Mint Murderer!

[Goodlife1970]

Why cant I grow mint? Other people seem to be overrun with the stuff and Im always begging cuttings from them but no matter where I live or what I grow it in (pots,herb garden ect) or whatever medium I use,it just lasts one season and is dead by the next! Ive tried all kinds of different kinds,the "exotics" as well as the common varieties but I just cant get it right! Last years batch,planted in very good quality compost in a tub,is now a blackened,bare stump! Advice?

[Shirley]

could it be that you are treating your mint too well - good compost!! As I understand it (and am ready to be corrected if I'm wrong) - herbs like to be treated badly - bung em in a bit of old soil... especially likely to work if you plant it where you don't want it to grow!!!

I had a tiny bit in an old strawberry planter - hideous plastic thing that we left at the old house!!! It was neglected big style and yet this mint came out of every planting hole that was there - was tasty too!!!

[Shirley]

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg ... 3_mint.asp might help

http://www.ehow.com/how_320_grow-mint.html

[Goodlife1970]

Right! I going to have one last try this year! Im going to be mean and cruel and kick it every time I pass (well the pleading with its done me no good so far!) Such a shame as I use a heck of a lot of the stuff in the kitchen.

[hedgewizard]

Can I just echo two sentiments in those links... mint is a terrible space invader and bottomless buckets WON'T stop it for long, so make sure you put it somewhere where it can't get into your beds! Also, if you get rust don't fart about, just chop the whole thing back and throw the clippings on the fire. Rust is about the only thing that will really kill mint.

[Shirley]

very very good points! The strawberry planter illustrates the fact that a bottomless bucket won't contain this plant for long... it was waist high and the mint was put in at the top and yet sprouted out through all the planting holes. I don't think I've got a pic.

[Millymollymandy]

I only plant mint in large pots (with bottoms). Every couple of years when they get too big I replant just a tiny bit and throw the rest away to the tip. They not only have amazing roots but send out great long runners too, so even in pots you have to be careful they don't root in the ground when your back is turned.

It's quite amazing that you can't grow it, Goodlife. I think I heard someone else mention that on another forum, and they were in Wales too. Maybe there is something in the air........?

[glenniedragon]

I have my mint in bottomed tubs, they are on the patio actually- what I do every couple of years is split down my mint into smaller clumps and sell the 'offsprings' at the car boot for 50p a time, I can't remember how many times my 99p investment has paid for itself, each time it picks up and continues to thrive.

kind thoughts
Deb

[nick]

have an old mint plant near the back door, outcompetes the grass to an extent but gets controlled by the lawn mower. guess what I mean is that I have found it to like similar water amounts to that of the grass and it likes a good cut back every now and then. good luck.

[hedgewitch]

Last years batch,planted in very good quality compost in a tub,is now a blackened,bare stump! Advice?

Mint is perennial and it is quite normal for it to go to sleep during the winter and then spring back to life in um spring!

[Libby]

Compost goodlife ?! Stop spoiling it
Mine grows perfectly well in a bottomless bucket without invading the rest of the garden.
It does tend to 'die off' in winter, but I just cut it back to just above soil level and it comes up again in spring. It,s sprouting now in fact.
If you are worried about it spreading, just sit the bucket on a path instead.
Hope you get a bucketful this year.

[Goodlife1970]

Hi Libby,just been out to look at it and Im afraid its still either dead or dormant! Will give it a bit longer and then try again with a new lot! Annoying as the Marjoram,Rosemary and something that I think is a curry plant,are all doing well,even the lemon balms got little green bits on it!

[digger]

We also grow our mint in containers (bottomed) and it even survives Swedish winters. Probaby being under 1m of snow when the temperature reaches -25 helps

[Goodlife1970]

Hi Digger,that makes me feel soooo much better! Prehaps I shouldve just put the entire pot into the freezer over winter?????

[Smooth Hound]

Not such a silly idea, Mike