When Is the Best Time to Plant Mint? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Times

Mint is widely distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is cultivated in many parts of China, often growing in mountain wetlands and by rivers. Its rhizomes spread underground. It is commonly found at elevations of 2100 m, but can also grow at elevations of 3500 m. It is an aromatic crop with special economic value. Let us now look at the growth habits and planting times of mint!

Growth Habits of Mint

1. Temperature: Mint has a strong ability to adapt to temperature. Its rhizomes overwinter and can withstand low temperatures of -15°C. The most suitable temperature for its growth is 25°C-30°C. When the temperature is below 15°C, growth is slow; when it is above 20°C, growth speeds up. At 20°C-30°C, as long as water and fertilizer are suitable, the higher the temperature, the faster it grows.

2. Light: Mint is a long-day crop and likes sunlight. Long daylight hours can promote mint flowering and help the accumulation of mint oil and menthol.

3. Soil: Mint is not very strict about soil requirements. Apart from overly sandy, overly clayey, strongly acidic or alkaline soils, and low-lying soils with poor drainage, it can generally be grown in ordinary soils, with sandy loam and alluvial soil being best. The suitable soil pH is 6-7.5.

Planting Time of Mint

The planting time of mint mainly depends on the climate conditions of each region. In Guangdong, Hainan and other provinces, it can be cultivated all year round. In the Jiangsu-Zhejiang area, it is around “Qingming”. When the temperature rises, there is often rain and high humidity, so it is easy for the plants to survive after planting. In the Southwest region, planting is best after the rainy season begins. In North China and Northeast China, a combination of open-field cultivation and protected cultivation can be used. One planting can allow continuous harvests for 2-3 years.

Propagation Methods of Mint

1. Division propagation: After Guyu, when mint seedlings are about 15 cm tall, they should be thinned and gaps filled. The seedlings removed during thinning can be divided and transplanted.

2. Cutting propagation: In May-June, cut aboveground stems and branches into 10 cm-long cuttings. Insert them in a prepared seedbed at a row spacing of 7 cm × 3 cm for rooting. After the cuttings take root and sprout, transplant them to the field for cultivation. This method can produce a large number of seedlings.

3. Rhizome propagation

① Cultivating seed rhizomes: In late April or late August, select robust plants free of pests and diseases in the field as mother plants and plant them at a row spacing of 20 cm × 10 cm. After harvesting the aboveground stems and leaves in early winter, leave the rhizomes in place as seed stock. 1 mu of seed stock can supply 7-8 mu for field transplanting.

② Transplanting method: Carry this out from late October to early spring of the following year before the mint rhizomes have sprouted. Planting after the soil thaws in early spring is best. Earlier is better than later; early planting means early sprouting, a longer growing period and higher yield. When planting, dig up the rhizomes, choose white, thick, short-internode, disease-free rhizomes as seed rhizomes, and cut them into 7-10 cm-long sections. Then, on the prepared bed surface, open furrows 10 cm deep at a row spacing of 25 cm, place the seed rhizomes diagonally in the furrows at intervals of 15 cm, cover with fine soil, firm it down and water. About 100 kg of seed rhizomes are needed per mu. They can also be planted in holes at a row spacing of 25 cm and a plant spacing of 15 cm.