Mint dying?

I wonder if you guys can help me. I have various herbs growing in pots in my garden and alla re doing well - except the mint (I guess it's just your 'average mint', from the supermarket fresh herbs section!)

Up until recently it was growing madly as mint seems to do, but then it started flowering. I was advised by others that it was fine to let my herbs (oregano, thyme etc) flower and shouldn't cause them any problems.

But now my mint is dying (dropping leaves, turning spindly and brown) and although I've read that mint is perennial and pretty much indistructable I was wondering if this was the issue, or something else I'm too noobish to realise?

 

Generally mint should not be allowed to flower if you want to keep using it. It tends to go very woody once it has flowered. I cut mine right down to the base about two weeks ago, covered it with some fresh compost and already it is sprouting new shoots again. If this doesn't work just buy another supermarket pack of cut mint, (or beg some from a friend) put it in a jar of water on the windowcill and it will root within a couple of weeks and you can then plant it out!

 

Thanks! That sounds good to me. I do quite like the flowers so I'll wait till they die off and try cutting it right back. Like you said, no big deal if I only have to splash out 50p on another batch

 

Could the mint be a bit thirsty? I find they need a lot of water.

 

Try taking a few cuttings now, about 5 & enclose the pot in a plastic bag, you'll probably get a few to take, the new plant will probably be more vigourous.

I'm growing garden and chocolate mint in the same tub to see which one kills the other, so far they are both ok, but give it time.....

 

my dad used to have a mint planted directly underneath a tap in a shady area ... during summer, he used to turn the tap on so that it dripped ...

never had a problem, and always grew well ... we lived in that home for more than 20 years, and it always looked good (and tasted nice when added to greek salad)

so based on that, I would say that it needs lots of water in the heat, and needs semi-shade?... it was the original plant for more than 20 years, but leaves were cut on a regular basis, but always thrived

 

I had my first 'proper' garden when I got married 33 years ago. Every year my Dad would dig up huge clumps of mint which I'd plant it in my garden and ... watch it die. I got him to plant it, it died. I've tried growing it in acid soil, alkaline soil, heavy soil, light soil, full sun, dappled shade, deep shade, in borders, tubs, pots and troughs, I've watered it, not watered it, fed it, not fed it, I've bought it from garden centres, nurseries, the supermarket and have tried cutting, heaven knows, I even tried growing it from seed and guess what ...... it still dies

I'd just be happy if it lived long enough to flower, let alone for it to need cutting down!

 

Oh dear! I have this exact feeling whenever I try to grow flowers - they either never grow, wither away or any brave ones that manage a couple of leaves get eaten by the snails

I think my mint was just being temperamental because of the hot weather we've had recently (although it's been in pretty full sun since June and hasn't complained!) as it's been thunderstorms the past few days and has suddenly gone all green again - mocking me, I'm sure of it!

 

Snap

SNAP DITTO

A pal along the road mint growing all over his back garden, I said I wish I had mint, so he gave me some with the warning to plant it surrounded as it will spread everywhere Errr no it did not
So next time I got a lot from him dug up in a bucket and more or less transplanted it soil and all it DIED

Even the mini pots you buy from supermarkets, die before used up :-(

Jack McH