How to Grow Mint in Pots (and Keep It Contained)
Mint is brilliant in a pot and a menace in a bed. Here is how to grow it the smart way.
Mint is one of the easiest, most useful herbs to grow, and one you should almost always grow in a pot. Planted in a garden bed it sends out runners and takes over everything within reach. Confined to a container, that same vigour makes it a lush, generous, near-unkillable herb.
Why a pot, always
Mint spreads by underground and surface runners that root wherever they touch soil. In a bed it becomes invasive and is very hard to remove. A pot contains it completely, which is why a dedicated container is the standard way to grow mint. Never plant it in a shared trough either, as it will swamp its neighbours.
Container and mix
Mint is not fussy. A pot 20 to 30 cm across with drainage holes suits it well. Use any quality potting mix, ideally with compost, as mint likes richer, moisture-retentive soil than most herbs. Stand the pot on feet or a saucer you keep empty, so runners cannot escape through the drainage holes into the ground.
Position and care
Mint is happy in sun to part shade and actually appreciates some afternoon shade in hot weather. Unlike most herbs, it likes its soil kept consistently moist, so do not let it dry out. A light liquid feed every few weeks keeps the leaves lush. It is one of the few herbs that thrives with a bit of neglect.
Harvest and refresh
Pick sprigs from the top regularly to keep it bushy, and pinch off flower spikes to keep the leaves tender. After a year or two a pot of mint can get congested and woody in the centre, so every couple of years tip it out, split off a healthy chunk, and replant it in fresh mix to rejuvenate.
Catch problems before they cost you a crop
Track every bed in the Planting Season app, log what is going wrong, and get region-specific reminders so the same problem does not bite twice.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
Why should mint be grown in a pot?
Because in a garden bed mint spreads by runners and takes over everything, and is very hard to remove. A pot contains it completely, turning its vigour into an advantage. Never plant mint in a shared trough either.
What size pot does mint need?
A pot 20 to 30 cm across with drainage holes is plenty. Mint is not fussy about size, but a slightly larger pot stays moist longer, which suits mint's preference for consistently damp soil.
How do I stop mint escaping from its pot?
Stand the pot up on feet, a bench or pavers rather than directly on soil, so runners cannot root through the drainage holes into the ground. Keeping it off the soil is the key to containing it.
Does mint need sun or shade?
Both work. Mint grows in full sun to part shade and actually appreciates afternoon shade in hot weather. It is one of the more shade-tolerant herbs, making it good for a less sunny balcony.
How do I keep potted mint healthy?
Keep the soil consistently moist, unlike most herbs mint dislikes drying out, give a light feed every few weeks, and pick regularly while pinching off flowers. Every couple of years, split and repot it in fresh mix to rejuvenate.
See also: How to Grow Mint and Herbs on a Balcony