How to grow mint in a raised bed

Mint is the easiest herb to grow and the easiest to regret planting loose — it runs. Grow it in a pot (even sunk into the bed) and you'll have all the mint you want without it taking over.

Quick facts

• Position: part shade to full sun
• Spacing: one plant per pot
• Tub depth: a pot or contained corner — it spreads by runners
• Time to harvest: 6–8 weeks, then pick for months

When to plant: Mint is a perennial — plant in spring and it'll come back year after year. It grows almost year-round in warm areas, slowing in winter. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: The golden rule: contain it. Plant mint in a pot, or a pot sunk into the bed, so its runners can't colonise the whole patch. Give it richer, moister soil than most herbs.

Watering and feeding: Mint likes it moist — keep the mix damp and it'll romp away. Cut it back hard now and then to keep fresh new growth coming.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and two-spotted mite. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are rust. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Keep mint contained rather than companion-planted — it will smother its neighbours if left loose. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick sprigs as you need them; regular picking keeps it bushy. Dry or freeze the surplus, and cut it back before it flowers for the best flavour.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.