How Long Does It Take For Mint To Sprout

If you want to develop skills as a newbie gardener, mint is one plant you should consider adding to the garden. 

Of all the herbs used in cooking, mint is probably the easiest to grow from scratch. After harvest, you can find a zillion uses for it in the kitchen, adding its fresh fragrance and distinct taste to your recipes. 

But, how long does it take for mint to sprout? Let's find out… 

Growing Mint Plants

The very first step in growing a mint plant is selecting the variety you'd like to see in your garden. I prefer to use spearmint and peppermint, the most common varieties available. 

Sprouting Mint Plants Indoors 

If sprouting the herb indoors, place the seeds on a moist surface and allow sunlight to fall upon it. The seeds will germinate within 10 to 15 days if the room temperature is maintained at 68-75°F. 

At this point, you can transplant the sprouts into your garden or container for further growth. But you should check if at least two leaves have appeared before planting them in the soil.

Outdoor Environment For Mint Plants 

Mint plants tend to thrive in moist and acidic soils with ample nutrients. They can survive with full sunlight or partly shaded areas equally well. However, even though they are sturdy enough to grow in most soil types, they do not fare well in arid climates. 

The best way to sow mint seeds is by setting them in rows at least two feet apart from each other. If you have seeds, burying them slightly into the ground should be enough, but for thin saplings, you will have to plant them slightly apart. 

Make sure to add the appropriate amount of water regularly and to prevent excess moisture that could cause diseases.

Growing Mint To Maturity

I love growing mints in my garden because they take only 90 days to grow completely. Within this period, the plant grows to its full height of one to two feet, after which it is ready for harvesting. Once my mint plants reach this stage, I like to cut them an inch above the soil, leaving a bit in the ground.

Doing this allows the plant to continue growing after harvest, which is impossible if you uproot it entirely. If the climate is favorable, you should be able to harvest mint leaves three times in one season. The herb grows particularly well in July and August, but you can continue to harvest it as long as the plant grows to three or four inches.

Final Words

In conclusion, you can harvest mint leaves often because they sprout fairly quickly. One thing you must note is that mint herb is a plant that spreads and takes over the ground, leaving little space for other vegetation. Due to this, avoid planting them without containment if you do not want an entire garden full of mint.

I hope this short guide helped you with planting your mint herb. See you next time!