Mint
Very popular but take care
Especialy in the UK and the USA mint is a very popular herb, especially with gardeners.
It’s very easy to grow, with a distinct flavour but is a very fast growing plant.
Which is why (if you want to grow mint indoors) we recommend growing it:
- In soil – using individual pots
- Hydroponic – in individual pots (like the balcony hydroponic kit)
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In this article we will cover:
- The different mint types
- Where & how to grow mint indoors
- How to use it for cooking and in recipes
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The different mint types
There are very many different types of mint, For example water mint, asian mint, corsican mint, forest mint, etc.
Which is why (especially if you want to use mint for cooking & in recipes) it is very important to carefully select the right type to grow.
When it comes to recipes the most popular mints will be:
Spearmint
This is the type of mint (if you live in the UK or USA) that you will be most familiar with, as it’s the type of mint most often used in many recipes.
Typical recipes:
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Peppermint
Peppermint will have a stronger flavour than spearmint and is often used in desserts or in tea.
Typical recipes:
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In addition there are also many different types ideal for specific uses, such as
- Apple Mint – Great for tea and adding to salads
- Orange Mint – Also great for salads but ideal for mexican recipes like salsa
- Chocolate Mint – Especially good for desserts
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Where & how to grow mint indoors
Mint is a very fast growing plant that will grow using a network of runners. Which is why you need to be very careful when planting it next to other plants, as there is a real danger it will take over.
And which is why we also don’t recommend it for aquaponics – and if you want to grow it using hydropincs then the best option is to use a system like the balcony hydroponics one (with seperate pots)
Seed or Plant
In addition it is probably safer to start your mint using either a ready made plant, cutting or a plug plant. The reason is that mint is one of the herbs which is highly variable – and even using seeds from a reputable supplier you might still end up with a different type then the one you were hoping to grow.
Quick guide:
- Plant in individual pots
- Optimal growing temperature is 15 to 20 ºC
- And full sunlight or high levels of artificial light.
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3 Ways you can grow mint indoors
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How prepare Mint for cooking and in recipes
If you want to use mint the first stage is to cut it from the plant. The video below provides ‘step by step’ advice.
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Once you have the leaves then the key is to ‘stack & roll’ the leaves:
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How to start
Hopefully our guide showing how to grow mint indoors has helped.