Best time to plant mint in Australia
Mentha spicata
Also called spearmint, garden mint, common mint
The common garden mint is spearmint, a perennial with square stems, serrated leaves and thick underground rhizomes that spread widely. Leaves flavour food and herbal teas, and flower spikes come in pink or white. It grows 30 to 100 cm tall and has settled into temperate regions worldwide.
On a shared plot: can spread
Spreads underground into neighbouring beds. Grow it in a tub.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Sep to Dec | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Temperate | Aug to Nov | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Subtropical | Aug to Nov | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Tropical | Apr to Jul | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | May to Jul | Not yet checked against a local guide |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 1mm
- Plant spacing
- 25cm
- Row spacing
- 35cm
- Height
- 60cm
- Germination
- 10-14 days at 13-18°C
- Frost
- Hardy, takes a light frost
- Sun
- Part sun
- Life cycle
- perennial
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.