Tip for Growing Mint in Containers

Mint is a pretty invasive plant. Just ask anyone who has ever grown it in their garden. It can take over pretty quickly. This is why most people recommend growing it solely in containers.

I’ve had my mint plant for a few months now. The leaves have remained pretty small. It’s not until I started my garden from scratch that I began paying more attention to it.

The roots of the plant have been spreading all through the container and without much room to grow. Since the soil line is about 2-3″ below the top of the container, they were growing within the container and not out of it.

I started to pull some of the roots out of the container and drape them over the side. In less than a week the mint plant started to produce bigger leaves.

When you plant mint in containers, I’d recommend keeping the soil line closer to the top of the container to allow it to grow or make sure that you place the newer roots over the lip of the container.

What other tips for growing mint in containers do you have?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzKmF_BvF7E

Jecka April 12, 2011 at 11:29 am -

I have no tips… however, I’m glad that I saw this post because I keep forgetting to start growing mint! Ah! I hope yours continue to grow larger leaves!
Anonymous April 12, 2011 at 11:52 am -

Hi Mike-
It’s Rhonda from Growing Herbs here!
Mint family members will ‘strangle’ themselves in containers if they aren’t re-potted regularly into larger pots, or at least root pruned and re-potted. To get nice fat leaves again, you’ll probably want to pull the plant out of the pot, tease, pull or cut apart the roots and re-plant. You can safely take 1/3 off the roots and have the plant do beautifully.
Clip back the top of the plant to encourage new growth, and all those extra root runners that you are draping over the pot can be planted to start more plants…then you can share with your neighbors!
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 1:39 pm -

Stop commenting and get on it 😉
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 1:40 pm -

Thanks for the tips. Don’t have any larger containers though. Hm…
Mavis April 12, 2011 at 2:16 pm -

I wish someone would of told me mint spreads… It has over taken an entire raised garden bed… Now I’m only left with 16 …
Anonymous April 12, 2011 at 3:13 pm -

Sorry! Guess I didn’t phrase that well- you can just loosen and cut back the
roots and then put it back in the same tub 🙂
Jes April 12, 2011 at 4:43 pm -

Thanks for the tips Mike, I just potted some mint and this is good to know!
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm -

Ahh makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification.
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm -

At least you’ll have plenty of mint 😉
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm -

I wrote this with you in mind 😉
Aliceannlincoln April 12, 2011 at 6:36 pm -

For mint, my best results for peppermint were in a wire hanging ball – Plant the mint into the top, and as it “runs”, poke the stemm into the ball all around. Once the ball is covered nicely, let it hang as vines. Just remember to clip it – a lot! I kept it at about 2 to 6 inches long, and had it for a couple of years (repot each year in freash soil; watered via an inserted glass watering ball). Someone stole it the third year.
Mike Lieberman April 12, 2011 at 8:21 pm -

I like it. The soil was contained within the wires?
Oemissions April 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm -

it’s not really the root you are draping over, right?
it’s the stem you are draping over
when u say pull up some of the roots, it sounds weird
like pull up the roots usually makes one thing pull out the roots
Katherinekelley April 13, 2011 at 1:11 am -

To keep mint with your other herbs in a bed and make it play nice, sink a container into the ground (but leave a bit of the lip above ground to prevent it hopping ship) and plant within the container. It helps to keep it corralled so it doesn’t choke out your other plants.
Charisse Ramos April 13, 2011 at 3:06 am -

Great tip Mike! I must say that I’ve been a long-time reader and that you made me feel pretty darn good about growing a lil garden of my own! 😀

Also thought you might be interested to know that I was stopping by Whole Foods today and they’re teaming up with Yes to Carrots by giving away grants to help schools build gardens! woohoooo for more gardens!
Eattheyard April 13, 2011 at 4:29 am -

When it starts to look a little mangy in a few months, trim it all back to the ground and it comes back like new.
Mike Lieberman April 13, 2011 at 4:58 am -

Thanks for the clarification.
Mike Lieberman April 13, 2011 at 4:58 am -

One day when I have land, I will certainly do that. Like it. Appreciate the tip.
Mike Lieberman April 13, 2011 at 4:59 am -

Nice. Glad that you started to grow your own. What you growin these days?
Mike Lieberman April 13, 2011 at 4:59 am -

Don’t ever call my mint mangy again…hahhaa. Will certainly do that. Appreciate the tip.
Mike Lieberman April 13, 2011 at 5:45 pm -

Nice. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
SoftSoap April 19, 2011 at 12:31 am -

Thanks for the warning. I just planed mint in the same container with Lavender and now I think I’ll move it before they start fighting with each other :).
Mike Lieberman April 19, 2011 at 1:28 am -

Glad I could be of help.
Charisse Ramos April 19, 2011 at 2:10 am -

Yikes late on this reply! I’m trying my hand at tomatoes… (crossing fingers) and I’ve been maintaining my herb garden (mostly basil, rosemary, cilantro, parsley and hopefully lavender soon!)
Mike Lieberman April 19, 2011 at 2:50 am -

Nice. Keep me updated.
Kitkat May 2, 2011 at 1:53 am -

I’ve seen the roots break terra cotta and glazed pots, so use heavy duty plastic and (if your container is on the ground) ALWAYS have a saucer under the container since the roots will go thru the drainage holes and into the lawn!! Also, be prepared for bunnies to use it for nesting and to eat, so be prepared to share 🙂 which is ok, because it does grow back (and then some!!)
Mike Lieberman May 2, 2011 at 3:28 am -

Thanks for the tips. The roots are growing into another container, so all good.
Andrea Dierna June 9, 2011 at 1:42 pm -

I heard about mint taking over in garden beds, so planted mine in a terra cotta pot last year. It needed CONSTANT watering and eventually the roots caused the container to crack. I’ve got 2 kinds of mint started this year, put them both in plastic pots this time. Thanks for the tips on the roots. I’ll plan to uproot and prune them back or re-pot in a larger pot. Need an idea for all that mint? Look up the southside cocktail recipe. Fresh muddled mint, gin, simple syrup, and lime juice. So refreshing for a mid-summer night!
Mike Lieberman June 9, 2011 at 2:07 pm -

Hahhaa. Nice! What kinds of mint you got growing?