Mint - Spearmint 4"

Spearmint, a refreshing culinary herb from the mint family, thrives in home gardens with its aromatic leaves and vigorous growth habit. This 4-inch spearmint plant offers a classic sweet-minty flavor that's less intense than peppermint, making it ideal for culinary uses, herbal teas, and cocktails. The easy-to-grow perennial herb spreads quickly through underground runners, providing an abundant harvest throughout the growing season. Perfect for container gardening to control its spreading nature, spearmint adds both ornamental value with its bright green serrated leaves and practical benefits as a versatile kitchen herb.

Key Features:

- Versatile culinary herb perfect for flavoring drinks, desserts, and savory dishes with its distinctive sweet-minty taste.

- Vigorous grower that provides multiple harvests throughout the season with proper care.

- Natural breath freshener and digestive aid with therapeutic aromatherapy benefits.

- Attractive bright green foliage adds ornamental value to herb gardens and containers.

- Excellent container plant that helps control its naturally spreading growth habit.

- Perennial herb in many zones that returns year after year with proper winter protection.

Plant Care Instructions

1. Light Requirements:

- Prefers partial shade to full sun, with morning sun and afternoon shade being ideal.

- Requires at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily for optimal flavor development.

2. Watering:

- Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

- Water when the top inch of soil begins to dry out, typically 2-3 times per week depending on weather conditions.

3. Soil Type:

- Thrives in rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.

- Add compost to improve soil fertility and moisture retention while ensuring good drainage.

4. Temperature & Hardiness Zone:

- Hardy to Zone 3b; can withstand cold temperatures once established.

- Optimal growing temperature range is 55-70°F; protect from harsh winter conditions with mulch.

5. Fertilizer:

- Feed monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength during the growing season.

- Avoid over-fertilizing as this can reduce essential oil content and flavor.

6. Pruning & Maintenance:

- Harvest regularly by cutting stems just above a leaf node to encourage bushier growth.

- Pinch off flowers to prevent the plant from going to seed and to maintain flavor intensity.

7. Special Notes:

- Safe for pets but may cause digestive upset if consumed in large quantities.

- Consider growing in containers to control spreading; mint can become invasive in garden beds.