A third of your 'mint' is actually sage and another third is thyme. Your nose and eyes will tell them apart. Both these need different conditions from mint. Much less water, much less nitrogen and full sun. I would suggest you repot each species individually.

Mint is a native of damp watersides. Thyme and sage of sunbathed Mediterranean hillsides. Very different.

Yes, floral_uk is right. I thought that other stuff was just in the background. You may have trouble disentangling them, but making cuttings is a good option for any of them. Soak the cutting in water for a few days before planting in potting soil. Now, sage and thyme will handle fertilization. They just don't need it. Mint does.

I too wondered why you were calling thyme and what looks like sage "mint". ;-) Floral nailed it - very different herbs with very different needs so they all need to be separated. It's a classic example of the problems of mixing plants with different needs. Sun exposure will not hurt any of them but over-watering is a very common problem.

Dave

Well, that's right, Mint leaves are not only heavily veined as are the big leaves here, but they are fringed, which these are not. Now, basil is another possibility. Nitrogen.

The plants are mint, sage and thyme. The differences are very clear and on my device I can see them distinctly. No basil.

As someone, somewheres once said -- shiver me timbers! Well spotted floral_uk! A keen eye!

Well, all of you wonderful garden dwelling mucky pups (for the non-UK based, I mean this affectionately) you have yet again saved the day and several plants! I'll break them up ASAP, inspect their roots etc and repot accordingly. I'm presuming that the sage and thyme will want to return to their sunnier position and will perk back up again. digdirt2 any suggestions with specific requirements between each as you mention, I'll make amendments when I repot? daninthedirt has given me the heads up about adding in some nitrogen, which I'll do also as I repot - thanks Dan.

The dang card that came with the pot stated "garden mint and spearmint", I tasted one of them and it was minty. I do wish garden centres wouldn't pot plants that aren't well-suited together, but then I need to take most of the blame in this here travesty! How could I not know sage and thyme from mint?! Sad state. I hadn't realised that thyme grew with more rounded leaves. This is yet another learning experience, thanks to you kind lot.

I'm rather excited to now have some different options, I was wondering what on earth I was going to do with so much mint!

Don't fertilise the sage and thyme this year. And don't add it to the mint until it's settled into its new home. Get some Osmacote controlled release. It'll do for everything in pots.

They look like young cuttings, perhaps newly rooted.

Don't think so. The sage and thyme would be seed grown for commercial sale. And also the mint, I suspect.

Aye, aye floral_uk! I have some blood, bone and fish fertiliser that I would normally use. But, I'll take a look for the Osmacote as you suggest and hold fire until everyone is settled in their new homes.

Out of curiosity, I'm presuming I can grow the thyme and sage indoors during the winter? I'm going to have a wee farm at this rate! No complaints here though. And, I just had word that a friend is getting rid of some window boxes that would work well for kale, turnip greens and such. I'll take some pics when things are more settled, so you guys can see your advice in action!

Thanking you.

In you climate, no need to grow them indoors and they really will do much better if left outside. Same with the mint, although it goes more or less dormant in my winters.

Oh, really gardengal48 ? Well that sounds great! Thanks very much. :)

The thyme and sage are really evergreen subshrubs and full winter hardy to at least -25C, possibly somewhat lower.

All three are totally hardy, Art. Leave them outdoors year round. In London you rarely even get 0c/32f. You can harvest thyme and sage 12 months of the year. Mint dies back a bit and looks scruffy but again, in London, you'll probably have a bit to pick all winter.

Kale gets to three feet high at least so unless you're going to grow it for cut and come again greens its too big for a window box.

However, basil is not winter hardy and doesn't really like cold temps at all. It's considered a tender annual and likes well draining soil.

Be sure to pinch or clip any forming flowers on basil as soon as you see them.

Art doesn't say he has any basil. It isn't a great outdoor plant in the UK. We get too much rain and not enough heat for it to do well. I grow mine in a glazed porch throughout the summer. In London Art might get a fair crop on his balcony if he wanted to try it. Many people here just have it as a temporary plant in the kitchen window.

Does no one else see that green leafy plant in the foreground as basil?

cindy_7 I wouldn't count on me being right about any of this! Though in my defence it would appear that basil can taste a bit minty, according to what I read. That said, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if my minty is another person's turkey! Also the tag that came with the pot said mint and spearmint, after tasting one of them I didn't question what the tag said. : /

Here's some pics of the dethroned (remove from pot) mint/basil, it doesn't look too healthy and these photos were taken after I removed a good number of dead leaves. The sage and thyme look great though, aside from some minor yellowing. I've had to pot them together, as I don't have enough space otherwise. And the mint/basil I have carefully laid aside, after moistening the roots and having a good look at it. I'll be honest, I doesn't look long with this world! I'll place it in a pot on it's own this evening (UK time) and hope for the best for it.

floral_uk You're like a human almanac for the UK plant-life and all it's need-to-knows! How's your kid's tomato plant hanging in? The weather this end has been cloudy and very cool in the morning then very hot and dry for the remainder of the day. That must have an impact of the taste of them, I would think? Hope they're doing well. :) Oh, and yes to the Kale. I'll be growing it to cut and come again purposes only.