How to Grow and Care for Peppermint in Your Home Garden

Peppermint (*Mentha piperita*) is an herb that belongs to the broader mint family, or *Lamiaceae*. When eaten or smashed, its green leaves release a fresh, cool, peppery aroma and taste. Peppermint is an easy plant to propagate and grow in your herb garden or indoor garden, though they are considered invasive and often grown in containers. Peppermint can grow up to three feet tall depending on the conditions, and in the summer they produce pinkish purple flowers that grow in whorls around the stem. It is commonly used in candies, desserts, and health care products. Peppermint oil has a cooling sensation when applied topically for muscle and nerve pain, and is often used as a fragrance. In cooking, fresh mint is often used in fruit salads, or as a complement to meat like lamb. Mint is a prodigious and invasive grower in many different types of climates, so consider planting your peppermint inside in a container instead of your herb garden. Peppermint should be planted in early spring after the last frost of the winter has passed. Peppermint grows in USDA [hardiness zones](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-planting-zones) 5 to 9. It can tolerate quick spurts of frost, but cannot survive temperatures that stay cold for extended periods of time. Growing peppermint is faster when you propagate it from cuttings rather than planting from mint seeds. Follow these steps to plant and grow your own peppermint at home. 1. __Prepare your stem cutting__. To start propagating your new plants, cut a five to six inch piece of peppermint from a plant that is already established. Remove the leaves from the bottom two inches of the piece. Place your stems in a glass of water that is placed in the full sun. When it has new roots that are a couple inches long, it is ready to plant. 2. __Choose your container__. Many people choose to grow peppermint in a container because it can easily take over a garden bed. Go with a plastic container to keep the soil moist, because peppermint thrives in consistently-moist soil. 3. __Fill your container with soil__. Fill your container with moist potting soil. If you’re growing your peppermint indoors, do not use manure or emulsion. A layer of mulch can help the soil retain moisture. Place your container in a location that gets full sunlight. 4. __Plant your peppermint stems__. Carefully plant each cutting in the moist soil, spacing the stems at least 10 inches apart. 5. __Regularly water your peppermint__. Unlike other plants, you should not allow peppermint soil to dry out between waterings. The soil should always be moist. Water your peppermint everyday or every other day. 6. __Harvest your peppermint__. When your peppermint leaves are fragrant, they are ready to harvest. For small harvests, simply pinch or snip off the fresh leaves or sprigs you would like to remove. For larger harvests, cut the entire plant down to just above the first set of leaves. This removes the lower leaves, which may have already begun to yellow, and helps the plant grow bushier for the second or third harvest. Peppermint is a hardy plant, but it still requires attention and care. Here are some tips for growing your peppermint. 1. __Prune your peppermint regularly__. Peppermint is a wild grower that you will need to prune to make sure your leaves are flavorful and to ensure healthy new growth. Prune the top half of your plant back before and during its growing season in late spring to mid-summer. Keep an eye out for stems that appear ‘woody’ or dry and remove them. Cut back and replace your peppermint plants every two to three years. You may also remove flower buds to keep the leaves at peak oil concentration. 2. __Give your plant enough light__. As long as the soil is moist, peppermint prefers exposure to full sun which helps the plant produce its oils. They can tolerate partial shade, but the flavor is strongest when your plant receives full sun. 3. __Keep the soil moist__. Peppermint is not as susceptible to root rot as many other plants, and it thrives in moist soil. Make sure that this thirsty plant gets enough water. 4. __Monitor your plant for pests__. Mint plants usually repel pests like deer and rodents, smaller insects such as aphids and spider mites. Spray your plants with a hose to knock them off your plant. Depending on the health of your plant, peppermint can be harvested two to three times per growing season. The ideal time to harvest is right before your plant begins to bloom. This is when the oil concentration in the leaves is its highest. Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place. Planting peppermint in your herb garden bed or indoor garden is easy and yields plenty of this fresh, zesty herb.