When to Plant Mint
Set out young mint plants from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after your last frost.
Mint at a glance
- Plant out
- from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after your last frost
- Time to harvest
- 30 to 60 days from planting out
- Harvest lasts
- about 24 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per square foot
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
- Comes back
- Every year, as a perennial
Growing mint
Mint grows in sun or part shade in moist soil and is easy, even too easy. Spearmint and peppermint are the classics, with apple, chocolate and other mints for the curious. Cut it often and it keeps making fresh leaves.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Plant out | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | May 14 – Jun 11 | Jun 13 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 3b | May 3–31 | Jun 2 – Nov 6 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 28 – May 26 | May 28 – Nov 9 |
| Zone 4b | Apr 24 – May 22 | May 24 – Nov 8 |
| Zone 5a | Apr 19 – May 17 | May 19 – Nov 3 |
| Zone 5b | Apr 17 – May 15 | May 17 – Nov 1 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 15 – May 13 | May 15 – Oct 30 |
| Zone 6b | Apr 9 – May 7 | May 9 – Oct 24 |
| Zone 7a | Apr 2–30 | May 2 – Oct 17 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 22 – Apr 19 | Apr 21 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 15 – Apr 12 | Apr 14 – Sep 29 |
| Zone 8b | Mar 3–31 | Apr 2 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 9a | Feb 16 – Mar 16 | Mar 18 – Sep 2 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | Feb 17 – Aug 4 |
| Zone 10a | Jan 10 – Feb 7 | Feb 9 – Jul 27 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so plant mint in the cooler months and let the roots settle before summer heat. | |
Questions about mint
Which mint should I grow?
Spearmint is the classic for cooking and drinks; peppermint is stronger and cooler. Grow each in its own pot so one does not crowd out the other.
How do I keep mint tender?
Cut it back often and pinch off the flowers. Regular trimming gives fresh, leafy growth all summer.
