Vietnamese Mint Growing Requirements

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• Vietnamese mint will grow in full sun or partial shade and thrives in rich, very moist soil. It will even tolerate standing water, so it can be used in water gardens or as a ground cover in portions or property vulnerable to occasional flooding. If you decide to place it in a container, re-pot the plant frequently since it is inclined to stop growing if it becomes root-bound.

Watering and Maintanenance

• Keep this plant’s soil moist at all time as it won’t tolerate parched conditions, but it requires little other care. As with most herbs, its flavor will be best if the plant isn’t fertilized, and pests seldom bother it. In zones where it is hardy and evergreen, the plant should be cut back in the spring to stimulate new growth. In those climates it is inclined to become invasive, so you may wish to contain it with underground barriers.

Propagation

• You can easily root Vietnamese mint cuttings purchased at a supermarket by placing them in a glass of water on a windowsill. Strip off the lower leaves of the cuttings first and keep at least 1 inch of water in the bottom of the glass -- or enough to cover the lowest nodes on the cuttings (where the leaves were originally attached). If you already have a Vietnamese mint plant, make more by pinning some of the shoots to the soil with garden staples. They should root wherever the nodes touch the ground.

Harvesting

• Fresh Vietnamese mint enhances Asian recipes such as noodle soups, as well as duck egg and meat dishes. Because it looks similar to many inedible American garden plants and weeds of the same genus, make sure you have the right plant before cutting it. The herb reportedly tastes like a cross between mint (Mentha x piperita, hardy in USDA zones 3 to 10) and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum, hardy in USDA zones 7 to 12), with an added touch of citrus.