It all started when I spotted some feral Spearmint (Mentha spicata) growing on by a path while on a dog walk, and took 7 stem tip cuttings from various stems I could find (one didn’t make it leaving me with 6).
I left them in a very little pot of seed compost to root for a month or so and then, in Mid-April, finally teased the poor cramped cuttings apart and planted into a 35cm pot of compost.
They initially didn’t seem too healthy, with brown spots (I worried it was mint rust) and leggy stems, so I cut them all right back after a few days of letting them settle. In response, they all sent out several new, healthy branches from the base.
Needless to say, I think just one cutting would’ve been fine for a pot that size, because it is now completely packed with mint 😂 I can definitely see why this should NEVER go in the ground, because holy shit, it grew like mad. The last pics are very recent; it’s in full bloom!
I made a mint tea a couple times, but otherwise didn’t make much use of it, partly due to there being tons of thrip damage which wasn’t very appetising, I’m perfectly happy enjoying the flowers though, which are pretty attractive to various insects including hoverflies, minute pirate bugs, mint moths and the occasional bee. 🙂
by Taran966
1 Comment
I didn’t make it very clear when I took the cuttings, but I think it was between February and March. April was when they were potted on and since then all I’ve done was water them when needed, and feed them too. Their roots are already trying to escape the drainage hole, and there is SO MANY runners on the surface!