Mint

[Pearlescent]

Hi,

I'm having absolutely no luck in trying to grow mint from seeds. I have managed to grow everything else but mint from seed.

Is there any special technique for this pesky stuff or are my new found green fingers starting to fail me.

I sowed them in some moist well rotted manure compost and gave them a gentle sprinkle of compost over the top, put the lid on the propagator and left them on my dining table (which is right near a window).

... nothing... it's been two weeks now

Would appreciate any advice as I'm new to gardening and growing things

[Snadger]

Beg steel or borrow a small bit of root from someone and I can guarantee next year your garden will be full of it!

[momol]

Hi Pearlescent,

Welcome to the vine!
Hmm mint... I grew them from seeds 2 years ago, I just sown them straight on the growing site, yes none of them come after waiting for a month or so, then I decided to plant brassica at the same site and a month and a half later ( when the brassicas are starting to grow bigger near their maturity ), I saw them ( the mint ) popping up, there were only several tiny plant but now they are everywhere in my garden.
It might take much longer time to germinate than what the instruction said. And like Snadger said, the fastest way to propagated them is from the rooted part.

Good luck,
Momol

[Pearlescent]

Hmmm I think I'm going to have to have a word with my Mom next time I visit, she has loads of Mint in her garden.

I will however have to keep it well trained as I live in a flat and our 'garden' is a strip of my Mother-in-Law to be's garden she's letting me and the boyfriend use as an allotment

Thanks for your help, I've just started getting into self sufficiency and growing herbs and what not from absolutely no experience or clue at all!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Remember that mint grows like mad, Pearlescant, once it has got going, so I would plant it up in a big pot so that it doesn;t go too bananas and take over the whole garden!

Welcome to the Vine... and happy growing!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine Pearlescent. You have found the perfect place for lots of helpful advice on learning to grow your own veggies and herbs (and flowers if that takes your fancy)

[JennieAtkinson]

I didn't have any luck with seeds either Pearlescent, so bought a small mint plant from the garden centre for 75p (no friends with any mint roots). That was about 6 years ago, and I've still got the same plant in the tub. I'm going to split it in October and take out the best root to grow for my next five year plant.

Goodluck.

[Alison]

I grew some mint from seed this year, not really sure why as I already had a pot of mint (?). Anyway it took fine but isn't that always the way when you don't really need it! Not sure what variety of hand but I do know I sowed it in a 3" pot in a heated propogator last March / April time and it's now OK to use (made some lovely mint sauce to go with a lamb steak the other night.............)

[borage]

I didn't have much luck with the seeds either, I usually put some stems in water and leave it to root.

[Pearlescent]

Hmmm my propagator isn't heated is that the problem maybe?

I've seen one tonight in B&Q funnily enough but is there a cheaper way to make one from scratch rather than spend the best part of £20?

Thanks once again, it's a great place and I've learned quite alot already!

[bubblewrap]

I though I had lost out mint(over enthusiasatic weeding)last year but it has grown back

[veg4681]

Once you get going with mint in your garden, they grow like weeds and I think you're better off off taking off few mint plants (with roots) from whoever you can get hold of than growing from seeds. Of course you can also buy mint from garden centres and it's possible they'll have various variety to choose from. They don't even have to big plants, rather small ones that are quite cheap. Remember it soon grows...unstoppable!

[Cameo]

I bought one of those little pots of fresh growing mint from the supermarket, took it home put it into a bigger bucket and left it outside and it went rampant, had masses of mint whenever I wanted it. Was glad it was in a bucket as I dread to think what would have happened if it had had free reign to run amock in the garden.

[zazen999]

Hi.
It takes ages, and you are being too nice to it. 2 weeks is nothing in the world of mint. I would get a nice but cheap pot, some crocs in the bottom, 3/4 fill with new compost and pop the contents of your propogator on the top, water in, and leave outside somewhere warm and sunny. it will take a few more weeks granted, mine took a couple of months, but it came up eventually when i stopped trying to be nice and just left it on its own. It's now flourishing. Don't spend money on an expensive propogator just for the mint - it won't help!!!
The reason for putting it in a pot is that it truly does take over the world, and keeping it in a pot does restrain it.