If there’s a childhood Christmas memory that’s almost universal, it’s the sweet aroma of mint sauce trickling over waxy new potatoes. Mint sauce can be made from dried mint – but it’s never the same as sauce made with fresh mint from the garden. What many mint-lovers don’t realise, is just how easy it is to grow this delicious herb in your own back yard.
We say ‘back yard’ because that’s where you’re almost sure to find the shady or dappled light mint likes to grow in. This herb is a ‘feet in the shade – head in the sun’ plant which prefers ground that seldom, if ever, dries out completely. It’s also not fussy about feeding or weeding! If you neglect it, it will still thrive, popping its head above long grass, and sending out long roots in search of nutrients if you forget to fertilise it.
This tendency to ‘run’ has given mint a bad reputation over the years, as a plant that likes to ‘colonise’ or ‘take-over’ the garden. But although mint can be invasive, it is also easy to control when you know how. One of the simplest methods is to grow your mint plant between the side of your house or out- building, and a strip of lawn. That way, you’ll always be mowing down any suckers that escape from the garden. You can also grow your mint in a container raised off the ground. When doing this, choose a good sized container with a small drainage hole (so the soil doesn’t dry out too quickly). An old sink is ideal, and if this sounds unsightly, remember you’ll be tucking it away in a shady, forgotten part of your section in order to give the mint the conditions it enjoys. But the very best way to control mint is to dig it up often, and share the plants with friends!
To grow your own mint from scratch, source a plant from friends (or advertise on your social media page – there are always mint plants going free!). If you can’t source a plant, a cutting (a piece of stem with leaves but no roots) will do. That’s because mint grows roots within a short time, given the right treatment.
The roots on a cutting are fragile, so take care as you plant your baby mint. Unless you have loose, friable soil in your own garden, choose a commercial growing mix (any general veggie mix will do) to pop your plant into. To avoid damaging the new roots, fill the lower third of the container with the growing mix, sit the mint plant on top of this (don’t be tempted to push it into the mix), then gently fill around the cutting, bringing the mix all the way to the top of the container. Gently water the mix into place to help it settle around the roots of the plant, then add a little more growing mix to bring it level with the top of the container.
Pop your container onto a saucer, and place it in a cool spot in the garden or indoors where the plant receives dappled light. Once your baby plant has developed 2-3 new stems, pinch out the growing tips to help the plant bush out.
Mint is one of the most delicious herbs you can grow, and Christmas dinner is surely the time to show it off!