Mint for life... (the secret of keeping supermarket mint alive)

Mint

If you've tried growing a pot of supermarket mint, you might have discovered that it usually looks sad and dies after a few weeks. (At least, that is what happened to my first attempts!). But did you know that there is a super easy way to make supermarket mint grow, flourish and last for years? Simply move it into a bigger pot with some good quality compost / growing media. A five litre (one gallon) bucket size is ideal to grow a big healthy mint plant. A one or two litre (quarter or half gallon) pot will also work. This is a great project if you are starting to grow. All you need is a bucket, bag of compost and a supermarket mint plant. Watch how to do this in this short three minute film - that also showcases a community growing project Vertical Veg is involved in.  

 
Moving mint to a bigger pot beautifully illustrates a general rule of container growing: the bigger the pot, the bigger the crop.

How to keep your mint strong and healthy

Follow the advice in the film and your mint will grow happily for months. Use liquid seaweed or another liquid fertiliser once a month to help it grow strong and healthy. It will then die back over winter and magically reappear in the spring. To keep it flourishing in year two, remove the mint from its pot. Then divide it into two or four and repot it in new compost. You now have extra mint plants for yourself or to give to your friends and neighbours. Do this every year, and one mint plant can last the rest of your life!

How to use your mint plant

One plant can give you delicious mint to make tea, cocktails, or add to salads, curries and sauces. Or one of these other 49 ways to use mint.

About Vertical Veg Street

The film shows a Greening Wingrove Project, Vertical Veg Street. This supports local residents to grow food in containers at the front of their home. Food growing workshops are run directly on the streets to make it easy for anyone to join in. With thanks to all the people who starred in the film. And to those who contributed in so many different ways to the street events - by hosting a session, cooking food, supporting and growing plants for others..... and not forgetting street event attendee Andy Jones of Screenstation, for devising and making the #mint film. Thanks Andy!     

26 comments

Frankie
 

Mark, you are 'legend' what a wonderful project! Loving the funkstar rap grooves in the background. Shine on! You spread so much good 😁
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Roj
 

This is brilliant! Just getting people off the streets involved in learning about growing plants, eating well and being healthy is a priceless education. MAssive thumbs up for what you're achieving.
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Brian Davis
 

What month would you recommend the reporting, i have a very large pot I inherited, but it has not done well this year, now i know it needs repotting should I do this before winter sets in or next year in speing
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Drusilla Cole
 

Excellent film Mark! Keep up the good work 😊👍
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Bob
 

Does this work for supermarket coriander too ?
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Cat
 

Hi. I think mint is a great plant to start people on. Although i didn't think it was possible to kill mint. I threw some away and a little bit went down the drain from the house. A month later I couldn't see the drain, but it sure smelled better than it used to.
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Bridie
 

I already have a big pot of supermarket mint, it's done pretty well, and the plant itself was key to getting the little one to eat salads, he loves mint! Should be more encouragement like this for people too.
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Mark Ridsdill Smith
 

more tricky with coriander as it doesn't like to be moved so much. I find it easiest from seed.
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Mark Ridsdill Smith
 

I usually do it in the spring but you can do it anytime I think. I'd be tempted to do yours now.
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Nicki O'Neill
 

Hi Any tips for growing supermarket Basil. I have trouble keeping it alive. Thanks Nicki
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Mark Ridsdill Smith
 

Same thing as mint - only separate the plants to give them more space. Also easier to grow inside in most places.
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Bente
 

Hi, Nicki I had same trouble growing basil, no matter what I did I managed to kill it every single time. Then someone told me, that it just hates to be watered from the top. I began water it in the saucer only and this helped a lot ; ) Outdoors I grow it in the sun, but close to the wall, under the roof hanger, so it does not get wet - success ; ) Bente
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Anu
 

Great work Mark. Hats off to your endavour . Love the way u made people get involved n bring them closer to nature.
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tony smyth
 

That inspired to me nip out the the mints and crop them. I do it with my basils (to prevent flowering) but didnt think if it for mint.
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Clara
 

Congrats Mark, you have done so well. Keep up the great work, Clara
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simon leppich
 

Thanks Mark, informative and entertaining. Love to see folks eating well and wasting less. Would love to have some magic tips of growing Basil successfully (in England) - I'd love a great big pot of Basil in my Kitchen, but Basil is so delicate (not too much draft, water, sun etc etc) it's tricky. Simon
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Sian
 

I've had success with basil doing the same as he did with mint. I did keep it indoors on a sunny window sill though
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Janet Marie Halliwell
 

Does anyone know what variety supermarket mint is please?
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Mark Ridsdill Smith
 

Interesting question. I don't know the answer, but my guess is that it probably varies from supermarket to supermarket - so you'd probably have to contact your supermarket to find out. There are many varieties and strains of mint - it often seems quite similar to a Moroccan mint. Can anyone else shed more light on this?
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jenny taylor
 

Good stuff, my friend. You're sewing more than you realise with this work. It's so important to make people aware of their abilities.
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Lorna
 

... sewing/ weaving/ crocheting/ knitting/ knotting... and sowing/ seeding/ planting/ growing, too!
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Katie
 

Thanks for this! So once it’s repotted we should move it outside? If so, will it be ok outside right now?
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Mark Ridsdill Smith
 

You can grow it inside or outside but it is normally easier to grow healthier plants outside as the light is much stronger. For moving outside, it is probably best to wait a few weeks until the weather is a bit warmer. Mint is quite hardy but your plant was probably first raised in a heated greenhouse so it won't be adapted to the cold. I'd put it out when a warm spell is predicted at the end of March or in April sometime.
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Katie
 

Fab, thanks!
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Kelly Parkins
 

Could be your common spearmint that all your supermarkets sell.
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Rachel
 

I reckon it's spearmint, almost always. And I love my shed btw excuse pun 😉
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