Mint (Spearmint) in Zone 11a
Mentha spicata
Method: Buy as a start — Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside — Mint (Spearmint) is slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed — buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated harvest | ~70 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing).
Good companions
- Cabbage — Mint's scent is reputed to deter cabbage moths nearby.
- Tomato — Reputed to repel aphids near tomatoes.
Where to buy mint (spearmint) starts
Mint (Spearmint) is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded — check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing mint (spearmint)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video — results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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