When to plant mint?
Sow mint indoors in spring, on the surface, at about 20 °C, and the RHS plants it in March, April, May, September, October and November. In Campania the runners go in during autumn or at the end of winter and the young plants in spring, and Sicily and Umbria write no month.
When, by region
| North | Centre | South | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | Indoors in spring, on the surface, uncovered, at about 20 °C (68 °F). Up in about 2 weeks. The RHS month chart has no sowing row. Plant in March, April, May, September, October and November: it settles best in spring or autumn. In a pot, the herbs page also sows it outdoors in May. | Umbria's 2025 sheets do not include mint, and no month is written. | In Campania the runners go in during autumn or at the end of winter, and the young plants in spring, on soil with no waterlogging. Propagate by division or, more often, by runners. Sicily has no mint chapter. |
| Spacing | In a pot, not in open ground, so the runners do not take the bed. Once they have several leaves, one plant to a 7.5 cm (3 in) pot. Repot every few years, or divide the clump and put a piece back in the same pot. After flowering, cut it to about 5 cm (2 in). | As in the north for the RHS. Umbria does not write a spacing. | In Campania, 150,000-200,000 plants per hectare, with 40-50 cm (16-20 in) between rows. A spacing along the row, in centimetres, is not written. The useful cycle is 1-2 years, even though the plant is perennial. |
It takes sun or partial shade. In open ground it runs: in a pot it stays in its container.
Indoors in spring, about 20 °C (68 °F), about 2 weeks, March-May and September-November, 7.5 cm (3 in), about 5 cm (2 in) and the November rhizome cuttings are from the RHS. May in a pot is from the herbs-in-containers page. Autumn or the end of winter, spring for the young plants, 150,000-200,000 plants per hectare, 40-50 cm (16-20 in) and the 1-2 year cycle are from Campania. Sicily has no mint chapter. Umbria 2025 does not name it. Rosemary is in when to plant rosemary. The months are in the February calendar, March, April, May, September, October and November.
Spring, on the surface
The RHS sows indoors in spring. Scatter the seed on the surface, press it lightly and do not cover it. Keep it bright, at about 20 °C (68 °F), and it is up in about 2 weeks. Once the seedlings have several leaves, one plant to a 7.5 cm (3 in) pot. The month-by-month chart does not mark a sowing: it marks planting.
Young plants can go in during any month, and they settle best in spring or autumn. The marked months are March, April, May, September, October and November. On the herbs-in-containers page, mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage are sown indoors, or outdoors in May in containers. The pot is in starting seeds indoors.
Campania, runners or young plants
In Campania planting is with runners in autumn or at the end of winter, or with young plants in spring, on ground prepared with no waterlogging. Propagate by dividing a clump and, more often, with runners, used direct or to raise the young plants. The density is 150,000-200,000 plants per hectare. Between rows, 40-50 cm (16-20 in), adjustable for mechanical weed control. A spacing along the row, in centimetres, is not written.
It is perennial, and it stays out of very cold climates. The guide prefers a cycle of 1-2 years: from the second year the runners abound, the habit sprawls, and weeds and fungi increase. At the end of the first year, in autumn, a shallow cultivation can thin the runners. Sicily has no mint chapter. Umbria, in 2025, does not name it. Sage is in when to plant sage.
In a pot, not across the bed
The RHS keeps it in a pot, in sun or partial shade, because the runners take the soil around it. In a bed, sink a bottomless pot and leave the rim just above the surface, so shoots do not root outside. Water in dry spells, keeping the compost evenly moist. In winter the top dies back, and you can cut it from late autumn until spring, before the new shoots. After flowering, cut the whole plant to about 5 cm (2 in), and it reshoots within a few weeks. The pot is in the container garden.
Divide in spring or autumn, every few years. Take softwood cuttings in spring, including in a jar of water. Rhizome cuttings can be taken in any month: indoors, in November, they give fresh mint for Christmas. Pick the leaves from late spring to autumn, before the stems die back. In crop rotation perennials stay outside the plan. In a pot, mint does not move round with the cabbages. In Campania, in the open field, the written cycle is 1-2 years.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
When do I sow in the north?
Indoors in spring, on the surface, at about 20 °C, uncovered. Up in about 2 weeks. The RHS calendar does not mark sowing months. Plant in March, April, May, September, October and November. In a pot, the RHS also sows it outdoors in May.
What date does Campania write?
Runners in autumn or at the end of winter. Young plants in spring. Density 150,000-200,000 plants per hectare, 40-50 cm between rows. A useful cycle of 1-2 years, even though the plant is perennial.
What about Sicily and Umbria?
No date. Sicily has no mint chapter. Umbria 2025 does not name it. The RHS months, and the packet, still apply.
Why a pot?
The RHS puts it in a pot because the runners take the bed. Once they have several leaves, one plant to a 7.5 cm pot. Divide every few years. In Campania, in the open field, the rows are 40-50 cm apart.
Do I replant it every year?
For the RHS, no: it is a herbaceous perennial, it dies back in winter and reshoots in spring, and it lives for many years. In Campania the useful cycle is 1-2 years, because from the second year the runners, the weeds and the fungi increase.