Grow mint in pots

Keep mint under control by growing it in a pot or container.
Time to plant: spring-summer

Mint comes in many different varieties and all the best ones grow brilliantly in pots. There really is no other way to grow mint in a small garden than in a container. Most mints have incredibly invasive root systems, which means they can take over a small bed in no time at all. But despite their vigorous nature, they do grow well in large pots and containers, providing they have a sunny or slightly shaded spot and a rich, moisture-retentive compost. ideally, mint should be planted on its own in a container, as it will rapidly take over a mixed pot of herbs. However, plants can die in pots, so to prevent the roots rotting, repot them every autumn usung a soilbased compost. For mint all winter, bring the pot indoors as temperatures drop, or you can root a cutting in late summer and grow it on in a pot on the windowsill. Good forms of mint include Moroccan mint, which has a strong flavour and is the best variety for brewing as mint tea; applemint, which has furry leaves and a milder, delicate flavour that’s good for cooking with peas. Eau de Cologne mint has bronze-green foliage and a strong, distinctive scent. it is ideal for a small garden, being hardy and responding to regular cropping with lots of new foliage.

TIP Pick regularly or clip to keep the plants thick and bushy and to encourage new shoots.

references: BBC 2011 gardeners book
image: http://www.gardeningpatch.com/media/1023/mint-in-containers.jpg?width=500&height=369.1666666666667