I'm planning on building) - smells amazing when brushed. Chocolate peppermint - wow! Looks stunning...

They both are semi-hardy -- what does this mean? I'm planning on planting out and just leaving to it, I don't want to have to faf around with covering them up during frosts - I thought mint was a PITA to get rid of?

I also got some other mint I can't say - someting like ice............ *shrug* - looks like a varigated leaf type thing! Pineapple mint too (oh and also pineapple sage - that smells actually like pineapples!!)

I can't wait to build my herb rockery - thinking of using the boulders I dug out my garden to build up a big mound of rocks, and plant inbetween the gaps.

[Two_Sheds]

Semi hardy means it can survive milder winters, but not prolonged hard frosts.

Normal mint is very tough and comes back every year. More mints here

[chris]

Thanks Two Sheds - yup I have some of them too I think I bought 8 different types to dot all over the shop.

If I just leave them to it, do they self-seed, i.e. will the roots survive and come back, or will I need to buy new each year (assuming we will have harsh winters)

[scripted]

Semi hardy means it can survive milder winters, but not prolonged hard frosts.

Normal mint is very tough and comes back every year. More mints here

Two Sheds. That site you posted is exellent, have you purchased from them before, if so what were the condition of the plants like and what size were they.

[Lovage]

A nursery local to me has around 60 different mints.
Some of these must be BIO's ie Botanical Interest Only, after all how many mints do you need?

[northepaul]

I have chocolate mint outside, survived the snow etc in a very exposed place and has started coming back really strongly!

[Seamus]

i think i would have to hire a hitman to kill my mint, have 3 types of it, i love fresh mint, but needs to be kept under control !!

[Jeanied]

There is one mint I have grown before which is a tiny- leaved mound forming mint which is tender. The mint perfume in the leaves is intense - shame it was so difficult to keep.

[binley100]

I've got two types of mint. The one I use for common or garden mint sauce is in a pot and there's a peppermint in the garden but it roots all over the place. I just keep ripping it out.

[jaimie]

There is one mint I have grown before which is a tiny- leaved mound forming mint which is tender. The mint perfume in the leaves is intense - shame it was so difficult to keep.

Corsican mint ?? Mine is still a very small mound and has suffered a bit this winter but I have hopes for it. next year I will probably bring it in as it is in a pot. I love these tiny leaved plants. I have prostrate thyme in crevices and just acquired an alpine called Corsican sandwort with tiny leaves and minute perfect simple white flowers about 3 mm across. Not edible though.

[tiachica]

My chocolate mint has suffered lots this winter, but has survived and is coming back now.

[chris]

I have some of that corsican mint too.. originalyl planned to grow it inbetween the paving slabs as you're right it smells amazing when brushed/trodden on. If it was totally hardy, it'd be great, but alas, I'm afriad of wasting resources trying to grow it there, only for us to have a winter as the one just gone

So once I build a rockery, i'll stick it in there and hope for the best. I can always fleece that.

[Kirsty_84]

My black mitcham totally died back over winter but it's suddenly started to reappear in my pot. So glad it hadn't died - it's a lovely flavour

[MrsC]

Don't think you can really kill mint, it always pops up somewhere. Nows the time for it to be growing at an alarming rate. Pineapple sage is lovely, but not hardy at all.

[MissKittin]

One thing I will say, is that mints seem to be rather promiscuous, and unless grown in pots seperately, will lose their uniqueness and become rather indeterminate and uninteresting