How do I stop mint taking over my garden?

Don't plant it directly in the bed. Use a sunken container (a 25–30 cm pot with the rim 5 cm above soil level), or a large standalone container, or a section of bed walled off with sunk slate or paving. Mint spreads by underground runners — once it's loose in a bed, you'll never fully get rid of it.

Can I grow mint from seed?

Most named varieties don't come true from seed — spearmint seedlings won't taste like spearmint, and most peppermint seed sold isn't true peppermint anyway. Always buy a small plant from a nursery, or take a cutting from a friend's plant in spring. One small plant gives you decades.

When is the best time to pick mint?

Just before flowering, when the leaves are largest and the oils strongest. From May to August for spearmint. Pick the top 7–10 cm of each shoot; the plant branches at each cut. Avoid picking flowering shoots — the flavour weakens. Cut the whole plant back hard once after flowering and you get a second flush of tender leaves.

What's the difference between spearmint, peppermint, and apple mint?

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the standard kitchen mint — for new potatoes, mint sauce, mojitos. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) has a stronger, cooler menthol kick — for tea and confectionery. Apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) has fuzzy leaves and a fruity-sweet flavour — for desserts and Pimm's. Each is distinct; grow more than one if you have space.

How do I store fresh mint?

Treat cut stems like flowers: stand in a glass of water on the counter, change daily. Keeps 4–5 days. For longer storage, freeze whole leaves in ice cube trays with water, or chop and freeze in oil. Drying loses most of the flavour; freezing preserves it.

Does mint really deter pests?

Modestly. Mint deters cabbage white butterflies from laying on nearby brassicas (the strong smell confuses them) and discourages some aphid species. The effect is partial — netting is still more reliable for cabbage white. The pollinator-attraction effect (bees and hoverflies love the flowers) is bigger than the deterrent effect.

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Mentha spicata

Plant mint in spring or autumn — buy small plants from a nursery rather than seed, since mint comes true only from cuttings or division. Mint is very hardy (RHS H6) and runs aggressively underground; always grow it in a sunken pot or a large container to stop it taking over the bed. Plant in moist, fertile soil in sun or part-shade. Cut back hard in late autumn or early spring; the plant regenerates from the roots every year. Pick from the top growth regularly to encourage bushiness. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the kitchen standard; peppermint for tea; apple mint, Moroccan mint and chocolate mint for variety. Cut back twice a season to keep new tender growth coming.

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