Peppermint
Peppermint is a heirloom herb. Germination takes 10-21 days and fruit ripens from about day 60-90. Skin runs to dark green leaves with purple-tinged stems. Water need is 1-1.5 inches per week, consistently moist soil. Suits zones 3-9. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Start from divisions or cuttings in spring. Seeds are sterile. Plant after last frost when soil warms to 55°F.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Partial shade to full sun (4-6 hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistently moist soil
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-draining soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 12-24 inches
- Season
- Cool/warm season perennial
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark green leaves with purple-tinged stems
- Size
- 2-4 inch serrated leaves
- Shape
- Oval, pointed leaves with serrated edges
- Flavour
- Intense, cooling mint with strong menthol and sweet undertones
In the kitchen
Herbal teas, cocktails, desserts, Middle Eastern cuisine, natural breath freshener, aromatherapy
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, spider mites, flea beetles, mint root borer
- Diseases
- Rust, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, mint anthracnose
- Resistance
- Generally disease resistant, occasional rust or powdery mildew in humid conditions
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
16 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 6 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 70
- Protein (g)
- 3.75
- Fat (g)
- 0.94
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 14.9
- Fibre (g)
- 8
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 212
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 31.8
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.129
- Folate (µg)
- 114
- Calcium (mg)
- 243
- Iron (mg)
- 5.08
- Magnesium (mg)
- 80
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 73
- Potassium (mg)
- 569
- Zinc (mg)
- 1.11
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Peppermint?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Peppermint suits these too.
- Cuban Oregano 60 days
- Japanese Shiso Green 60 days
- Spicy Globe Basil 60 days
- Lime Basil 60 days
- Vertissimo 60 days
- Origanum vulgare 'Hot & Spicy' 60 days