Spearmint - 1 Gallon

1 GALLON SPEARMINT
Mentha spicata
USDA Zones 1-5
 
One of the foods brought over by the Pilgrims, Spearmint is not native to the United States. Spearmint is unbelievably low maintenance & has an incredible scent, but these aren't the only reasons it's known as one of the favorite mint varieties. It has a fast growth rate & spreads rapidly. For this reason, people usually grow Spearmint in a pot or container garden. When planted in the ground, you must give it enough room to spread -- in some places it can even be used as a groundcover!
While reading about Spearmint online I learned a remarkable amount of information about the variety. One of my favorite annecdotes I read while researching involved ways to grow this variety & planting your plant between stones in a walkway. Having the plant in a high trafficed area gives the plant's aroma a chance to spread once it's brushed against while people walk the path, so you will continuously smell the light scent of mint as you walk.* 
Another idea Bonnie had was planting your Spearmint in a 10" pot. To make an even larger plant than a 10" would create, go even further & plant the entire pot in a larger container or even in the ground. If you turn the 10" container in the ground every week or two, you can prevent roots from escaping through your drainage hole.*
*we got these ideae from Bonnie's Plants
 
Used as a medicinal plant, a cooking ingredient, & a component in cosmetics makes this a highly valued plant.
 
 
LIGHT
Relatively flexible; Full sun - partial sun &/or partial shade); Prefers 6+ hours of sunlight/day
Spearmint enjoys morning sun, as afternoon sun can burn it's foliage, as well as dries out the soil more quickly. This soil drying heat means your plant will need extra watering. 
In areas with extremely hot seasons, 4 hours of sunlight/day is preferable (instead of 6).
 
SOIL
In-ground: fertile, nutrient-rich, medium soil that traps a substantial amount of water; can add aged compost to the top layer of existing soil
In containers: fertile, nutrient-rich, well draining soil to encourage even water dispersment & discourage root rot, which will kill it. In-ground soil is able to use heavy, water trapping soil because it naturally disperses the water evenly, so there is no stagnant water. 
 
WATER
Mint thrives in damp areas & loves to have water all around them; In-Ground: dont water regularly, as rain will build on to your own water addition. Make sure soil does not dry out; only water when soil begins to dry out. Don't let soil dry out completely as this plant is a Drama Queen, but it will bounce back easily.
Container Garden: Water regularly; Make sure soil does not dry out; only water when soil begins to dry out. Don't let soil dry out completely as this plant is a Drama Queen, but it will bounce back easily.
BOTH: during hot seasons you may have to water your Spearmint twice a day. In these situations you can fight the heat by adding water trapping material. While this will help during the hot months, once weather 
(see above why soil type differs when planted in an in-ground vs in a container garden)
 
PRUNING
Prune Spearmint to keep it healthy & in shape. Pruning will keep your plant's shape with its incredibly fast growth rate.
There are specifics to pruning some gardeners don't know & end upn stunting the growth of their plant, eventually leading to its death.
How To Prune Correctly:
Don't start until plant is at least 3-4" tall.
Don't ever cut back more than 1/2 to 2/3 of the stem; Only nip the top half at most.
If you have planted your Spearrmint in-ground & want it to become dormant to survive the winter, don't prune more than 2 times its first season.
Prune as much as possible before your plant fully produces flower buds. Flowers are a signal that your plant is in its last stages of life & will eventually end in death.
 
TRANSPLANTING
Spearmint, like most mints, grow incredibly fast for an herb. When grown in a container, the roots are unable to spread & will follow the walls of the pot. This will eventually cause your plant to be rootbound to the container. Allowing your plant to become rootbound can cause it to suffocate & ultimately kill it. 
To avoid this from happening, you must transplant your Spearmint plant every time it begins to outgrow its pot. Avoid transplanting your plant multiple times in a season, as this may cause it to go into shock.
 
REPOTTING
When Spearmint is grown in a container & has been in that same pot for a long amount of time, the soil will have lost a great amount of nutrients. Because this mint requires a substantial number of health-giving materials, it is important to change the soil every few months, or at the very least during the end of each growing season. 
Never reuse old soil. Change the medium in which your plant grows in with new, fresh, nutrient filled soil. You can ensure your Spearmint is in tip-top shape if you add fertilizers or compost during the season. 
The last important factor is to remember to be gentle when repotting. You don't want to harm the root ball, or make the plant feel damaged. 
Its important to understand that just because you are changing out the soil, doesn't mean you need to change the container. If the plant still fits in the original container, there is no need to change pots. 
 
 
 
You will receive a 1 gallon size plant bare root without a pot*.
*We will leave enough soil on the rootball to ensure the plant is not harmed during transit.