🌿 When to Plant Mint

When should I plant mint?

Plant mint outdoors 2 weeks before last frost. For a head start, start seeds indoors 8 weeks before your area's last frost date.

Is mint frost sensitive?

Mint can tolerate light frost, surviving temperatures as low as 28°F. This makes it a great candidate for early spring or fall planting when other crops can't go out yet.

What temperature does mint need?

Mint grows best between 55°F and 85°F. It can survive down to 28°F, but growth slows significantly below 55°F. It prefers cool weather and may bolt or stop producing if summer heat arrives early.

How long does mint take to grow?

Mint typically takes 30–60 days from transplant (or direct sow) to first harvest.

Should I start mint seeds indoors?

Yes — start mint seeds indoors 8 weeks before your area's last expected frost date. This gives seedlings time to develop strong roots before outdoor conditions are ready.

Is it too cold to plant mint?

It is too cold to plant Mint outdoors when nighttime temperatures are falling below 28°F. While Mint can tolerate temperatures as low as 28°F, growth will be slow until nights consistently exceed 55°F. Use CanIPlant to check your local 7-day forecast and get a real-time answer for your ZIP code.

Is it too hot to plant mint?

Mint starts to struggle when temperatures climb above 85°F. As a warm-season crop, Mint enjoys heat but can experience blossom drop and reduced fruiting above 90°F. Consistent highs above that level may delay planting until temperatures moderate. CanIPlant checks your local forecast highs to flag this automatically.

Any tips for growing mint?

Very vigorous. Grow in containers to control spread.