Mint (Spearmint) in Zone 3b
Mentha spicata
Method: Buy as a start โ Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside โ Mint (Spearmint) is slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed โ buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 30โJun 6 |
| Estimated harvest | ~70 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing).
Good companions
- Cabbage โ Mint's scent is reputed to deter cabbage moths nearby.
- Tomato โ 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 โ 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 โ (a live search, not a hand-picked video โ results vary and aren't vetted by us)
โ Back to the full zone 3b calendar ยท Full companion planting guide ยท Plan your beds in the Garden Designer โ