Growing mint outside?

Question

I have just started growing some mint outside in a large pot on a balcony which gets sunlight from 3pm to sunset british time.
Will this be bad for the plant or will it be ok if kept watered.
Also is it possible to bring the plant indoors for the winter and still be able to use the leaves.

Answer 1

Mint is one of the hardiest Herbs there is....I grew Mint all of my childhood in the manner you are planning...I put it in pots and planters all over our decks and never brought it in...I just let it die back and freeze over...there is no need to winter over in your Home( I live in Washington and we regularly got temps in the 0-10 range)

If you want some for growing indoors in the winter I suggest this....dig up a small bit off of the side in the fall(that is when plants go dormant and is the time to separate perennials)put it in a smaller pot and grow indoors!

Mint is a VERY easy to grow plant....hard to screw it up or kill it!

There is really nothing like a fresh Mint Julep in the dead heat of summer!

Answer 2

Growing Mint Inside

Answer 3

That sounds like it would be enough sunlight, as mint actually does best in partial shade, and you should water it just enough to keep the soil from drying out too much. Also, growing mint in a container is usually better than in the ground because it tends to spread very rapidly and will sometimes overtake and kill other plants in a garden. You can certainly move the plant indoors for the winter and keep growing it; a windowsill with a little sunlight or maybe some flourescent indoor lighting should be enough.... although if left outdoors for the winter, mint will usually bounce right back and start growing again in the spring. Also, during the warmer months, you can groom or trim the plant back to encourage new growth and thus produce more leaves for use all year round.

Answer 4

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RE:
Growing mint outside?
I have just started growing some mint outside in a large pot on a balcony which gets sunlight from 3pm to sunset british time.
Will this be bad for the plant or will it be ok if kept watered.
Also is it possible to bring the plant indoors for the winter and still be able to use the leaves.

Answer 5

I would transplant it into a pot that is slightly larger than the container it came in. If you have windows in your garage, keep the mint where it canget some light. Don't put it too close to the window or it will get chilled and die. If there are no windows and you have fluorescent light available, use that. Keep it watered iver the winter. Mint is really invasive so once springtime comes, plant it somewhere it can take over or keep it as a container plant. I have Catnip, a member of the mint family, in a pot that I bring inside over winter. It goes out on my deck in the summer. I grew it from seed. I'm surprised it is lasting ha

Answer 6

Like the first guy said, mint is basically a weed. It actually does need more light than you probably have, but it should be OK. They are very tough plants, so watering isn't a big issue, as long as you remember to actually do it once in a while. In Britain, as long as it's above freezing, the mint will be fine outside all year. You'll only need to take it inside if there's going to be a hard freeze on your balcony.

Answer 7

No problem in the pot and the sunlight seems appropriate as well (it would like 6 or more hours of sunlight per day). Mint loves water, so don't let it dry out, infact, if you have problems keeping it wet enough, place the pot in a deep saucer, and keep that filled with water. I've seen mint grown very well as a bog plant.

As for indoors... I have my doubts. I would pot up a second (smaller) pot of mint. Give that a go. That way if it fails, it doesn't cost you your whole crop.

Good luck
I hope that this helps

Answer 8

If your mint is potted and you want to bring it indoors for the winter, you can...you just have to make sure that it has at least 3-4 hrs. of direct sunlight. It'll die within a year though, if left indoors. It's better to leave it outdoors during the winter time so that it can go dormant and return in the spring.

If you want to be able to use the leaves during the winter...You can cut it back to 2" from the base. Place the leaves in a brown paper bag to dry. Place in a sunny,cool area. When leaves become dry and crisp, place in a blender and blend to your consistency. Store in colored jars or clear jars away from sunlight. Use for teas and making mint pancakes. Make a cup of tea and allow to cool and add to your pancake,waffle or muffin mix. Take Care! Peace.

~ Vee

P.S. >>> Mint likes moist soil and will grow well in sun or shade

Answer 9

Mint grows like a weed - very hearty and easy to grow. Good to keep it in a pot, or else it will take over your yard, there is no containing it when allowed to grow without boundaries.

Yes, you can bring it indoors during the winter - soil should be kept at over 55 (F).

Answer 10

Kentucky Colonel is the best mint, has a mint- lemon taste, perfect for iced tea. I leave it in a container outside. It spreads everywhere if you plant it in the ground.