How to grow mint from cuttings

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You will need

Mint plant
Secateurs
Pot or modular seed tray and plastic bag
Compost and perlite/vermiculite; mixed two-thirds to one-third compost to perlite/vermiculite
Dibber
Labels

Do it: March - April

At its best: August

Takes just: 30 minutes

Project categories

Overview

Mint plants give the best flavour and fragrance from new growth and are renowned for their vigour. So take cuttings in spring and you'll have young mint plants bursting with flavour and ripe for the picking to last you all summer.

How to do it

1Take cuttings from the top growth of your mint plant, about 8cm in length. Remove lower leaves and cut the stem just below the leaf node: the point on the stem where leaves emerge.

2Remove the growing tip on the stem.

3Fill the seed tray with the compost-perlite mix, make a hole in it and insert the cutting, firming around it with a dibber. Take care not to crush the stem.

4Label, then water cuttings thoroughly and place a plastic bag over the tray or pot to prevent cuttings drying out. Keep compost well watered.

Adam's tip

Check leaves regularly for fungus mint rust, which appears as rusty spots on the underside of leaves. Destroy plants if you find it.

Discuss this project

Talkback: How to grow mint from cuttings

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angelofthewest 24/11/2011 at 15:27

That's great, that means I can nick some from the local park.
I love mint, so being able to grow some for free will be wonderful!
How quickly do you have to get them in the soil, once cut?

rogerdennis 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I am hoping to grow a lot of herbs this year so any tips are useful,
I have made a large box out of wood and I have put a plastic trough into it so that I can grow herbs in it.

angelstar958 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I love mint and already have mine growing, though I do put mine in a large pot or tub as it can be a real thug in a herb bed, spreading like mad.
Next project will be to build a raised bed just for mint...many varieties and let them grow away as they will without having to contain them.
The latest edition to my collection is a pineapple mint and I can sit for ages just smelling them.... :)) Human mint, has the same effect on me as catmint does for cats

paulbuttress 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Mint is so easy to propogate you don't really need to follow the above. Just cut as many sprigs & put them in water. They root so easily then just pot them on.