The Average Growing Season for Mint

The Minty Outdoors

• While the actual growing season depends on your location, mint seeds can be started indoors eight to 10 weeks before the last frost or sown directly outdoors in the spring after all chance of frost has passed. Seeds sprout within two weeks and take off like weeds after that, setting down a very robust root system. Without confinement, mint can take over your flower beds and garden and choke out other plants, so it is best to grow it in a container. If you prefer to grow mint directly in the ground, use starter plants, planted in the original container, to keep the root system in check. Place the plant and container into a hole, dug deep enough to keep the lip of the container below the soil surface and then gently pack soil in the remaining spaces up to the base of the plant.

Whole Lotta Mint

• Harvesting mint throughout the season depends on the use. For garnish or salads, just snip off a few leaves around the plant. If you need to harvest a large amount, for teas or essential oils, cut the entire plant right above the second set of leaves. Wait until just before the mint blooms, for the most intense flavor. Since mint will regrow rapidly after cutting, you can get two or three large harvests during each growing season.

Divide and Conquer

• After the first few frosts of the season, the mint plant dies off and the roots enter dormancy for the winter. To prevent diseases and pests, cut mint plants down to 1 inch above ground and cover with mulch in late fall. In warmer climates -- above USDA zone 8 -- mint does not require the deep pruning and mulch. If the mint gets too big for its britches, you can easily divide the plant. For container plants, gently lift out the entire plant and use a spade to cut it in half and replant each half in a separate container with fresh soil. For ground plants, dig around the circumference of the plant, to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, and gently lift it from the soil and then proceed with division.

Inside Mint

• Indoor mint plants need a location with at least four hours of sunlight each day and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Mint does not appreciate a dry climate, so keep the soil moist and spray the mint at least once a week to make it happy. When you harvest leaves regularly, add an herb and vegetable fertilizer at least once a month to maintain growth.