Contain mint by planting it in a pot inside a larger pot. Insert a 6-inch plastic pot inside your bigger pot in the spot where you want the mint to grow. You can also plant the smaller pot in the ground.
Simply plant your Bonnie mint transplant inside the 6-inch plastic pot. Give the little pot a quarter turn every once in a while to keep mint roots in check.
Peppermint and spearmint are wonderful herbs that no kitchen and therefore garden should be without. Mint is an important ingredient in Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine and, of course, in various iced summer drinks. However, in areas where mint is perennial, it can creep farther than you like, crowding adjacent plants, especially in a pot. Controlling mint plants usually means limiting the roots by planting in a pot and sinking the pot into the ground or into another pot. Every few weeks, give the pot a quarter turn to keep roots from escaping through the drainage holes. When possible, use a plastic pot, since it won’t dry out as much as clay and will be easier to turn.
what is a good way to dry mint and other herbs? i can’t use my basement, too damp.
thanks
Hi Lenore,
A food dehydrator is a great tool for drying herbs as well as vegetables and other foods. You often can find them in stores that sell other small kitchen appliances. To preserve your mint, you might also consider freezing the mint leaves in ice cubes or preserving them in vinegar as we mention in our “Growing Mint” article. Check it out here: http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-mint.
Thanks!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
What if the mint is already overrunning your garden. Any hints on how to get rid of it? thanks
Hi Mary Ann,
Dig up the mint as best you can, being sure to dig up or cut off all the roots and runners under the soil. It may take a few rounds of digging to completely get rid of the mint. If you like mint but just don’t like it taking over, save some and repot it when you dig it up.
Kelly, Bonnie Plants