wintering mint in containers?

20 years ago

Last year I bough 4 peppermint plants. I put 2 into the ground and 2 into a large pot. All the plants flourished throughout the summer and fall. They all died back in the winter. Only the plants in the ground came back in the spring though.

What could have caused my container mint to not survive the winter? I have 2 theories at this point.

1. I think I may have watered the plants during the winter (on warmer days). Not sure how much to water, if any, during the winter.

2. The plant in the ground sent out lots of runners that took root and expanded the mint patch. The mint in the bucket sent out runners that only dangled over the edge of the bucket and therefore never took root.

I'll also admit to planting the container mint in compacted soil from my garden with poor drainage. I'm sure that didn't help but the mint still did awesome in the poor soil. It just didn't survive the winter.

So, what is the true cause of my failed container mint?

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

20 years ago

The containerized plants died because the temperatures above ground are colder than IN the ground. In situ plants have root systems that are buffered by the soil. Containerized roots are much more likely to suffer from permanent cold damage. Simple as that. In your climate, containerized plants need to be protected from the elements. They can be wrapped, mulched, placed in an unheated garage, etc.

A worthy experiment would be to plant your mint in good a good potting mix (which is much more appropriate for containers than dirt) and then sink the entire container into the soil to over winter. It might have a fighting chance, even though those roots are held captive in the pot.

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Comments (6)

OUTofSPITE
20 years ago
((shrugs))
I have had mint in the same container for 4 years now. It comes back every year without me doing anything special to it - including watering.
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zzepherdogg
20 years ago
I agree about the pot in the ground. I have done it both ways and had good luck. You dont say where you are, and it might be that there are some mints that are more hardy than others, also, altho have used mint as a marginal, it doesnt have to be totally soggy to live, in fact I think the apple mint likes it a little dryer, and the Oregon mint industry grows quite a bit of it on the hills above the high desert in central Oregon, it is irrigated, but I am sure its not soggy.You might think about the drainage.I really think the idea about tring better soil is something to think about.Keep trying, because once you get it right, you will have a very nice planting for your efforts. Mine didnt go lush and crazy in the first year, it has been slow, but thats fine, I like other stuff too..... :)
mea2214
20 years ago
I usually have no problems overwintering mints (as well as oregeno, chives, coneflowers, etc.) outside in containers and we usually get below 0 temps for periods of time here in Chicago. All my mints survived this year in containers and in particular, my peppermint planted in a 5 gallon bucket last year planted in regular garden soil came back very strong. That's one of the few containers I just left alone and haven't changed out the soil using the new (to me) pine bark mixture.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
20 years ago
I also wintered over my mint in containers last year, BUT, I had them in a layer of leaves up to the rim. Not sure if that made a difference or not. In the past, I normally would dig the pot into the ground as suggested here. That also worked. This spring they are growing great. I have a variegated and a peppermint and have not even taken them out of the container they spent the winter in. They are completely pot bound, have had no fertilizer or attention and the foliage looks pristine and they are doing well. Clay/loam soil from the garden is what it is planted in and we have had record rainfall this spring and went from a deficit to 10 inches above normal.

I would caution you about planting mint directly into the ground. They can really start running underground and comeup quite a distance away from the orignal clump. If you have ever read a post by someone who has had mint get away from them, you would understand my concern for you. I have a friend who has been trying for 15 yrs to irradicate it. It is so bad, that it actually comes up in the cracks in the street in front of her house.

I LOVE mint and wouldn't be without it. I just would rather have some control over how much work I have to devote to it. It does seem like a little bit of work to keep them in containers, but you can control how much work, by how many containers you grow. If it gets out of control in the ground, you could be trying to rip it out for years. A lot more work, imho. I enjoy the peace of mind using containers gives me.
jenny_in_se_pa
20 years ago
I don't do anything to protect my mint - the oldest stuff being in an old wooden trough against my rail. I have some pineapple mint this year and I'm debating what to do with it since I'm thinking of bringing it in to grow during winter for some harvest inside.

It's really no work in containers other than to keep it from crawling out of the pot and sending out long runners that root in the astroturf like mine has done in the past! LOL