HT Spearmint Seeds 0.1g – Perennial Culinary Mint

Spearmint Seeds 0.1g

Overview

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a vigorous perennial culinary herb producing bright green, aromatic leaves with a fresh and naturally sweet mint flavour. Milder than peppermint, it is one of the most versatile mints for cooking, drinks and herbal tea.

Fresh leaves can be added to salads, sauces, meat dishes, desserts and refreshing summer drinks. The leaves may also be dried and stored for preparing mint tea throughout the year.

Spearmint spreads readily through underground runners, making it easy to grow but best contained in a pot or a controlled area of the herb garden.

Key Features

• Vigorous perennial culinary herb.
• Produces fresh leaves with a sweet mint flavour.
• Milder and sweeter than peppermint.
• Leaves can be used fresh or dried.
• Ideal for mint tea, drinks, sauces, salads and desserts.
• Excellent for seasoning lamb and other savoury dishes.
• Grows well in garden beds and containers.
• Flowers attract bees and beneficial pollinators.

Sowing Instructions

• Sow indoors in seed trays or small pots during March and April.
• Alternatively, sow outdoors in a prepared seedbed from April to June.
• Sow the fine seeds thinly on the surface of moist seed compost.
• Press gently into the surface but do not cover heavily, as mint seeds need light to germinate.
• Keep the compost consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Prick out seedlings once they are large enough to handle.
• Transplant outdoors when the plants are well established and the risk of severe frost has passed.
• Space plants approximately 30–40cm apart.

Growing Conditions and Care

Grow Spearmint in full sun or partial shade. It prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage.

Water regularly during dry periods, especially when plants are grown in containers. Avoid allowing pots to dry out completely during active growth.

Spearmint spreads vigorously through underground runners. Growing it in a large container is recommended if you want to restrict its spread. Alternatively, sink a bottomless container into the soil to create a root barrier.

Cut plants back regularly to encourage fresh, tender foliage. Remove flower stems if you want to concentrate growth on leaf production, or allow some plants to flower as a food source for pollinators.

Harvesting and Use

Begin harvesting leaves once plants are well established. Pick young leaves and tender shoot tips regularly from late spring through autumn.

Spearmint leaves have their strongest flavour before flowering. Harvest stems at this stage if you wish to dry larger quantities.

Use fresh leaves in mint tea, cold drinks, salads, sauces, desserts and fruit dishes. Spearmint also pairs particularly well with lamb, peas, potatoes and yoghurt-based sauces.

To preserve the leaves, dry healthy stems in a warm, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight. Store the dried leaves in an airtight container.

Product Details

• Botanical name: Mentha spicata
• Common name: Spearmint
• Plant type: Hardy perennial herb
• Indoor sowing period: March–April
• Outdoor sowing period: April–June
• Harvesting period: Late spring–autumn
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive and well drained
• Expected height: Approximately 40–60cm
• Plant spacing: Approximately 30–40cm
• Suitable for: Herb gardens, raised beds and containers
• Culinary use: Tea, drinks, salads, sauces, desserts and savoury dishes
• Pollinator friendly: Yes
• Pack size: Approximately 0.1g
• Product code: 11125

Browse quality herb seeds from Mallorn Gardening Supplies and grow fresh culinary herbs at home in Ireland.